Fantastic, unbiased review. BTW, I strongly recommend to collect spirits into GLASS, closed container (bottle, covered jar, etc), to avoid loosing "goodness" due to vaporisation.The plastics don't go nicely with alcohol, so glass is the thing. Also, using distilled water instead of spring one is better option as distilled is pure and has no unwanted minerals. After your review, the Air Still Pro is on my wish list. Thank you.
I’m glad that you liked the film, thanks for the comment. Yes I’m aware of the plastic issue, I keep meaning to stop using it! Thanks for the advice though. The Pro is good as a reflux still, but pot still is a pain. Hope you enjoy using it!
If you want to ditch that acetone smell/taste, make cuts. You might have to ditch the first 100-200 mL of heads (not quite the same as foreshots). But you can save them in another jar for "reprocessing" in the next spirit run. In the regular Airstill (pot mode) I reprocess feints (heads/tails) in next batch of same recipe. Being able to "keep it all" is what I would consider misinformation from the manufacturer. All distillations, both reflux or pot, will have a spectrum of heads/hearts/tails across the run.
As an aside to what comes in the Box, mine came with two replacement spares of the P and the R nozzles as well as two packs of Ceramic boiling Enhancers one in the Air Still Pro box and one in the Essentials box that comes for free with the Air Still Pro as well as three Essences and two Glucose packs, an Alcometre and Hydrometer as well as the measuring tube to put either metre in as well as a fermenter and carbon filter jugs, quite a bit of kit, enough to make your first at least three bottles of Whiskey, Rum or Gin :) as well as two spare Fore shot jars.
Thanks. This was by far the best review I have seen about the air still pro and as I've been on the fence about buying it you have been the contributing factor to me making up my mind to buy one. Amazing review and awesome content on the use and issues about it. I'm subscribing to you on this review alone. looking forward to checking out the rest of you work.
@@MossHomeandGarden running my first reflux as we speak. Very happy so far. Thanks again. It's not often you get such and good and accurate review. Keep it up
Great review there Stuart, I have the original Airstill and I think I'll stick with it as I also have the T500 which I haven't yet used so I think I am well covered for a reflux capability and it's nice to have the ability to monitor the quality as you go and take cuts. If I were starting out then yes I would have one.
Good review..... I too have already bought one but interested to see if others are as impressed as I am. One thing I noticed in your video, you were collecting into a plastic jug on the pro, better with glass at such high abv, just a thought is all.
Hi Gary, yes you’re right about glass being better, but these are tough old jugs, the spirit was only in them for a few hours so hopefully that hasn’t impacted flavour wise. 🍻
Thanks Steve, it’s a nice bit of kit, but I think if the old air still is used correctly (with cuts) that it might work as well. This will be my next comparison film in pot still mode.
I use an air still 1 two years now and I love it. I’d advise anyone to get a still and a wash bucket etc and start doing their own vodka. And I run 1 litre of vodka through my carbon filter at least 3 times, and it cleans it more every time, saves you a lot of cash on carbon filters.
Few things to clarify The Tips: There is indeed a difference between them if you look at the internal diameter of the nozel. The Reflux nozzle is much smaller which I would assume is to create a bit more negative pressure in the reflux column while the pot still nozzle is larger to aid in better flow. No power off switch: indeed there is. The same button you switch the thing on with is also used to power off, just press it.
The cloudiness after adding water is almost certainly from the essential oils from your botanicals taking time to find a new equilibrium with the new ABV.
Need to crush the juniper berries, I do this using to spoons so just crack gives more flavour meaning use less. If you was going to buy would you buy one at price it is. Good video
Ayup Kev, re berries, that’s why I gave them a zap in the blender to scar them a bit, I think next time I’ll use a pestle though. I wouldn’t buy one at the minute, but I can see the advantages of it.
I bought an Air Still Pro because of reviews like this one, sure it seems like an expensive piece of kit, but at a minimum of $45+ for one bottle of a cheap Rum or Gin or Whiskey, I think over a year it would more than pay for itself as who doesn't enjoy a Bottle of Home made Spirit, made to taste rather than to a price. I have over ten litres of a 18 to 20% mead that I left in the Aging Cupboard a little to long and instead of throwing it, I saw a video on the Air Still Pro that shows how to make a Gin or neutral spirit from any old alcohol you may have lying about. If I can gain four or more bottles of spirit from what I would have normally thrown away, I gain back over $200 if I had to buy said Spirits from the Bottle O. I have yet to test the Still Spirit Essences, but from reviews I have seen, I may be able to produce a Southern Style Whiskey or even a Spiced Rum. Maybe with some oak and some time, I may even end up with some 5+ year old Spirits of different types ? If I really get into this Distilling, I may buy a T500 modified or similar, down the track and use the Air Still Pro for small batch runs. I am retired and also a Hobbyist Bee Keeper and so have a lot of Honey spare to make Mead and now with my Pro, I am looking at Honey Rum :)
Yes I can see in countries where spirits are very expensive that home stilling is a great way forwards. I'd love to have a go at bee-keeping and may well do so at some in the future. Enjoy your rewarding hobbies!
@@MossHomeandGarden Make sure you get a good suit and gloves, don't skimp on them, make sure to get a good base that allows the Bees to force Hive Beetles out, every beginner Beekeeper has the same problem as they don't understand how Hive Beetles can destroy a hive if not maintained correctly, get a local Beekeeper to mentor you, I have mentored a few local Boys, once you get used to working around and in your Hive you will find that you don't need the suit as often nor gloves, but that also depends on how you react to a Bee Sting as you will get stung, even I still get stung now and again, I don't notice it as I don't react :)
It's a fascinating design. Can you tell us how the foreshot mechanism actually works please? Is there maybe a sensor that diverts the flow after 25 ml has passed through?
I only just got one to replace my old Air Still pot head, I only make white spirit runs and just flavour so a reflux still is better and much easier to collect the foreshots, the main reason I wanted to upgrade before going a full copper still. The way it appears to work is a pressure stopper. Basically it free flows into that vessel but if you note the thing that he accidentally pulls out, that stopper valve will close off flow into that collection vessel once the liquid rises and touches it. This is why they state you MUST leave that in place while it runs and that stopper is designed to come out so you can clean it. Just dont ever lose it.
Honestly I’ve no idea what that is! You would be better to ask in one of the Air Still Facebook groups that I’ve linked in the comments beneath the video. Out of interest let me know when you find out! 🍻
Stuart great video as always, quick one I see you didn't put the ceramic beads In. They didn't come in the packaging. I saw you used the conditioner but would you have used the beads if you had them ?. Really informal and a great video might have to upgrade. Will the pro lid fit on my old airstill base ?? I see the top is available on its own ?
@@MossHomeandGarden They're to help prevent pukes/boil-overs. They break up the big bubbles that cause those into smaller ones. Like the conditioner, not necessary on spirit runs; only for stripping runs where there may be residual sugars and/or particulate in the wash/mash.
To be honest, without watching the film again, I can't remember, but switiching in-between pot still and reflux is a pain with this still. I think pot still is best done on the traditional air still. Next time I do a stilling I might try using both and going from one to the other. I've got a couple of other still films coming out in the next month and only do those in reflux too (just letting you know!).
Honestly I don't know, but for the tiny amount I make (less than 8 litres a year), I'm not going to worry too much about it. I've actually not distilled for some months now as I'm not that keen on spirits! I just wanted to have a go.
Great video thx as not many around of quality for the air still My take on your video is your running your air still pro in reflux mode and your normal air still in pot still mode , which is what is designed for. Maybe run the same test again with both in pot still mode
The Air Still Pro does have an on off button as the Button you use for standby and Pot or Reflux does turn the unit on or off, just by pressing it once :) If you had tried this instead of just going straight for the power switch you would have found that the button does in fact turn it on and off as well as the other modes. I tried this on mine to see if what you said was correct and found that it wasn't. I know it's your first turn with it and so you can be forgiven for not realising this fact.
For just a small amount more than a bare Air Still Pro you could get a T-500 with the copper reflux column. Yes, this takes up more space but it is a _real_ entry level still. Both Air Stills are only suitable for tiny amounts of wash, leading to endless stripping runs and no control over your heat or condensing power. One day you will want to try more advanced techniques or exert more control over the spirits you make and there is no avenue to improve the Air Still equipment. Still Spirits does have a great advertising and promotions arm, but there are many other suppliers selling a huge array of still components that simply clamp together for your stripping, reflux, pot still, or infusion run.
Hi Bill, thanks for your detailed comment. I think if I was going to really get into stilling, I'd go down that road, but for me it's just an occasional thing, probably only 3-4 times a year. I agree with you though about Still Spirits having a great marketing arm. Cheers!
@@MossHomeandGarden Hi, Moss. I did end up getting an air still to play with. I made various modifications, but here is an easy one that I would recommend to anyone. I bought an inexpensive roll of 0.2mm Thickness Copper Sheet Roll High Purity Pure Copper100mmx1000mm from that place named after a Brazilian rain-forest. It cuts easily with kitchen shears. I lined the sides of the air still with this to reduce sulfur compounds (smell) in the final product. When they darken through use they can be restored with citric acid or white vinegar.
Wow, that sounds like a really well considered 'hack'. I'm going to have a look at doing this. Is there any chance you could take a photo of your lined still for me to see how you did it? My email is mosshomeandgarden 'at' gmail.com - thanks!@@Miata822
I am interested in finding out if the Air Still Reflux Head would work on my Vevor brand air still. I do not have access to the Air Still Brand. What is the diameter of the reservoir pot of the Air Still?
@@MossHomeandGarden I'm not in hurry. If you could measure your Air Still when you have time and message me, I would definitely appreciate it. Thank you.
No, it's the foreshots you throw away, in a much earlier film I got my terminology muddled and called foreshots heads by mistake, sorry if that's caused an issue for you.
If you are running the pro on reflux the reflux will take longer compared to the older air still not having a reflux mode. It's a shame they can't design one that makes heads and tails cuts as well also its best never to leave a still unattended.
For a fairer comparison it would have been better to have run the pro on pot still mode, reflux will produce a cleaner spirit than just on pot still mode. Check out barley and hops brewing, bever diy and still it on here jesse from the TH-cam channel also just did a review on the pro that might be worth a watch 😊
A tip for making gin let some of your botanicals soak in your neutral spirit for a few days before the final run and also load your gin basket and you will get a lot more of the botanical flavours in the finished product. Amd you definitely need to do cuts for your heads and tails amd jist do your foreshots on the final run 🍻
I do my stripping runs in pot still mode, only use reflux mode for vodka after you have stripped in pot still mode. Spirit runs for Gin, Whiskey, Rum should be done in Pot still mode as it carries over more flavour. Reflux mode only really for vodka or any spirit with minimal flavour. Good video though!
@@MossHomeandGarden doing a pot mode run AFTER a reflux mode run is beyond wasting time unless you are using the second run to add more ingredients in the pot or basket. A pot run is not going to separate out any flavors from the reflux run distillate, because it's not going to achieve a fractioning rate as high as the reflux run did. The only way to get noticeable cuts would be to do another reflux run, ideally in a still that's more efficient than the one used for the first reflux run. The entire point of a reflux column is that it eliminates cutting by having all of the impurities from heads and tails fall back down into the pot instead of coming out of the condenser.
@@stevealford230 Hi Steve, I won't be wasting time, as I'll be creating a gin by adding botanicals, junipers berries etc into the air still drum before doing the pot still run with a diluted 86% spirit from the pro's reflux run....all will be revealed in about a months time, but essentially I want to compare how a pro does in pot still compared to the traditional air still. I suspect it won't be much different, but I won't know until i've tried it.
I have one and yes it does hit 90, more often than not. I couldnt measure the output on my 1st run as my test tube wasnt deep enough with the alcometer I had so I bought another alcometer that.reads 70~100abv and I can confirm that if that is accurate then 90% is more often than not achieved. I must add, that was in reflux mode.
It's amazing to get over 80 on just one distillation. That said, I've never found anything palatable after just 1x on any sized rig. That's what stripping runs are for -- removing the off-tasting impurities. With this rig running reflux on low wines (aka 1x distilled product), should go over 90. But NEVER put over 40% was in your boiler. Water it down if necessary.
@@Rubberduck-tx2bh for half the price of that, you can buy a digiboil and column that gives me full azeotrope on the first run with zero off-flavors, tossing the first 125ml from a 5gal (25l) distillation, stopping when the head temp rises 1 degree, after about a gallon of 194 proof distillate. Yes, it requires water for the condenser, but I just fill a little 25l kitchen trash can with water and use a $20 fountain pump to circulate the water from it. All told, much better alcohol, 5 times more of it in the same amount of time, for half of the cost. And you can limit the temp on the boiler so that you can walk away like with that and not catch after the abv drops. The only benefit of the air still pro is the convenient size... but since it's not going to full azeotrope, it's no better than using my Vevor air still for a 1.5 hour full stripping run and then a 3 hour spirit run on it, without the convenience of no cuts, but at one-sixth the price of the air still pro.
Well Tom Davies, in life we all make mistakes, but mistakes are good when we learn from them. For example, thru isn’t a word although through is. ver isn’t a word either, but Very (with a capital V at the beginning of a sentence) is. See, we all make mistakes? However, when you point out mistakes have happened, you fail to say what they are or offer any constructive feedback to help me learn from my mistakes, where as I have given you two examples of how to improve your writing. Also Tommy, just to point out to you that your observation on my marital status was 100% incorrect, and making an unnecessary personal attack like that, says much more about you, than it does about me. Bye Tommy. X
Fantastic, unbiased review. BTW, I strongly recommend to collect spirits into GLASS, closed container (bottle, covered jar, etc), to avoid loosing "goodness" due to vaporisation.The plastics don't go nicely with alcohol, so glass is the thing. Also, using distilled water instead of spring one is better option as distilled is pure and has no unwanted minerals. After your review, the Air Still Pro is on my wish list. Thank you.
I’m glad that you liked the film, thanks for the comment. Yes I’m aware of the plastic issue, I keep meaning to stop using it! Thanks for the advice though. The Pro is good as a reflux still, but pot still is a pain. Hope you enjoy using it!
If you want to ditch that acetone smell/taste, make cuts. You might have to ditch the first 100-200 mL of heads (not quite the same as foreshots). But you can save them in another jar for "reprocessing" in the next spirit run. In the regular Airstill (pot mode) I reprocess feints (heads/tails) in next batch of same recipe. Being able to "keep it all" is what I would consider misinformation from the manufacturer. All distillations, both reflux or pot, will have a spectrum of heads/hearts/tails across the run.
Yes, that’s my next film, taking cuts in pot still mode, pro v air still, out in about a month.
Hands down best review of airstill .
Not like all the others geeking out and bamboozling with if buts and maybe's
Thanks mate, that's really appreciated.
Great in-depth review, love your videos!!!
Thank you!
Fantastic video! Well done. Watched the lot. Kept me interested throughout. All the best from Manchester! 😉
Cheers! 🍻
Thanks Stuart, I bought one already but nice to get an excellent review.
Cheers Clive, appreciated!
As an aside to what comes in the Box, mine came with two replacement spares of the P and the R nozzles as well as two packs of Ceramic boiling Enhancers one in the Air Still Pro box and one in the Essentials box that comes for free with the Air Still Pro as well as three Essences and two Glucose packs, an Alcometre and Hydrometer as well as the measuring tube to put either metre in as well as a fermenter and carbon filter jugs, quite a bit of kit, enough to make your first at least three bottles of Whiskey, Rum or Gin :) as well as two spare Fore shot jars.
My first Air Still came with all those extras, but this was loaned from a retailer, so they may have already been removed.
Thanks. This was by far the best review I have seen about the air still pro and as I've been on the fence about buying it you have been the contributing factor to me making up my mind to buy one. Amazing review and awesome content on the use and issues about it. I'm subscribing to you on this review alone. looking forward to checking out the rest of you work.
Thank you, that's a very appreciated comment, I'm glad you liked the film, good luck with the Air Still Pro!
@@MossHomeandGarden running my first reflux as we speak. Very happy so far. Thanks again. It's not often you get such and good and accurate review. Keep it up
@@cobusdavids898 Cheers, I'm just doing a Pot Still mode run V the old air still, film will be up in a month or so.
Great review there Stuart, I have the original Airstill and I think I'll stick with it as I also have the T500 which I haven't yet used so I think I am well covered for a reflux capability and it's nice to have the ability to monitor the quality as you go and take cuts. If I were starting out then yes I would have one.
Thanks Steve! 🍻
Great video I can't wait to use mine ❤
Good luck with it!
Good review..... I too have already bought one but interested to see if others are as impressed as I am. One thing I noticed in your video, you were collecting into a plastic jug on the pro, better with glass at such high abv, just a thought is all.
Hi Gary, yes you’re right about glass being better, but these are tough old jugs, the spirit was only in them for a few hours so hopefully that hasn’t impacted flavour wise. 🍻
Cracking review bud some good and not so good points , thinks I’ll wait a little longer not in any rush at the moment .
Thanks Steve, it’s a nice bit of kit, but I think if the old air still is used correctly (with cuts) that it might work as well. This will be my next comparison film in pot still mode.
I use an air still 1 two years now and I love it. I’d advise anyone to get a still and a wash bucket etc and start doing their own vodka. And I run 1 litre of vodka through my carbon filter at least 3 times, and it cleans it more every time, saves you a lot of cash on carbon filters.
Are you saying that you filter each run of distillate three times or that you use each carbon filter three times? I only ever filter mine once.
Few things to clarify
The Tips: There is indeed a difference between them if you look at the internal diameter of the nozel. The Reflux nozzle is much smaller which I would assume is to create a bit more negative pressure in the reflux column while the pot still nozzle is larger to aid in better flow.
No power off switch: indeed there is. The same button you switch the thing on with is also used to power off, just press it.
Fair points and duly noted, cheers.
The cloudiness after adding water is almost certainly from the essential oils from your botanicals taking time to find a new equilibrium with the new ABV.
Thanks for that, I knew that somebody would know the answer :)
Need to crush the juniper berries, I do this using to spoons so just crack gives more flavour meaning use less.
If you was going to buy would you buy one at price it is.
Good video
Ayup Kev, re berries, that’s why I gave them a zap in the blender to scar them a bit, I think next time I’ll use a pestle though. I wouldn’t buy one at the minute, but I can see the advantages of it.
I bought an Air Still Pro because of reviews like this one, sure it seems like an expensive piece of kit, but at a minimum of $45+ for one bottle of a cheap Rum or Gin or Whiskey, I think over a year it would more than pay for itself as who doesn't enjoy a Bottle of Home made Spirit, made to taste rather than to a price.
I have over ten litres of a 18 to 20% mead that I left in the Aging Cupboard a little to long and instead of throwing it, I saw a video on the Air Still Pro that shows how to make a Gin or neutral spirit from any old alcohol you may have lying about.
If I can gain four or more bottles of spirit from what I would have normally thrown away, I gain back over $200 if I had to buy said Spirits from the Bottle O.
I have yet to test the Still Spirit Essences, but from reviews I have seen, I may be able to produce a Southern Style Whiskey or even a Spiced Rum.
Maybe with some oak and some time, I may even end up with some 5+ year old Spirits of different types ?
If I really get into this Distilling, I may buy a T500 modified or similar, down the track and use the Air Still Pro for small batch runs.
I am retired and also a Hobbyist Bee Keeper and so have a lot of Honey spare to make Mead and now with my Pro, I am looking at Honey Rum :)
Yes I can see in countries where spirits are very expensive that home stilling is a great way forwards. I'd love to have a go at bee-keeping and may well do so at some in the future. Enjoy your rewarding hobbies!
@@MossHomeandGarden Make sure you get a good suit and gloves, don't skimp on them, make sure to get a good base that allows the Bees to force Hive Beetles out, every beginner Beekeeper has the same problem as they don't understand how Hive Beetles can destroy a hive if not maintained correctly, get a local Beekeeper to mentor you, I have mentored a few local Boys, once you get used to working around and in your Hive you will find that you don't need the suit as often nor gloves, but that also depends on how you react to a Bee Sting as you will get stung, even I still get stung now and again, I don't notice it as I don't react :)
i have the pro, i found doing the stripping run in pot mode much faster and then the final spirit run in reflux, knocks a hour or so off easily
Good tip, thanks! 👍
It's a fascinating design. Can you tell us how the foreshot mechanism actually works please? Is there maybe a sensor that diverts the flow after 25 ml has passed through?
Hello, I actually have no idea, but you could contact Still Spirits via their social media, I'm sure somebody there would be able to answer. Cheers!
I only just got one to replace my old Air Still pot head, I only make white spirit runs and just flavour so a reflux still is better and much easier to collect the foreshots, the main reason I wanted to upgrade before going a full copper still.
The way it appears to work is a pressure stopper. Basically it free flows into that vessel but if you note the thing that he accidentally pulls out, that stopper valve will close off flow into that collection vessel once the liquid rises and touches it. This is why they state you MUST leave that in place while it runs and that stopper is designed to come out so you can clean it. Just dont ever lose it.
I’m wanting to know if we can add spiral prismatic packing to the column before the copper.
Honestly I’ve no idea what that is! You would be better to ask in one of the Air Still Facebook groups that I’ve linked in the comments beneath the video. Out of interest let me know when you find out! 🍻
Stuart great video as always, quick one I see you didn't put the ceramic beads In. They didn't come in the packaging. I saw you used the conditioner but would you have used the beads if you had them ?.
Really informal and a great video might have to upgrade. Will the pro lid fit on my old airstill base ??
I see the top is available on its own ?
Hi Andy, I have an unopened pack of beads from when I bought my first air still, I don’t get the point in them tbh.
PS. Thanks for comment and glad you liked the film. Yes the pro head fits on the old still base.
@@MossHomeandGarden They're to help prevent pukes/boil-overs. They break up the big bubbles that cause those into smaller ones. Like the conditioner, not necessary on spirit runs; only for stripping runs where there may be residual sugars and/or particulate in the wash/mash.
@@Rubberduck-tx2bh Thanks for the info, that handy to know.
You were running the stripping run in reflux mode, should have been in pot still mode, you also did the test at double the abv.
To be honest, without watching the film again, I can't remember, but switiching in-between pot still and reflux is a pain with this still. I think pot still is best done on the traditional air still. Next time I do a stilling I might try using both and going from one to the other. I've got a couple of other still films coming out in the next month and only do those in reflux too (just letting you know!).
Is a UK Distillers license and rectifiers license required to use the Air Still Pro?
Honestly I don't know, but for the tiny amount I make (less than 8 litres a year), I'm not going to worry too much about it. I've actually not distilled for some months now as I'm not that keen on spirits! I just wanted to have a go.
Great video thx as not many around of quality for the air still
My take on your video is your running your air still pro in reflux mode and your normal air still in pot still mode , which is what is designed for.
Maybe run the same test again with both in pot still mode
Hi Rod, thanks for the comment, on my most recent air still film, I did exactly as you have suggested, have a look for it 👍
The Air Still Pro does have an on off button as the Button you use for standby and Pot or Reflux does turn the unit on or off, just by pressing it once :)
If you had tried this instead of just going straight for the power switch you would have found that the button does in fact turn it on and off as well as the other modes.
I tried this on mine to see if what you said was correct and found that it wasn't.
I know it's your first turn with it and so you can be forgiven for not realising this fact.
Ahh thanks for that info!
Have u tried twice distillation one after one in a single day .
Yes, it provides a better product that is cleaner.
Awesome
Thanks Rex!
For just a small amount more than a bare Air Still Pro you could get a T-500 with the copper reflux column. Yes, this takes up more space but it is a _real_ entry level still. Both Air Stills are only suitable for tiny amounts of wash, leading to endless stripping runs and no control over your heat or condensing power. One day you will want to try more advanced techniques or exert more control over the spirits you make and there is no avenue to improve the Air Still equipment.
Still Spirits does have a great advertising and promotions arm, but there are many other suppliers selling a huge array of still components that simply clamp together for your stripping, reflux, pot still, or infusion run.
Hi Bill, thanks for your detailed comment. I think if I was going to really get into stilling, I'd go down that road, but for me it's just an occasional thing, probably only 3-4 times a year. I agree with you though about Still Spirits having a great marketing arm. Cheers!
@@MossHomeandGarden Hi, Moss. I did end up getting an air still to play with. I made various modifications, but here is an easy one that I would recommend to anyone. I bought an inexpensive roll of 0.2mm Thickness Copper Sheet Roll High Purity Pure Copper100mmx1000mm from that place named after a Brazilian rain-forest. It cuts easily with kitchen shears. I lined the sides of the air still with this to reduce sulfur compounds (smell) in the final product. When they darken through use they can be restored with citric acid or white vinegar.
Wow, that sounds like a really well considered 'hack'. I'm going to have a look at doing this. Is there any chance you could take a photo of your lined still for me to see how you did it? My email is mosshomeandgarden 'at' gmail.com - thanks!@@Miata822
I am interested in finding out if the Air Still Reflux Head would work on my Vevor brand air still. I do not have access to the Air Still Brand. What is the diameter of the reservoir pot of the Air Still?
I’m away working for a week, I’d suggest asking that question in one of the Air Still Facebook groups linked in my video comments. 🍻
@@MossHomeandGarden I'm not in hurry. If you could measure your Air Still when you have time and message me, I would definitely appreciate it. Thank you.
@@j.m.castillo9561 Ok, well I’m working in Belgium until the weekend, so it will be after then (replying from other account).
@@stuartmoss AirStill's website says the that the Pro head will fit on the original's boiler. There's an option just to buy the head, in fact.
@@Rubberduck-tx2bh I know, I say so in the film. (Replying from other account).
What’s a tomato paste wash?
It is a high strength wine made from sugar, water and tomato pureé to use as a base for distilling to make clear and clean neutral spirits.
Hi, shouldnt we throw away the heads?!!!
No, it's the foreshots you throw away, in a much earlier film I got my terminology muddled and called foreshots heads by mistake, sorry if that's caused an issue for you.
👍👍👍
Always appreciated Rex 🍻
If you are running the pro on reflux the reflux will take longer compared to the older air still not having a reflux mode. It's a shame they can't design one that makes heads and tails cuts as well also its best never to leave a still unattended.
For a fairer comparison it would have been better to have run the pro on pot still mode, reflux will produce a cleaner spirit than just on pot still mode. Check out barley and hops brewing, bever diy and still it on here jesse from the TH-cam channel also just did a review on the pro that might be worth a watch 😊
And you don't need to do foreshots so many times mate 😊
A tip for making gin let some of your botanicals soak in your neutral spirit for a few days before the final run and also load your gin basket and you will get a lot more of the botanical flavours in the finished product. Amd you definitely need to do cuts for your heads and tails amd jist do your foreshots on the final run 🍻
Hi Andy, I’m doing a pot still comparison in a couple of weeks, just got to wait for the wash to finish fermenting.
Thanks for all the advice, I did stuff the botanical basket, but in hindsight I think steeping after distilling works better.
I think I am figuring it out! Are you related to Winnie the Pooh? 😘
Whilst I share his affection for marmalade sandwiches, I don’t share his DNA :)
@@MossHomeandGarden It's your accent! You sound like Winnie the Pooh. Us American's lack accent. Thanks for being a good sport.
@@cmajors4596 I think I sound more like Wallace from Wallace and Grommit!
@@MossHomeandGarden i don't know who that is. Ill take your word for it!
I do my stripping runs in pot still mode, only use reflux mode for vodka after you have stripped in pot still mode. Spirit runs for Gin, Whiskey, Rum should be done in Pot still mode as it carries over more flavour. Reflux mode only really for vodka or any spirit with minimal flavour. Good video though!
My next trial is going to involve a reflux mode stripping run followed by a pot still mode spirit run, taking 50ml cuts.
@@MossHomeandGarden doing a pot mode run AFTER a reflux mode run is beyond wasting time unless you are using the second run to add more ingredients in the pot or basket. A pot run is not going to separate out any flavors from the reflux run distillate, because it's not going to achieve a fractioning rate as high as the reflux run did. The only way to get noticeable cuts would be to do another reflux run, ideally in a still that's more efficient than the one used for the first reflux run. The entire point of a reflux column is that it eliminates cutting by having all of the impurities from heads and tails fall back down into the pot instead of coming out of the condenser.
Fenton, if you have a good column with good reflux, you shouldn't need to do any stripping runs before the reflux run to get good neutral.
@@stevealford230 Hi Steve, I won't be wasting time, as I'll be creating a gin by adding botanicals, junipers berries etc into the air still drum before doing the pot still run with a diluted 86% spirit from the pro's reflux run....all will be revealed in about a months time, but essentially I want to compare how a pro does in pot still compared to the traditional air still. I suspect it won't be much different, but I won't know until i've tried it.
I can't see that reaching 90% probably 70%
I have one and yes it does hit 90, more often than not. I couldnt measure the output on my 1st run as my test tube wasnt deep enough with the alcometer I had so I bought another alcometer that.reads 70~100abv and I can confirm that if that is accurate then 90% is more often than not achieved. I must add, that was in reflux mode.
I think I got 87% can’t remember without re-watching!
It's amazing to get over 80 on just one distillation. That said, I've never found anything palatable after just 1x on any sized rig. That's what stripping runs are for -- removing the off-tasting impurities. With this rig running reflux on low wines (aka 1x distilled product), should go over 90. But NEVER put over 40% was in your boiler. Water it down if necessary.
@@Rubberduck-tx2bh for half the price of that, you can buy a digiboil and column that gives me full azeotrope on the first run with zero off-flavors, tossing the first 125ml from a 5gal (25l) distillation, stopping when the head temp rises 1 degree, after about a gallon of 194 proof distillate.
Yes, it requires water for the condenser, but I just fill a little 25l kitchen trash can with water and use a $20 fountain pump to circulate the water from it. All told, much better alcohol, 5 times more of it in the same amount of time, for half of the cost. And you can limit the temp on the boiler so that you can walk away like with that and not catch after the abv drops. The only benefit of the air still pro is the convenient size... but since it's not going to full azeotrope, it's no better than using my Vevor air still for a 1.5 hour full stripping run and then a 3 hour spirit run on it, without the convenience of no cuts, but at one-sixth the price of the air still pro.
this guy made so many mistakes if he can get thru it I guess anybody could. ver inept obviously not married
Well Tom Davies, in life we all make mistakes, but mistakes are good when we learn from them. For example, thru isn’t a word although through is. ver isn’t a word either, but Very (with a capital V at the beginning of a sentence) is. See, we all make mistakes? However, when you point out mistakes have happened, you fail to say what they are or offer any constructive feedback to help me learn from my mistakes, where as I have given you two examples of how to improve your writing. Also Tommy, just to point out to you that your observation on my marital status was 100% incorrect, and making an unnecessary personal attack like that, says much more about you, than it does about me. Bye Tommy. X