Hey HerrWayne45......Thanks mate, glad you enjoy my vids....... I have three vids in the pipeline and two others planned. Trouble is brewing can take some time to reach an end......
Same experience here. Once I had seen the pop up. It was stop what I was doing and watch the video to see what enjoyable adventure of stilling we will be on today. 😀
Thanks for the video. Recommend you ditch the paper towel/ rubber band thing, and use drip coffee machine filters (cone shaped ones). You can reuse them easily, and they just sit upside down on your cuts jars. Airing of your run for 24 hrs I think is essential. Based on the boiling points of methanol and other volatiles, these unwanted fluids evaporate more than the ethanol you want. It just helps makes a smoother distillate.
I'm just waiting on a delivery of my Turbo 500, looking at your channel has helped a lot, Good advice. I think quality is better than quantity. Cheers.
Good on ya "The Lost Boy Scout", It is amazing how many people have very little regard for doing this....... I shudder at the thought of mentioning this, but my Brother has the exact same reflux setup as me and he throws away the first 50ml and keeps the rest until the still stops producing alcohol. What is more concerning is that he only does Turbo Yeast runs for maximum volume......... Well, I suppose each to their own and if he likes the end product, good on him..... It is right for him I suppose....
Thanks Garry...... I have three vids in the camera, and two planned....... Problem with Distilling is that there is a long time between pitching the yeast and having the product to end the vid.
@@pauljacobs5390 I get all impatient too, at the moment I've got 50lts of 'bird watchers' fermenting and another 50 of milled rice using 'Angel yellow label' yeast/enzymes, I strip all mine in a 50lt beer keg then put the low wines in the turbo boiler using the reflux column to finish off plus I use a scr for controlling the power to the boiler as well.
Thank you for a great video. I'm just curious about the details... Looking at your cuts you made, are they based on a standard wash volume (20-25L) and did you do a stripping run before the spirit run? I've read somewhere that a stripping run makes it easier to sense the cuts in the following spirit run (in reflux mode). I'm not yet into the hobby, mostly because it's not allowed where I live. But I do have a dream some day be able to open a small scale distillery, and therefore I am gathering knowledge in this art. 🙂
Good point: start judging cuts by the MIDDLE jars. They are less likely to be "off" flavour. Once you have a whiff of acetone or wet socks, they tend to endure. Have a shot glass and water available and taste cuts by diluting a small sample of each to approx 40% or your normal proof.
Hey Bob, I am presently looking at the Heads and Tails with Tomatoe Paste Wash..... Stay tuned, new cuts directions with MORE end product coming.......🙃
I’m dying from curiosity about the watermelon brandy..... The cuts on a reflux I’m finding the heads are easier to differentiate than the tails. The heads have the acetone smell but I don’t get any of the “wet dog” smell in the tails, just a slightly stronger smell than the hearts...... hence I have an ever growing collection of feints to run. I know you don’t run these but this will be a first for me and I’m just curious about the difference. Great video, look forward to part 2 of the Watermelon Brandy.
Yeah, Echo Delta.... In the end it comes down to what the Distiller is happy achieving. My Brother tells me I am an idiot for throwing away so much and I repeatedly tell him (usually after a healthy session of home brew) that we all work out what we are most happy achieving. My Watermelon wash is nearly finished (SG of 1017). I am going to give it some time to settle before doing a pot still run. Pt. 2 is on its way........
You definitely have to work with the still you have but you might see better reflux results with more effective plates (taller column/more packing). Your vodka results for cuts seem a lot closer to cuts for a whiskey. Very nicely done video.
Hey Robert..... I agree completely with you re the plates, unfortunately I am governed by what I can fit on the laundry sideboard and the house ceiling........... Oh what I could do with a Man Shed!
Hey Kees..... Filtering is great for taking the edge off new distills, or allowing you to keep more of the heads in your finished product. If I am making a Vodka I always run 3 to 4 times through my filter to make it as neutral as possible.
Gday chap. Just curious what you do with the left over cuts? Do you simply chuck them away or are they good enough to be used with a mixer like coke or lemonade? Cheers.
I personally chuck them, some people save them and include them in the next distill, but I am not a strong supporter of this (prefer to get rid of the not so nice stuff, but that is just me)
Hey Ken, If I am doing a stripping run on a Pot Still, I can expect around 70% ABV. If I am running a Reflux Column, I can expect around 80 to 90% ABV which is equivalent to 180% Proof.
@@pauljacobs5390 did you ever do a double stripping run on the pot still and did you get a higher proof? And I read that using a pot still you will retain more flavor to the final product Vs Reflux still
Hey Ken, Just done a stripping run on a Pot Still setup and intend doing a final run on a Reflux Column in my Part 2 Watermelon Brandy vid (not yet published).... Stay tuned....
I stopped watching what I was formerly watching to watch this, great content as always.
Hey HerrWayne45......Thanks mate, glad you enjoy my vids....... I have three vids in the pipeline and two others planned. Trouble is brewing can take some time to reach an end......
Same experience here. Once I had seen the pop up. It was stop what I was doing and watch the video to see what enjoyable adventure of stilling we will be on today. 😀
@@kevinacres1699 Hey Kevin, good on ya, happy to brighten up your day mate.........
Thanks for the video. Recommend you ditch the paper towel/ rubber band thing, and use drip coffee machine filters (cone shaped ones). You can reuse them easily, and they just sit upside down on your cuts jars. Airing of your run for 24 hrs I think is essential. Based on the boiling points of methanol and other volatiles, these unwanted fluids evaporate more than the ethanol you want. It just helps makes a smoother distillate.
Fantastic Ian, great advice.... I already use coffee filters in my Carbon Filtering.... Thanks Mate.....
I'm just waiting on a delivery of my Turbo 500, looking at your channel has helped a lot, Good advice. I think quality is better than quantity. Cheers.
Hey O2bigkev, my next vid will be with a T500 with a Pot Still attachment..... Stay tuned....
I started collecting in smaller jars and that has been a great help in making cuts
Good on ya "The Lost Boy Scout", It is amazing how many people have very little regard for doing this....... I shudder at the thought of mentioning this, but my Brother has the exact same reflux setup as me and he throws away the first 50ml and keeps the rest until the still stops producing alcohol. What is more concerning is that he only does Turbo Yeast runs for maximum volume......... Well, I suppose each to their own and if he likes the end product, good on him..... It is right for him I suppose....
Great vid mate, I always look forward to your content.
Thanks Garry...... I have three vids in the camera, and two planned....... Problem with Distilling is that there is a long time between pitching the yeast and having the product to end the vid.
@@pauljacobs5390 I get all impatient too, at the moment I've got 50lts of 'bird watchers' fermenting and another 50 of milled rice using 'Angel yellow label' yeast/enzymes, I strip all mine in a 50lt beer keg then put the low wines in the turbo boiler using the reflux column to finish off plus I use a scr for controlling the power to the boiler as well.
@@garrymcgaw4745 Every step of the journey is enjoyable Garry....
Great video Champion, keep up the great content
Thanks M8harry, 4 more already in the process as well as the Pt 2 Watermelon Brandy.
Cheers mate a great and precise vid🤙🏽
Thanks Brent, I am glad you are enjoying my Channel mate.
Thank you for a great video. I'm just curious about the details... Looking at your cuts you made, are they based on a standard wash volume (20-25L) and did you do a stripping run before the spirit run? I've read somewhere that a stripping run makes it easier to sense the cuts in the following spirit run (in reflux mode).
I'm not yet into the hobby, mostly because it's not allowed where I live. But I do have a dream some day be able to open a small scale distillery, and therefore I am gathering knowledge in this art. 🙂
Love you content. I am super excited about the watermelon brandy. Can't wait!
Some engaging developments Matt, should make for an interesting Part 2..... Shouldn't be too long, it has stopped fermenting and is settling......
What will you do with the rest of the run?
Good point: start judging cuts by the MIDDLE jars. They are less likely to be "off" flavour. Once you have a whiff of acetone or wet socks, they tend to endure. Have a shot glass and water available and taste cuts by diluting a small sample of each to approx 40% or your normal proof.
Hey Bob, I am presently looking at the Heads and Tails with Tomatoe Paste Wash..... Stay tuned, new cuts directions with MORE end product coming.......🙃
I’m dying from curiosity about the watermelon brandy.....
The cuts on a reflux I’m finding the heads are easier to differentiate than the tails. The heads have the acetone smell but I don’t get any of the “wet dog” smell in the tails, just a slightly stronger smell than the hearts...... hence I have an ever growing collection of feints to run. I know you don’t run these but this will be a first for me and I’m just curious about the difference.
Great video, look forward to part 2 of the Watermelon Brandy.
Yeah, Echo Delta.... In the end it comes down to what the Distiller is happy achieving. My Brother tells me I am an idiot for throwing away so much and I repeatedly tell him (usually after a healthy session of home brew) that we all work out what we are most happy achieving.
My Watermelon wash is nearly finished (SG of 1017). I am going to give it some time to settle before doing a pot still run.
Pt. 2 is on its way........
You definitely have to work with the still you have but you might see better reflux results with more effective plates (taller column/more packing). Your vodka results for cuts seem a lot closer to cuts for a whiskey. Very nicely done video.
Hey Robert..... I agree completely with you re the plates, unfortunately I am governed by what I can fit on the laundry sideboard and the house ceiling........... Oh what I could do with a Man Shed!
how much difference between filtering or not filtering with carbon I wonder
Hey Kees..... Filtering is great for taking the edge off new distills, or allowing you to keep more of the heads in your finished product. If I am making a Vodka I always run 3 to 4 times through my filter to make it as neutral as possible.
Gday chap. Just curious what you do with the left over cuts? Do you simply chuck them away or are they good enough to be used with a mixer like coke or lemonade? Cheers.
I personally chuck them, some people save them and include them in the next distill, but I am not a strong supporter of this (prefer to get rid of the not so nice stuff, but that is just me)
Also makes great window/floor cleaner, BBQ lighter fuel and weed killer :)
What's the average proof you are getting when using the pot stiil and the reflux still?
Hey Ken, If I am doing a stripping run on a Pot Still, I can expect around 70% ABV.
If I am running a Reflux Column, I can expect around 80 to 90% ABV which is equivalent to 180% Proof.
@@pauljacobs5390 did you ever do a double stripping run on the pot still and did you get a higher proof? And I read that using a pot still you will retain more flavor to the final product Vs Reflux still
Hey Ken, Just done a stripping run on a Pot Still setup and intend doing a final run on a Reflux Column in my Part 2 Watermelon Brandy vid (not yet published).... Stay tuned....
@@pauljacobs5390 ,,,cool looking forward to it
Pro tip: learn to smell with your mouth open.
Open your mouth and inhale through your mouth with your nose up against the jar.