My first still ever

by **Tipzy** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:44 am

Oh I just bought an airstill a short while ago. And made a wash (mash?) about a week ago with triple distille and turbo carbon and such and just ran my first cycle. And it turned out great, totally without off tastes and smells just totally flavourfree. I am so happy my first was a success. :happy-partydance:

by **Camikaze** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:18 am

Good stuff. :clap: Now head over to the tried and proven section and smash into some of those recipes.

You'll be done with turbo gear forever!! :banana-linedance:

by **Tipzy** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 12:20 pm

Camikaze wrote:Good stuff. :clap: Now head over to the tried and proven section and smash into some of those recipes.

You'll be done with turbo gear forever!! :banana-linedance:

Looks very interesting, I am sure I will try some. :-B

by **Camikaze** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:06 pm

I thoroughly recommend the wheat germ recipe (DWWG). :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

If you like vodka, you'll love it. ;-)

by **drew_serco** » Fri May 10, 2013 6:29 pm

Hi there, I bought an air still recently, used the directions as described, made the mash with the carbon in it and used the clearing solution at end. I do not have the carbon
filter though, do I need to carbon filter the end product? with the air still do I need to discard any part of the distilled alcohol as discussed on this forum? I am
a nube so any info would help. Also, as it only does 4L at a time can I still make a 35L batch to run through it 4L at a time? Thanks mate. Drew ^:)^

by **mikejwoodnz** » Fri May 10, 2013 8:40 pm

1. I need to carbon filter the end product? - no

2. do I need to discard any part of the distilled alcohol as discussed on this forum? optional

3. 4L at a time can I still make a 35L batch to run through it 4L at a time? yes the wash will keep ok

:handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **blond.chap** » Fri May 10, 2013 9:20 pm

Hey mate, sorry but I'll respectfully disagree with number 2. Taking cuts is essential to a quality product take a look at kiwis cuts thread in the newbie's corner. You'll need to take small cuts though as there won't be much alcohol in 4L.

by **BackyardBrewer** » Fri May 10, 2013 9:29 pm

mikejwoodnz wrote:2. do I need to discard any part of the distilled alcohol as discussed on this forum? optional

NOT OPTIONAL!!!!! Any serious stiller will quickly tell you they will happily turf 80% of a run if they felt it improved the drinking stock.

You MUST turf fores, they go on the ground and you set them on fire and thank the gods of alcohol.

You can put your heads and tails into a feints run but it is not optional to keep all you make.

Once you do this a few times you will find it VERY hard to go back to commercial spirits because all you can taste is how greedy they were with bottling rubbish they should have turfed.

They have to make a profit...we do not.

Cut, and cut harsh.

by **mikejwoodnz** » Fri May 10, 2013 10:25 pm

We're talking a sugar wash charged Airstill - you show me the foreshots and I'll cheerfully drink them. Strip, treat with baking soda, run again - no foreshots, no heads, not tails, no carbon - no bullshit. :laughing-rolling:

by **Distillnation** » Sat May 11, 2013 12:51 am

I wouldn't say there are no fores/heads/tails.

I stripped a 5L UJSM in an airstill a week ago and the first cut I took smelt strong of fores, which lead into heads, and then hearts.towards the end of the run the bad smell of tails came out. I took cuts in 50mL increments and I could really notice a difference in taste and smell as the run went on.

by **Brendan** » Sat May 11, 2013 1:09 am

mikejwoodnz wrote:We're talking a sugar wash charged Airstill - you show me the foreshots and I'll cheerfully drink them. Strip, treat with baking soda, run again - no foreshots, no heads, not tails, no carbon - no bullshit. :laughing-rolling:

Sure a sugar wash is a lot cleaner than a whisky wort or molasses rum wash...but I don't believe there is ever " no foreshots, no heads, not tails"...part of the production of ethanol is that all these compounds are created by the yeast...it's not an option depending on the food you give them...

I question...and I mean this seriously and respectfully...that maybe you haven't made the quality of spirits that is possible and that most of us strive for, and that what you collect (being the combination of what we would differentiate as foreshots, heads, hearts, and tails), is what you think a fine spirit should taste like? :wtf:

by **mikejwoodnz** » Sat May 11, 2013 8:49 am

Distillnation wrote:I wouldn't say there are no fores/heads/tails.

I stripped a 5L UJSM in an airstill a week ago and the first cut I took smelt strong of fores, which lead into heads, and then hearts.towards the end of the run the bad smell of tails came out. I took cuts in 50mL increments and I could really notice a difference in taste and smell as the run went on.

So you stripped a "5L UJSM: in a 4 litre Airstill - I would suggest you are not only making shit but you are also talking shit :)) If I made 50ml cuts I would drink 1/2 of it in one shot tasting them :liar:

by **blond.chap** » Sat May 11, 2013 9:09 am

Fair enough mate, whatever makes you happy.

Please not however that the members of this forum recommend making cuts.

by **Distillnation** » Sat May 11, 2013 9:36 am

mikejwoodnz wrote:So you stripped a "5L UJSM: in a 4 litre Airstill - I would suggest you are not only making shit but you are also talking shit :)) If I made 50ml cuts I would drink 1/2 of it in one shot tasting them :liar:

I made a 5L UJSM wash and after siphoning off the wash from.the corn it came out to roughly 4L, perfect for the air still. So yeah, I did strip a 5L UJSM in a 4L air still.

by **JayD** » Sat May 11, 2013 9:42 am

By applying a common sense to some posts you realise that it might be a typo, or a little bit of key information is missing like in this case. Think twice post once is a good motto to have. moving on gents. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
J

by **MacStill** » Sat May 11, 2013 10:20 am

Wait until crow sees these post in his favourite section of the forums, I bet he'll be overjoyed :laughing-rolling: