Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I have been wanting to make my own alcohol and decided to start cheap..... I made a mixture of yeast sugar and water and left it to ferment. I then distilled it in an improvised pot still..... is there going to be a lot (if any) methanol in it??

here's a guide on how to do your Cuts once you master this part of distilling it will help you in keeping only the best from your run.

thanks for that :)

You would be better off looking in the Tried and Proven section of the forum for a wash recipe, Yeast, water and sugar will make alcohol. but what will it taste like?

+1 to SBB's comment.

I would do a bit more reading first, but that's just me.

Are you measuring the Specific Gravity of your wash? How do you know it's finished fermenting & ready for distilling?

You need to make sure you're getting rid of foreshots. The Cuts post will tell you all about that.

I suggest you try the Tomato Paste Wash in the Tried and Proven section. You'll probably want to run it through your pot still at least a couple of times though.

Enjoy. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Your using a pot still yeah? If so just forget any wash to make a neutral full stop, just to much work to get a decent neutral with a pot still. Jump in feet first with a whiskey or rum and you'll never look back

All the advice so far is correct ....but to answer your last question

jackmankelow wrote:.. is there going to be a lot (if any) methanol in it??

No there is very little if any Methanol in a pure white sugar wash .......fruit washes on the other hand do produce lots.

But .....Always remove the first 150ml at least in a pot still with a 25 liter wash just to make sure .What comes out after that won't make you blind but may give you a thumper .

Out of interest ,I got to smell some methanol from a Lab the other day .It smelt like a cross between Fish and Rubber......never had anything that smelt like that come out of my still .......get lots of acetone though

crow wrote:Your using a pot still yeah? If so just forget any wash to make a neutral full stop, just to much work to get a decent neutral with a pot still. Jump in feet first with a whiskey or rum and you'll never look back

Ive have to agree with Crow on this one, Your going to have a lot more luck making a nice rum or UJ using a pot than trying to make neutral.
The washes are no harder to make, maybe just a little more time sourcing ingredients.

jackmankelow ,
Recon you're dippin your toe in the distillin waters. Can see that "makeshift Pot still " evolving real soon :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks guys, found all your info really helpful!

And do you have some recipes for rum I could try??

jackmankelow wrote:And do you have some recipes for rum I could try??

Not looking real hard are ya bud? Try this

I have found a lot of recipes for rum but there are heaps of different ones haha, I was wondering what (you think) is the best :)

jackmankelow wrote:I have found a lot of recipes for rum but there are heaps of different ones haha, I was wondering what (you think) is the best :)

Don't ask me then I don't make rum :laughing-rolling:

jackmankelow wrote:I have found a lot of recipes for rum but there are heaps of different ones haha, I was wondering what (you think) is the best :)

Reckon if you looked in the tried n proven section for the most popular rum topic you'd be narrowing it down a bit :teasing-neener:

haha thanks :p

Try the Mac Rum , if ya don't like it try Hook Rum or Pugie Rum, Then there is Harrys GGGP rum they are all pretty well tried and proven and will make a top drop. Take your pick. if ya get bored there is white rum and spiced rum, Rum using backset and rum without. There are those that fiddle with PH and those that don't. Some use stock feed molasses other use flash expensive stuff, Its one of those kind of hobbies, experimentation never finishes.
What ever you end up doing if you oak it right and get your cuts right it will be excellent rum.

jackmankelow wrote:haha thanks :p

my :teasing-neener: is better than your :-P so :obscene-buttred:

Nice post!