Live Stoners Live Stoner Chat - Jul-Sep '21

[Bill.de.Cat]

to the forums

Your a distiller too......oh really?
I have a real yearning to distill my own and the best bit it is legal to do so in the UK, just as long as you pay the duty and don't sell it (I'm sure people maybe a little bit economic with the truth, when it comes to quantity though lol)

I bough my self a jar of Georgia Moon white corn whiskey and it was awesome so much better taste than regular vodka.
I really enjoyed that slight pepperyness on the finish, so I'm guessing there may have been some rye in there too.

To be honest It will be a few years before I get round to it, as I will need buy the gear & to get it all set up.
I had considered a traditional copper still but It will be easier to get an electric "Turbo 500" which come with a column condenser for stripping runs.
The Turbo 500 still is the most advanced small-batch distillation system in the world extracting an incredibly high 95% of potential alcohol from the wash at 93% purity, when using the column.
They also sell a copper amblic condenser for the Turbo 500, which gives a lower proof but better flavor from the ingredients in the wash.
The point is I have put in a fair amount of time reading, studying and following distillation channels on youtube.
However I have not actually ever know anyone who has actual practical experience with distilling.

If you don't mind in the future, I may want to run by this and that by you?
For the most part I think I can get most of it sorted myself as I a very capable person but there are always bits and pieces you can only know, by having a working experience of doing something over a long period of time!
At the present time, it is still a pipe dream but one I am am adamant I will do as it fascinates me so much.

I done it a few times, not too hard to figure out.
2 turkey fryer pots, cut bottom out of 1 and put it the freezer, put other out in the sun..couple of hours and it just slipped in...Silver soldered at the joint for a 35/40 gallon pot....black drum in back did 50 gallon wash..25 gal per run into thumper,( damn thing was loud)...all stainless and copper with 95% silver solder...unions between each part made it easy to setup and take down for cleaning..

 

[hairyman]

I catch up later just on me lunch, which is move girls about time,, dragons genuine day 35 last pic the skinny girl x the crosses are allover the place its great lol

 

[Bill.de.Cat]

I catch up later just on me lunch, which is move girls about time,, dragons genuine day 35 last pic the skinny girl x the crosses are allover the place its great lolView attachment 1350756View attachment 1350757View attachment 1350758

damn they grow up so quick.

 

[Clem Fandango]

View attachment 1350755
I done it a few times, not too hard to figure out.

Are you running rum through that with the thumper? Dunder in the thumper?

I made a decent column still about 10 years ago, could rip 95 out of it fairly fast. I still have a pot still that I bought and the leibig condenser that I built. I don't have the room or time these days to do it all though.

 

[Bill.de.Cat]

semi old style corn whiskey ...not that fake sugar wash corn whiskey.......only added 5 or 10 pounds of sugar to the fermentation barrel to enhance the natural sugars. Occasionally put flavored vodka in the thumper with fruit for a change up.

 

[Dr Fluff]

I don't have much space where I live in my city, so need to keep it small.
Money is tight right now as I lost my job due to covid.
I am looking at the Turbo 500 electric column still with optional copper alembic condenser.
Like @Clem Fandango mentioned a column still is great for stripping runs of 95% ethanaol for extraction purposes etc.
Where the Copper alembic top will give lower proof but will retain flavors.
The Turbo 500 is an all in one unit and does not use or need a thump keg/doubler.

you can buy a stainless steel or a copper column condenser.

Copper alembic condenser.
The turbo 500 claims to being the world's most advanced fractionating column for home use. It includes Stainless Steel Construction, faucet adapter for ease of water flow adjustment, 25 L boiler with a 2000W (1600W for US/CA Units) integrated element, boil dry reset, thermal cut out fuse and waste discharge tap.

I only need small runs for personal use so the 25 liter boiler should do me fine.
From a standard 25 litre sugar wash produced with 8kgs of Dextrose & using a Super Reflux Condenser, you should collect 4 – 5 Litres of alcohol at approximately 90% Vol as a ball park from what I read online, using the condensing column.
I am a very light drinker and I prefer weed to alcohol but I would love to make some small batch craft whiskies. I would love to make a peach brandy or some cherry bounce.
A gin/botanicals basket is also available, although I'm not a gin fan.

What is special about the Still Spirits Turbo 500?

The Still Spirits Turbo 500 reflux condenser is a little bit special, it works on the principles of ceiling temperatures, where through its intelligent design it prevents chemical substance above a certain boiling point being processed. Unlike other reflux condensers on the market the Turbo 500 works with a focus on the water flow and controlling the temperature of the water flow out. Assuming that the temperature of the water flow is stable, it is able to create a ceiling threshold temperature based on the water flow out. So effectively, If you are looking at collecting a product of a boiling point of ~78°C, water flow out would be set just to collect everything up to this temperature, then prevent any other products with a boiling point above ~78°C up the reflux and into the condenser.

This technology break through was only developed through the redesigning of the contemporary reflux, designed to make distillation easier with hassle free operation. It’s designed to set and forget as it operates until exhaustion, requiring simple initial setup with water flow and turning off once distillation is complete.

Buying the Turbo 500 cost around £400 or the kit pictured cost £475
The kit includes the following
Equipment Included

• 1 x Turbo 500 Still with stainless steel lid & column
• 1 x Spiritworks Granular Carbon Filter, complete with 2x 10 Litre Buckets and all necessary fittings. (See below for details).
• 2 x 30 Litre Food Grade Plastic Buckets with Lids & Grommets & Airlocks
• 1 x Mixing Spoon or Paddle
• 1 x Hydrometer
• 1 x Thermometer
• 1 x Auto Siphon with anti sediment end, tap end and bucket clip (for transferring the liquor to other containers and bottling)
• 1 x Jug (Very useful for mixing Spirits & Liqueurs)
• 1 x Spirit Hydrometer (For testing the amount of Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

Consumables

• 1 x Classic Turbo Yeast & Carbon
• 1 x Pure Turbo Yeast
• 2 x Turbo Carbon
• 2 x Turbo Clear
• 1 x Classic Whisky (sachet)
• 1 x Classic VSOP Brandy (sachet)
• 1 x Classic Gin (sachet)
• 1 x Classic Bourbon (sachet)
• 1 x Classic Rum (sachet)
• 1 x Copper Saddles (in the column)
• 1 x 30g Ceramic Boil Enhancers
• 1 x Stainless Steel Saddles (in the column)
• 1 x 100g Steriliser
• 1 x Distillers Conditioner 100ml

Features

• Produces 95% yield at 93% purity.
• Easy to use.
• Stops producing when alcohol exhausted.
• The ultimate home distillation unit.

Includes

• Faucet Adapter for ease of water flow adjustment.
• 25-litre boiler with 2kw integrated element.
• Boil dry reset.
• Thermal cut out fuse.
• Waste discharge tap.

Spiritworks Granular Carbon Filter - Contents

• Aluminium Tube with 2 ends with washers
• Anodised Aluminium Mesh Filter support (top)
• Stainless mesh filter (bottom)
• 2 x 10-litre buckets with lids and a tap.
• One length of siphon tube.
• Funnel
• 1 x 1kg of Granular Carbon

The Filter is designed to clean the alcohol after distillation and remove off flavours and smells which can happen in the process. For the filtration to work effectively it's essential the strength of the alcohol that needs treating is between 40-50% ABV. Please dilute your alcohol to be within this range before starting.

Dunno what you guys think???
There are videos on youtube, if you want to see it in action.

 

[Dr Fluff]

semi old style corn whiskey ...not that fake sugar wash corn whiskey.......only added 5 or 10 pounds of sugar to the fermentation barrel to enhance the natural sugars. Occasionally put flavored vodka in the thumper with fruit for a change up.

My thought is, If I am making ethanol purely for extraction purposes (cannabis), I would make a sugar wash and use the column condenser, for a stripping run of 93% ethanol.
For corn whiskey and fruit brandies etc it would be nothing but the best ingredient I could source and use the copper alembic condenser.

Just wondering but have you guys ever made "applejack" using the freezing "hard cider
method"?(in the UK we just call it cider or if it is really rustic it gets called scrumpy).

 

[CrookDog]

Just thought I'd drop a pic of my ANVIL S1

 

[Mossy]

ragons genuine day 35 last pic the skinny girl x the crosses are allover the place its great lol

Aaaaah Great.....they remind me of ALFie Baby... ALF#3...last time I saw them out in such abundance...... ..(ALF #2 plus 1..)

See what I mean with the Skinny White girl image...?....the Frames shine white in photos compared to other stems...she Shows a lot of Bones...

Ha Lovely........

Not a Natural Special stand out cross for me early on...coz my eye Prefers Indys....but wait 'til she matures........she is a Delight...

Now...coz you have Seen how Distinct she is.......you could Look for the male to match with a Reasonable certainty..white framed......sparce looking teenager....(Only 1 with that Frame put Into the cross........)

If you did that....and Only bred Matching pairs from there......you would start to hybrid out a cross that belongs almost to the Start of the genetic line......now That is the Amazing bit..............for me at any rate......I can isolate Out...a cross that I put In to the Line 10 plus years ago....

When I buy a cross....I don't just get her current Face....if I recognise unique identifying traits.....I get all the Grand Parents and great great grandparents too.... ..I Own her back catalogue too.....

Tight as a Gardeners Fist huh....?............

 

[CrookDog]

Cheers for the rep Mossy, your a champ