Just a South African girl watching from the highlands of Scotland!!! We've just made our very 1st sugar wash, it's fermenting and our still arrived today. So excited to start making gin Thanks so much for this video!!! Invaluable info! Liked and subbed xxx
I am amazed by the way you teach this subject. Absolutely engaging and the most informal on TH-cam by a mile! Please keep going, you're helping uncover the 'black arts'....
You add lots of hints and tips that are so valuable and not found anywhere else, and that tip on how to take the alcohol edge off is very much appreciated.good work mate
@ 1:53 my girl friend Kathy walked past and got totally freaked out. Her reaction was priceless. It took me 30 mins to get off the floor from laughing so hard.
George, just finished my first run at gin. Followed your process and it turned out awesome!! Ran my 8 gal Brewhaus with the botanicals at the head as you suggested. Great color, smell and taste. You could smell the juniper while everything was cooking. Appreciate the help.
Another example of success. Great news. This make is all worth it. I often get emails about how this doesn't work. I always say "it's a 10th grade science project" Sometimes they never get it. Good job Happy distilling George
I use the sight glass from mile hi on mine, this why I kind of get a idea what’s going on in my column... I always learn something from your videos George another great 👍
Excellent video. I am very interested in learning more about your heating element, power, and controls set up. I'll poke through your videos to see what I can find.
Hi George. My name is Randy from Ohio. I really appreciate your videos. Your videos are very informative. I really like how you go through all the technicalities of the process. I have been watching your videos for the last couple years, and I must say they're really enjoyable. I have watched many other videos on the distillation process equipment techniques etc. You present your information in a very understandable way. The information that you present and the way you do so is indispensable. Keep up the good work George, you have many friends on TH-cam that like myself will continue to enjoy your greet informing videos.
Missed your videos man good to see you making these videos again. The 2 inch sight glass is a really neat thing to watch your vapor condense into im glad i purchased the 2 inch pro tower which gives the still so much more versatility and flexibility and a fun thing to watch while you're making your product. You really don't need it but if you're a nerd like me and actually like science it just makes it that much more enjoyable to do. One thing i did notice with the 2 inch sight glass is you should make sure of and thats you be extra careful lining up the rest of the parts since the sight glass in my experience tends to slightly imbalance the tower if your not dead center which can cause vapour leakage and you run the potential of damaging your tower. Other than that i say its definitely worth the money to get one and if you don't like cheesecloth you can purchase a mesh screen where you can load in your botanicals.
Thank you George, for your knowledge, your interesting presentation and your enthusiasm. I have been making gins and other drinks, starting with Birdwatchers sugar wash, for about 18 months, but there is always something to learn about the craft. AquaSulisExile, UK
I always infuse and then distill it with the ingredients in the pot. And i use way more stuff the just juniper. I use lingonberry, korriander, citrus of some sort, cinemon, Rosemary, and cloudberry. I have never tasted any storebought Gin that is as good as my own.
Hi George , i enjoy watching your videos and have learned a lot . Seeing you use the glass tube section in your column while making the Gin i thought i would pass you a tip , if you put a bubble plate inside that glass section you can turn your column into a plated column . Stack a couple up and it makes it easy to make vodka :)
What you can also do is distil your infused juniper berries in order to get a clear product. This what people do with raspberries. German call it Himbeer Geist raspberry spirit
Okay first off I'd like to say great video George, glad to see you back doing videos. Secondly, the old timer moonshiners didn't have the Glycerine so what they'd do was let that stuff sit for a good period of time to let it mellow out, some would go as far as aerate when they were cutting it down and that took away that sharpness. Just thought I'd toss that at ya! Again great video as always and keep up what you're doing.
My research has turned up some very interesting information that says otherwise but you are correct, it was not as available as it is today so the method you describe was a normal practice. As always, thanks for the comment and your support. You've been with us for the past few years and I always enjoy your comments and the tips you share. Happy distilling George
Copper at least will cause some fractionating. Copper does matter in some cases where you may have sulphur components after fermentation. Maybe not the case here but you should add some more stainless steel pot scrubbers to increase fractionating
@@ashimaarora2945 Pot scrubbers or mesh increase the surface where a partial condensation may occur.When a mixtures of components about to condensate is surrounded by rising vapours, the highest components will evaporate again until the next condensatio/vaporization step. Sorry if I can't make it clearer . Not easy to summarise.
Nice job. Every other piece of information on the web suggested to use a finished product first, meaning 2 distillations. It would be easier to run a sugar wash through the botanicals to get what I want.
Gin needs more than juniper. Was originally a medicine/inoculation for Brit troops. I think in India, probably more I just know the India bit. It should be an infusion of a number of botanicals. Though I assume yer doing so after the distillation? Not sure what all the botanicals were for, but were alcohol soluble so that's where they went. Then quinine for malaria and lime for scurvy with some water to dilute. Thankfully today we have soda (tonic) and ice! I'm likely preaching to the choir, but I've always enjoyed the history along with my gin and tonic. ;)
Gin just needs juniper. The rest are, basically, so you can write press copy about how complex your gin is and make it more palatable for people who don't really like just plain straight up gin.
Hey George!!! Really enjoy your show . i know you use a Zero water filter. I use one aswell , but i wanted to know when you are filtering your spirit does your spirit come out tan after a couple gal have been filtered? Im thinking the filter is breaking down at that point.
Never had that problem. I normally run about 2-3 gallons through it before I change the filter out. I've never seen anything like what you describe. George
Great Video, if using a reflux still with a sugar wash, I take it that there should be no methanol, so by adding my bag of berries at the top of my column, I wouldn't expect methanol either, no doubt I would take samples to burn just to confirm it's colour, if my wash was made with berries as your video, show a tinted colour wash, then I would expect methanol and would probably strip the flavour out using the reflux still...........am I correct ? I am starting to build my still and would also like to confirm that the reflux column temperature is controlled by cooling the top of the column, saw one video my where George mention this but darned if I can find it again.......looking forward to any advice from fellow distillers....
You will always draw off the methanol first either in a pot or reflux still. There is no methanol in berries added to the column. Methanol is a by product of fermentation. Control of reflux activity is controlled by water flow through the reflux chamber. George
I love you sharing your knowledge with us rookies ! I have a question I am a new distiller have only completed two runs with a stainless still reflux still. The problem I have is I have gotten a nail polish remover smell on both runs. First run was rum and the Oder wasn’t as bad as the last run of sugar vodka. Don’t know what could be causing it. The smell is in all stages of the run. If you might know what is going on I would greatly appreciate it . Keep up the great work.
George I now know what my next spirit to make with my very own Mighty Mini will be! Another great and informative vid George, keep em coming! Hey, could either Ray or you make a complete series of vids on making a great Tequila? I mean all the way through from cooking up a Blue Agave wash, fermenting with the Fast Ferment, giving your choice on which yeast to use, clearing the wash, distilling through the Mighty Mini, cutting down the proof, filtering through your charcoal filter, and then aging? I just ran my probably way too high ABV Blue Agave wash through my Mighty Mini and before blending my jars and filtering; it tastes more like a Mexican Moonshine, rather than a Tequila? I think I need help with this Tequila thing.
Hello George, again a wonderfull explanation on how to make gin. I think i never saw you making Rum, so therefore i would like to ask you to let us see how you would make an excellent rum with eighter the grainfather or the Turbo 500 still. And if you would consider to make video of this, please let us show everything, especially let us know what can go wrong. Thanks in advance. Gerard.
Hi George, this is brilliant. Thank you. Quick question, if I mix lemon and lime zest in with the juniper would that still infuse the flavour, or would you infuse that after distillation? Cheers, Chriz
@@BarleyandHopsBrewing would you still separate the heads, tails etc if making gin? My idea was to use the 1st and last for gin, the middle batch for whisky.
George, thanks for all the great videos. I do have a question. I hope it’s not one you’ve already answered here. Let’s say someone had an old copper pot alembic still. Where would you place your juniper satchel? Somewhere up in the onion? Thank you in advance.
You've probably gotten this figured out by now but in case someone else reads this and had the same question. Yes, with an alembic you load anything that you want to infuse your spirits with inside the onion head. There are suppliers that make gin baskets that fit in many of those old stills. If you're lucky enough to have one with the removable arm above the onion head you can probably even find a sight glass that will fit there.
Hi there! Love this channel. I’ve been looking for this answer for awhile... can you add juniper berries inside your thumper mix? Or would it be better to make a basket that sits inside my thumper that’s hanging inside so the vapour runs through it. What would you recommend?
I’m just getting into brewing. My brother has a pot still that the copper is inserted to the column from the bottom of the column. Can you use this technique of inserting the berries at the top of the column and copper underneath it from the bottom of the condenser or not?
You can make gin out of 180 proof cognac or moonshine by adding juniper berries to it and letting it sit for a couple of months. Then after two or three months add spring water down to 100 proof and you have gin.
I'm using a big copper still and just have some questions regarding temperatures. What temperatures should I be using in each section. For the cold water, Boiling water, etc...?
Hi George, if I were to make gin using a kettle, thumper and worm/condenser set up, using the thumper as a gin basket, would the methanol in the heads affect the botanicals in the thumper which would then taint the rest of the run? Cheers
Why can't more people make videos like yours, that pass along a mountain of information while being so entertaining? Thank you!
George you are the distilling guru of TH-cam. Thank you a million times over for all your help
Thank You! Your enthusiasm is truly contagious 😁
Thank you George! I'm at the very beginning of my distilling journey and this has been immensely helpful!
George loving the simple explanation
Hey man, I just came across your videos. You make distilling alcohol simple and easy to understand without any BS. Thank you
Just a South African girl watching from the highlands of Scotland!!! We've just made our very 1st sugar wash, it's fermenting and our still arrived today. So excited to start making gin
Thanks so much for this video!!! Invaluable info! Liked and subbed xxx
Excellent. I've been to Scotland many times. Love it there.
Enjoy the hobby and the fruits of your labor.
George
I am amazed by the way you teach this subject. Absolutely engaging and the most informal on TH-cam by a mile! Please keep going, you're helping uncover the 'black arts'....
Cheers George for another class act in giving a class in gin distilling!
You add lots of hints and tips that are so valuable and not found anywhere else, and that tip on how to take the alcohol edge off is very much appreciated.good work mate
Anytime. My pleasure
George
Great service for our beginners Larry
I have no clue why this has only 60K views. This is actually quite Educational! Thank you! :) Thank you for your time! keep it up!
cause it is very hard to listen to the bloke
Another great video George! Always educational and down to earth. Made so anyone can understand.
loving the videos please keep them going many thanks from your friends in the UK
Cheers my friends.
George
I'm glad you come on and tell us stuff Jen and different products thank you very much
Mt pleasure. The plus of all this is sipping the final product.
George
@ 1:53 my girl friend Kathy walked past and got totally freaked out. Her reaction was priceless. It took me 30 mins to get off the floor from laughing so hard.
I don't get it
@@bigredinfinity3126 Her name "Kathy"
No.... No I don't think it was. I think her name was Cathy. With a C. Totally different.
George, just finished my first run at gin. Followed your process and it turned out awesome!! Ran my 8 gal Brewhaus with the botanicals at the head as you suggested. Great color, smell and taste. You could smell the juniper while everything was cooking. Appreciate the help.
Another example of success. Great news.
This make is all worth it. I often get emails about how this doesn't work. I always say "it's a 10th grade science project"
Sometimes they never get it.
Good job
Happy distilling
George
Very informative, thank you, thank you from South Africa
I use the sight glass from mile hi on mine, this why I kind of get a idea what’s going on in my column... I always learn something from your videos George another great 👍
Hey George great vid mate. very informative, thanks alot. Im ready to start my first ever gin run.
You can do it!
Thank you for your time you put into this 🙏
I love you. Great stuff. I really appreciate your honesty. This is a grrrrrrreaaat station.
I like all the information in this, and all your videos. Love the cheesecloth satchel idea
New and loving your content
Good energy and fun to watch.
From 🇦🇺
Excellent video. I am very interested in learning more about your heating element, power, and controls set up. I'll poke through your videos to see what I can find.
Man I want some green gin. That looks amazing.
Great video. Love your enthusiasm. Looking in to distilling my own gin and this is a great place to start in the learning curve.
Hi George. My name is Randy from Ohio. I really appreciate your videos. Your videos are very informative. I really like how you go through all the technicalities of the process. I have been watching your videos for the last couple years, and I must say they're really enjoyable. I have watched many other videos on the distillation process equipment techniques etc. You present your information in a very understandable way. The information that you present and the way you do so is indispensable. Keep up the good work George, you have many friends on TH-cam that like myself will continue to enjoy your greet informing videos.
Thanks so much for the compliment. It is our community of distillers and brewers that keep us going.
Many thanks
George
SPOT ON.... I was about to buy a biomass retainer for the junipers, but I'll just put them in the condenser!
Cheers
If you had a reflux condenser would you run it while distilling gin ?
Oh wow, again you've made a video that is simple and clear and I can't wait to try this! Thanks again.
Fantastic video, as always. Why not use the sight glass as the gin basket? Thanks.
George thank you for info. Gin next on our list. Popping onto your store to look for supplies. Cheers from Maine.
Thanks George, another great video.
How much will you produce per run on that 3 gallon still
Missed your videos man good to see you making these videos again. The 2 inch sight glass is a really neat thing to watch your vapor condense into im glad i purchased the 2 inch pro tower which gives the still so much more versatility and flexibility and a fun thing to watch while you're making your product. You really don't need it but if you're a nerd like me and actually like science it just makes it that much more enjoyable to do. One thing i did notice with the 2 inch sight glass is you should make sure of and thats you be extra careful lining up the rest of the parts since the sight glass in my experience tends to slightly imbalance the tower if your not dead center which can cause vapour leakage and you run the potential of damaging your tower. Other than that i say its definitely worth the money to get one and if you don't like cheesecloth you can purchase a mesh screen where you can load in your botanicals.
Thank you George, for your knowledge, your interesting presentation and your enthusiasm. I have been making gins and other drinks, starting with Birdwatchers sugar wash, for about 18 months, but there is always something to learn about the craft. AquaSulisExile, UK
congrat's on 100K subscribers
you were at 80k when i starting stilling :)
keep up the good work, from down under
Great video George. Hope you come back soon
George, you are a great salesman.
I always infuse and then distill it with the ingredients in the pot. And i use way more stuff the just juniper. I use lingonberry, korriander, citrus of some sort, cinemon, Rosemary, and cloudberry. I have never tasted any storebought Gin that is as good as my own.
Love your program good job keep it up
Very informative. Thank you George. Joe
Excellent video! Thanks!
I have to find a local supplier for a column distillery here thanks for this video. Using smaller equipment makes this video more practical for me
Thank you George. You are as informative as ever. Have you looked at the Boka Stills at all?
You still getting views . . Really good info .ty
Hi George , i enjoy watching your videos and have learned a lot . Seeing you use the glass tube section in your column while making the Gin i thought i would pass you a tip , if you put a bubble plate inside that glass section you can turn your column into a plated column . Stack a couple up and it makes it easy to make vodka :)
Oh sir, you are so right. I haven't got that far yet in video production but look forward to it when advanced processes come out.
Thanks
George
What you can also do is distil your infused juniper berries in order to get a clear product. This what people do with raspberries. German call it Himbeer Geist raspberry spirit
Great stuff george good to see you back making videos buddy
5:15 that gesture after you said "they'll rise thourgh the copper" haha :D
Okay first off I'd like to say great video George, glad to see you back doing videos.
Secondly, the old timer moonshiners didn't have the Glycerine so what they'd do was let that stuff sit for a good period of time to let it mellow out, some would go as far as aerate when they were cutting it down and that took away that sharpness. Just thought I'd toss that at ya!
Again great video as always and keep up what you're doing.
My research has turned up some very interesting information that says otherwise but you are correct, it was not as available as it is today so the method you describe was a normal practice.
As always, thanks for the comment and your support. You've been with us for the past few years and I always enjoy your comments and the tips you share.
Happy distilling
George
Copper at least will cause some fractionating. Copper does matter in some cases where you may have sulphur components after fermentation. Maybe not the case here but you should add some more stainless steel pot scrubbers to increase fractionating
Hey Bernard, can you elaborate / explain more about the fraction process and the need of stainless steel scrubber for this home brewing.
thanks
@@ashimaarora2945 Pot scrubbers or mesh increase the surface where a partial condensation may occur.When a mixtures of components about to condensate is surrounded by rising vapours, the highest components will evaporate again until the next condensatio/vaporization step. Sorry if I can't make it clearer . Not easy to summarise.
Thanks for the knowledge
Hi Bob on the rum I used bread yeast and on vodka I used. distillers yeast .
Great video man, you do an awesome job.
This is very helpful ... thank you
There is no one on the internet who is a better teacher of a subject than George. Full stop, end of discussion.
Love Gin so much thank you bro for video....
Nice job. Every other piece of information on the web suggested to use a finished product first, meaning 2 distillations. It would be easier to run a sugar wash through the botanicals to get what I want.
Gin needs more than juniper. Was originally a medicine/inoculation for Brit troops. I think in India, probably more I just know the India bit. It should be an infusion of a number of botanicals. Though I assume yer doing so after the distillation? Not sure what all the botanicals were for, but were alcohol soluble so that's where they went. Then quinine for malaria and lime for scurvy with some water to dilute. Thankfully today we have soda (tonic) and ice!
I'm likely preaching to the choir, but I've always enjoyed the history along with my gin and tonic. ;)
Gin just needs juniper. The rest are, basically, so you can write press copy about how complex your gin is and make it more palatable for people who don't really like just plain straight up gin.
Hey George!!! Really enjoy your show .
i know you use a Zero water filter. I use one aswell , but i wanted to know when you are filtering your spirit does your spirit come out tan after a couple gal have been filtered? Im thinking the filter is breaking down at that point.
Never had that problem. I normally run about 2-3 gallons through it before I change the filter out.
I've never seen anything like what you describe.
George
Love your work! :-)
George, why do you carbon filter? What are the benefits?
Great Video, if using a reflux still with a sugar wash, I take it that there should be no methanol, so by adding my bag of berries at the top of my column, I wouldn't expect methanol either, no doubt I would take samples to burn just to confirm it's colour, if my wash was made with berries as your video, show a tinted colour wash, then I would expect methanol and would probably strip the flavour out using the reflux still...........am I correct ? I am starting to build my still and would also like to confirm that the reflux column temperature is controlled by cooling the top of the column, saw one video my where George mention this but darned if I can find it again.......looking forward to any advice from fellow distillers....
You will always draw off the methanol first either in a pot or reflux still. There is no methanol in berries added to the column. Methanol is a by product of fermentation.
Control of reflux activity is controlled by water flow through the reflux chamber.
George
Love the video... thank you for your time sir.
In the video you never show the top of the still. Are you running it as a Pot Still or Reflux Still?
Thank you George !
Sorry, I went to your site but no one was home. A friend asked me what the difference between regular distilled Gin and Dry Gin.
I love you sharing your knowledge with us rookies ! I have a question I am a new distiller have only completed two runs with a stainless still reflux still. The problem I have is I have gotten a nail polish remover smell on both runs. First run was rum and the Oder wasn’t as bad as the last run of sugar vodka. Don’t know what could be causing it. The smell is in all stages of the run. If you might know what is going on I would greatly appreciate it . Keep up the great work.
What type of yeast are you using?
George I now know what my next spirit to make with my very own Mighty Mini will be! Another great and informative vid George, keep em coming! Hey, could either Ray or you make a complete series of vids on making a great Tequila? I mean all the way through from cooking up a Blue Agave wash, fermenting with the Fast Ferment, giving your choice on which yeast to use, clearing the wash, distilling through the Mighty Mini, cutting down the proof, filtering through your charcoal filter, and then aging? I just ran my probably way too high ABV Blue Agave wash through my Mighty Mini and before blending my jars and filtering; it tastes more like a Mexican Moonshine, rather than a Tequila? I think I need help with this Tequila thing.
We'll see where we can fit it in.
George
Hello George, again a wonderfull explanation on how to make gin.
I think i never saw you making Rum, so therefore i would like to ask you to let us see how you would make an excellent rum with eighter the grainfather or the Turbo 500 still.
And if you would consider to make video of this, please let us show everything, especially let us know what can go wrong.
Thanks in advance.
Gerard.
Check out our video on making rum the easy way Part 1 and 2.
George
Can fresh juniper berries be used?
What all did you put in the still?
Great show thanks I learned something new.
Glad you enjoyed it
would it be possible to put the berrys in the riser to the worm on a pot still the vapour would contact the loosley packed berrys
Does Methanol not burn blue and Ethanol yellow? You said the other way around
I always learn from your channel
It's a pleasure doing these and I hope it helps.
George
Hi George, this is brilliant. Thank you. Quick question, if I mix lemon and lime zest in with the juniper would that still infuse the flavour, or would you infuse that after distillation? Cheers, Chriz
It would.
@@BarleyandHopsBrewing would you still separate the heads, tails etc if making gin?
My idea was to use the 1st and last for gin, the middle batch for whisky.
Question, don't you have to first ferment the juniper berries add sugar yeast then distil it? I'm so confused
can you put juniper berries in that chinese still with the football?
great work
Should you put Berry’s in the column and the pot?
how do we make the mash to begin with...sugar and water?
George, thanks for all the great videos. I do have a question. I hope it’s not one you’ve already answered here. Let’s say someone had an old copper pot alembic still. Where would you place your juniper satchel? Somewhere up in the onion? Thank you in advance.
You've probably gotten this figured out by now but in case someone else reads this and had the same question. Yes, with an alembic you load anything that you want to infuse your spirits with inside the onion head. There are suppliers that make gin baskets that fit in many of those old stills. If you're lucky enough to have one with the removable arm above the onion head you can probably even find a sight glass that will fit there.
great explanation by the way really useful
Do I have to re distill the moonshine , inorder to be safe?
Love your video they're very informative
George ?You put one drop of glycerin per gallon in the pot with the sugar mash before you distill
can you roll up the berries in the copper ? im just scared of the column getting clogged.. or im just being a worry wort ?
Hi there! Love this channel. I’ve been looking for this answer for awhile... can you add juniper berries inside your thumper mix? Or would it be better to make a basket that sits inside my thumper that’s hanging inside so the vapour runs through it. What would you recommend?
I’m just getting into brewing. My brother has a pot still that the copper is inserted to the column from the bottom of the column. Can you use this technique of inserting the berries at the top of the column and copper underneath it from the bottom of the condenser or not?
Why does he sound like a moonshiner out of Red Dead Redemption?!
Hello George, please can you show us how you made your electrical temperature regulator?
We have several videos on that. Check out our library of videos. We even have a playlist of nothing but heating and controlling videos.
Where can I buy the heating element for the 8 GL moonshine still at so I can get rid of the hot plate it takes forever to heat up 😢😢
You can make gin out of 180 proof cognac or moonshine by adding juniper berries to it and letting it sit for a couple of months. Then after two or three months add spring water down to 100 proof and you have gin.
Exactly
How much would you fill the still. 1/2 or 3/4. I have a 3 but I don't want to over fill it
I'm using a big copper still and just have some questions regarding temperatures.
What temperatures should I be using in each section. For the cold water, Boiling water, etc...?
Love the channel George! Keep it up
Hi George, if I were to make gin using a kettle, thumper and worm/condenser set up, using the thumper as a gin basket, would the methanol in the heads affect the botanicals in the thumper which would then taint the rest of the run? Cheers
Should not since they would just transfer to the thumper and then out again. This happens at a lower temp (145F) so you should do just fine.
Barley and Hops Brewing Thank you George!