I have an 8 gallon still from Mile High; I love it. I got a gin basket attachment, and a reflux chamber with it. I cleaned it out and ran a sugar wash through it (not for drinking, have a different use for that batch) just to start working out my process. Every batch since then has been excellent. George taught me everything I know. He has recommended learning how to distill using the pot still method before moving on to the reflux method. Learning the pot still method has done more for me working out bugs from my process than anything else. And keep NOTES! It makes a difference. Best information out there on YT for learning how to do this start to finish. I am grateful to you George. Seriously grateful to you.
I ran a sacrificial run, just to learn the still's personality and to keep an old Arkansas tradition alive one more day. I agree that it is not needed, wash the new off and proceed ahead of that is your desire. I would say the connection to the past may be worth 3 gallons of mash. I am so glad to see you back George, love this channel and your explanations.
Good morning George,glad you’re back,love you videos.I have one question,will that top fit,on my brewhaus America 8 gallon unit,I like the raised dom on that lid.I wish you well.and many more videos.If you ever consider to make a video how to make Grappa.Thank you Kind Regards Emmanuel
For anyone else looking to make a similar purchase….the 8gal pot still from Brewhaus is very good. The customer service is also top notch. I also purchased the parrot from them when i purchased the still. It’s stainless, is professionally made and the least expensive of any other parrot out there. Definitely recommend checking them out and based out of Texas.
George, I started out with a pot still and a worm in a cat liter bucket. Then went to a beer keg with a home made shotgun. Did not have good results with either. I bought the 8 gal mile high and oh baby what a difference. I use your PID setup and get 94+ out of it every time. I'm a vodka man so I can bring it down to 80 proof and enjoy! Thank you! There are many others out there with opinions but you have given me the most relevant info.
Hey George. As always a great video 👌Only one thing I would change (if not running a gin🍸) I have the sight glass right over the kettle. That way I can see the amount of reflux going down🌧, and if the kettle is about to puke up the column 🤮. Happy distilling 🍻 cheers ya all 🤠
Welcome back, George. I have watched all your older videos. This is exactly the still that I have been eying to purchase for probably a couple years. This winter I will take the plunge and purchase it.
I LOVE your videos George! The perfect amount of information... just when I have a question pop into my head while watching, you answer it. Glad you are back, missed your content!
George, glad to see you back and that you took some well deserved time off. If you get time check out the stills made by North Georgia Still Co., would also like to see you do a review on one or some.
Love your videos specifically the ones explaining PID controllers and general assembly / explanation on wiring and how it works .. Do you still sell these items in your store??
George! Thankful for your insight. Keep trucking. Love your content but I have a request. Please please review the myminivodka maker. Your godfather opinion would be greatly appreciated
As many of your videos that I have watched I still seem to learn something every time I don't do much making of the shine but I think I'm going to start might have some of what I would call dumb questions but I know you're the man the news what I should do thank you glad to see your back and happy distilling
Excellent video George. Good to see you back on TH-cam. I too have adopted a simple mash fermenter. I use my old ss 10 gallon brew kettle. The lid is tightenough to keep fruit flys at bay, vent CO2 and has a handy ball valve to drain to the boiler. Keep on posting dude.🎉🎉🎉🎊
It does my heart good to see the fire and enthusiasm back in your creating. I think the break did awesome things for you old friend! As long as you keep coming so will we. THANK YOU for sharing your efforts, wisdom and knowledge! PS l am always so impressed with your shop and the orderly way you keep things.
Thanks for introducing me to my next addition to my hobby, been using the T500 and the air still but this will take me to the next level. Love your videos.
George thanks for reminding us longtime viewers about the proper construction and more importantly constituent parts of a proper still. I know this is configured to your particular needs and that it is based on your deep knowledge of the process. Another of the three legs on that good old stool. :) But I would trust your process much more than my own at this point. I want to say, as always, I appreciate your enthusiasm and joy in this series. I can't wait to see the actual run. Excellent work as always my Friend.
It's a crime that some states do not allow citizens to make their own spirits. I can see having laws to prohibit selling moonshine, but I cannot understand why every American does not have the right to make a little for personal consumption. It's a damned interesting hobby and some of us can only enjoy it vicariously because of petty politics and politicians. To not even be allowed to make DIY hand sanitizer, or windshield washer fluid, is just un-American! This needs to change! God Bless America, land of the free?
Good afternoon Your channel popped up when I researched distiller’s. I want a home distiller for my family. I’m just looking to distilling water, we want fresh distilled water. Any recommendations on a affordable distiller kit and heating element kits? Thank you from looking at a few videos this channel is awesome 👏🏼.
8 gallon milk jug boiler question: Other than looking ridiculous, can you add a 4" segmented column with bubble plates and dephlegmator or at the 8 gallon size size are you restricted to a simple 2" reflux column due to liquid volume?
Hey George, quick question, my spirits are coninv out the condenser very cold not ice cokd but its something i wanted to ask you, is it a good thing or bad? Gravity 1.080 PH'd to 5.4..
You would put a parrot under the condenser to collect the run off. A Hydrometer goes in the parrot so you can keep constant track of you distillate proof. The distillate then “runs” out the “beak” of the parrot into what ever your collecting in. Hope that helps
Hi George. Gotta question. I have a 15.5 keg still. At the moment we run a 2" copper column. We wanted to bump up to a 3" to get our take off volume up some. But we had someone give us a 4' length of 4" copper pipe. Do you think that is too big for the 15.5 gal. or is it not too bad. I don't want to way over do it but free pipe is free pipe and thats a pretty significant chunk of change. Your opinion would be appreciated.
I have a moonshine distillers 8/2 and 13/3 both duel purpose. 140 is rather easy to obtain in either. The key is low and slow. 74c will push out about a half pint an hour while brutally slow the flavor transfer is excellent. If you want to kick that closer to 150 in pot mode I recommend a fan blowing on the tower n keep the temp no higher than 80c for as long as possible. My last sweet potato oatmeal took 12 hours in the 8/2 produced 1.25 gallons in 12 hours proof came out at 148. Again I'm killing the low and slow on a day off running this way is definitely not going to be for everyone. I personally have not run either as reflux mainly because I'm not a fan of vodka or gin. One day ill get froggy and give it ago. That's all I have to say about duel 8/2 and 13/3. I bought the 13/3 with the intention of buying THE 26 gallon pot in the future. Cheers folks and thank you George for the content! Class A work
Thanks George, good to see you back on the Utubes.... I have the copper version of that Mile Hi - Setup, it's great equipment! Thanks to your instruction, I'm in my 5th year of this great art and having an absolute blast creating wonderful elixirs.
Thanks George. That is a nice looking entry level still, that can easily take upgrades. Never used exposed elements like that, but with a stainless cover (?) they would be easily cleaned. I have never done a sacrificial run, but I do the odd vinegar run in my t500 column after a more flavoursome wash than a sugar wash just to clean my copper saddles. Other than that I just run a water run with no cooling to steam clean column and dome each time. Saves me pulling out the saddles because I am lazy, lol. P.S. That condenser is an absolute ball tearer (Ozzy for very good). 😁
Nice refresher video George. Always enjoy your video presentations and glad you are back sharing your experience and knowledge with the distilling community.
Great videos George! Inspired me to blow the dust off mine. I would love to know the opening tune, I'd like to hear the whole thing. Also maybe your thoughts on ways to regulate fermentation temp. I work in a shed that is only heated when i'm out there. Happy Distilling!
It depends what you're making. If you're making a neutral it doesn't really matter as much but if you're using it as a gin basket it will strip that flavor out if you put it after the sight glass.
I have an 8 gallon still from Mile High; I love it. I got a gin basket attachment, and a reflux chamber with it. I cleaned it out and ran a sugar wash through it (not for drinking, have a different use for that batch) just to start working out my process. Every batch since then has been excellent. George taught me everything I know. He has recommended learning how to distill using the pot still method before moving on to the reflux method. Learning the pot still method has done more for me working out bugs from my process than anything else. And keep NOTES! It makes a difference. Best information out there on YT for learning how to do this start to finish. I am grateful to you George. Seriously grateful to you.
Glad to hear you find the videos helpful. That is their intent.
Hope I answer all the questions that come up during a run.
George
Thanks for a Sunday morning video!
You’re a good soul, George I enjoy listening to you, so don’t other people. Thanks.
By far the best video to watch while waiting for the football games to start
SO GLAD that you are posting. You make learning new things easy.
👍👍👍
I ran a sacrificial run, just to learn the still's personality and to keep an old Arkansas tradition alive one more day.
I agree that it is not needed, wash the new off and proceed ahead of that is your desire. I would say the connection to the past may be worth 3 gallons of mash.
I am so glad to see you back George, love this channel and your explanations.
Good morning George,glad you’re back,love you videos.I have one question,will that top fit,on my brewhaus America 8 gallon unit,I like the raised dom on that lid.I wish you well.and many more videos.If you ever consider to make a video how to make Grappa.Thank you
Kind Regards Emmanuel
good to see you once again my friend!
For anyone else looking to make a similar purchase….the 8gal pot still from Brewhaus is very good. The customer service is also top notch. I also purchased the parrot from them when i purchased the still. It’s stainless, is professionally made and the least expensive of any other parrot out there. Definitely recommend checking them out and based out of Texas.
Thank You for the great refresher course. You have been my mentor on the 3 legged stool. I am happy to see you again. Cheers to you and your family.
It's always the condenser! Always need a third or fourth hand for that condenser going on a 2-inch column. 😂 I'm glad I'm not the only one.
George, I started out with a pot still and a worm in a cat liter bucket. Then went to a beer keg with a home made shotgun. Did not have good results with either. I bought the 8 gal mile high and oh baby what a difference. I use your PID setup and get 94+ out of it every time. I'm a vodka man so I can bring it down to 80 proof and enjoy! Thank you! There are many others out there with opinions but you have given me the most relevant info.
Hey George. As always a great video 👌Only one thing I would change (if not running a gin🍸) I have the sight glass right over the kettle. That way I can see the amount of reflux going down🌧, and if the kettle is about to puke up the column 🤮. Happy distilling 🍻 cheers ya all 🤠
Welcome back, George. I have watched all your older videos. This is exactly the still that I have been eying to purchase for probably a couple years. This winter I will take the plunge and purchase it.
Thank you for working again you were missed
I share all your videos on my 5 moonshine groups.. total 90,000 members strong
And we appreciate it jb!
That's great. Thank you
Happy distilling
George
I LOVE your videos George! The perfect amount of information... just when I have a question pop into my head while watching, you answer it. Glad you are back, missed your content!
George, glad to see you back and that you took some well deserved time off. If you get time check out the stills made by North Georgia Still Co., would also like to see you do a review on one or some.
Thanks George
Great video, always fun to spend some time with you. Happy Distill'n!
Hi George! am very new to this and was wondering if I get heads if I cut and distill everything a second time with gin spices?
Love your videos specifically the ones explaining PID controllers and general assembly / explanation on wiring and how it works .. Do you still sell these items in your store??
George! Thankful for your insight. Keep trucking. Love your content but I have a request. Please please review the myminivodka maker. Your godfather opinion would be greatly appreciated
I love the versatility of my mile hi still.
As many of your videos that I have watched I still seem to learn something every time I don't do much making of the shine but I think I'm going to start might have some of what I would call dumb questions but I know you're the man the news what I should do thank you glad to see your back and happy distilling
You are the fire lighter, Thanks for your input. HAPPY DISTILLING
I have the exact same still. Wish you had used thi Pid.
Excellent video George. Good to see you back on TH-cam. I too have adopted a simple mash fermenter. I use my old ss 10 gallon brew kettle. The lid is tightenough to keep fruit flys at bay, vent CO2 and has a handy ball valve to drain to the boiler. Keep on posting dude.🎉🎉🎉🎊
It does my heart good to see the fire and enthusiasm back in your creating. I think the break did awesome things for you old friend! As long as you keep coming so will we. THANK YOU for sharing your efforts, wisdom and knowledge! PS l am always so impressed with your shop and the orderly way you keep things.
Enjoyed the video George! Glad to see you back, and please enjoy the new unit from us. Let us know if you need anything else from us, we've got you!
Love your videos
Thanks for introducing me to my next addition to my hobby, been using the T500 and the air still but this will take me to the next level. Love your videos.
Thank you
George thanks for reminding us longtime viewers about the proper construction and more importantly constituent parts of a proper still. I know this is configured to your particular needs and that it is based on your deep knowledge of the process. Another of the three legs on that good old stool. :) But I would trust your process much more than my own at this point. I want to say, as always, I appreciate your enthusiasm and joy in this series. I can't wait to see the actual run. Excellent work as always my Friend.
Really liked this video brother you look comfortable and relaxed.....and its nice to see you happy......be well brother and blessings
It's a crime that some states do not allow citizens to make their own spirits. I can see having laws to prohibit selling moonshine, but I cannot understand why every American does not have the right to make a little for personal consumption. It's a damned interesting hobby and some of us can only enjoy it vicariously because of petty politics and politicians. To not even be allowed to make DIY hand sanitizer, or windshield washer fluid, is just un-American! This needs to change! God Bless America, land of the free?
Mr George Duncan HERO of my hobby!
"I don't wanna get too wrapped up." Hahaha I see what you did there!
I chuckled at that too
As always great information!!! You have such great knowledge and I am glad you share it!! Thanks so much and so glad to see you back buddy!!
Hell yeahhh
Another awesome video George! I am so glad you are back! Happy Distilling!
Good afternoon Your channel popped up when I researched distiller’s. I want a home distiller for my family. I’m just looking to distilling water, we want fresh distilled water. Any recommendations on a affordable distiller kit and heating element kits? Thank you from looking at a few videos this channel is awesome 👏🏼.
8 gallon milk jug boiler question: Other than looking ridiculous, can you add a 4" segmented column with bubble plates and dephlegmator or at the 8 gallon size size are you restricted to a simple 2" reflux column due to liquid volume?
Hey George, quick question, my spirits are coninv out the condenser very cold not ice cokd but its something i wanted to ask you, is it a good thing or bad? Gravity 1.080 PH'd to 5.4..
Thank you for this video. I'm getting my still delivered today, will speed up my setup.
Hey George, was it a shirt in the box? Would like to see it!
Also, where would a parrot go on this setup?
Loved the video.
You would put a parrot under the condenser to collect the run off. A Hydrometer goes in the parrot so you can keep constant track of you distillate proof. The distillate then “runs” out the “beak” of the parrot into what ever your collecting in. Hope that helps
Thanks George. Love your content. You are a star
George it's great to have you back
What about running first run with soapy water and throwing it away same as cleaning it with soapy water? Ive also heard ppl doing a vinegar run
So good to see you back in the saddle.
Welcome back CSM! I'll call you next time I'm back in the 5 Hills.
Thank you, George!!
Can you please, please, please, start putting links in the description, or at the least, reply to this comment with a link to this still?
I have the copper version, I don't know what's better, looking at it or the way it works
Really Enjoyed Your Video , Thanks ! 🐯🤠
George why didn’t you increase your corn to get the PPPG to meet you SG
There seems to be a little bit of monkey business on one of the other videos as far as a reply to a comment...
Love the backdrop whiteboard George! Thanks for posting another great video!!
George and his whiteboard are to distilling what Engineering Explained and his whiteboard are to the automotive world
I’m glad you’re making videos again.
how do I find condenser parts that connects tooo column?
where could one get a try clamp plate for a heater element
George how often do you swap your gaskets in a two inch column?
Great still, I love the Team at Mile High, shout out to 'Boo' 👍.
Great work George thank you so much!
Hi George. Gotta question. I have a 15.5 keg still. At the moment we run a 2" copper column. We wanted to bump up to a 3" to get our take off volume up some. But we had someone give us a 4' length of 4" copper pipe. Do you think that is too big for the 15.5 gal. or is it not too bad. I don't want to way over do it but free pipe is free pipe and thats a pretty significant chunk of change. Your opinion would be appreciated.
P.S. we don't run plates or anything. Just a 36" column basicly pot still with a leibig condenser.
Which model from their site is this one? Jayman...
How do clean the copper mesh after a run
No pun intended? Lol 11:05
Good episode George.
No seals on the collum
I have a moonshine distillers 8/2 and 13/3 both duel purpose. 140 is rather easy to obtain in either. The key is low and slow. 74c will push out about a half pint an hour while brutally slow the flavor transfer is excellent. If you want to kick that closer to 150 in pot mode I recommend a fan blowing on the tower n keep the temp no higher than 80c for as long as possible. My last sweet potato oatmeal took 12 hours in the 8/2 produced 1.25 gallons in 12 hours proof came out at 148. Again I'm killing the low and slow on a day off running this way is definitely not going to be for everyone. I personally have not run either as reflux mainly because I'm not a fan of vodka or gin. One day ill get froggy and give it ago. That's all I have to say about duel 8/2 and 13/3. I bought the 13/3 with the intention of buying THE 26 gallon pot in the future. Cheers folks and thank you George for the content! Class A work
Great video! I have only one question, but it's the $64,000 question: How do you afford all of this amazing equipment? It makes my mouth water.
I bought the exact still! I’ve made high proof 180 for apple pie and made a good 48% corn and barley whisky. Very versatile!
Thanks George, good to see you back on the Utubes.... I have the copper version of that Mile Hi - Setup, it's great equipment! Thanks to your instruction, I'm in my 5th year of this great art and having an absolute blast creating wonderful elixirs.
Thanks George. That is a nice looking entry level still, that can easily take upgrades. Never used exposed elements like that, but with a stainless cover (?) they would be easily cleaned. I have never done a sacrificial run, but I do the odd vinegar run in my t500 column after a more flavoursome wash than a sugar wash just to clean my copper saddles. Other than that I just run a water run with no cooling to steam clean column and dome each time. Saves me pulling out the saddles because I am lazy, lol. P.S. That condenser is an absolute ball tearer (Ozzy for very good). 😁
Nice refresher video George. Always enjoy your video presentations and glad you are back sharing your experience and knowledge with the distilling community.
I'd like to see how this still runs a thumper. The still itself is absolutely top quality!
it doesnt run a thumper that why its an open system. A thumper is a closed system.
Thank you for this!
I've just received a cheap still from Amazon (gotta start somewhere). This shows me fancy options for when I get more experience.
Thanks George
Great videos George! Inspired me to blow the dust off mine. I would love to know the opening tune, I'd like to hear the whole thing. Also maybe your thoughts on ways to regulate fermentation temp. I work in a shed that is only heated when i'm out there. Happy Distilling!
🎉 great video
Welcome back George! You are the reason I started my hobby of distilling :)
Love how you break the process down. 1 question, should we use Star San to sanitize all parts?
Thank you again George. I wish this was a class I could have taken in school. Be the only one I ever did all my homework in. 😂😂
Great timing! Mine was delivered last week and can't wait to get to use it. Thanks George! Happy Distilling!
I noticed that you put the pre condenser before the sight glass. I have always put it as high as possible. Is there a reason for putting it lower?
It depends what you're making. If you're making a neutral it doesn't really matter as much but if you're using it as a gin basket it will strip that flavor out if you put it after the sight glass.
Thanks for all the help and refresher. Now I’m going to get out my still and start working on mine. Like all the info I learn from you on every video.
Well done
George, thank you for coming back to share your wisdom. You were missed by many.
This is a great product, it would be nice to use it to make rum from start to finish. George, for all the information you share.
Your videos are top notch, Sir!!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you Professor George 🙏