Search found 12994 matches

by NZChris
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:49 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Caution Plastics envolved making Raicilla
Replies: 10
Views: 163

Re: Caution Plastics envolved making Raicilla

If it's only in plastic for a few days and I don't want to use it for my daily tipple I wouldn't worry about it.

If the distiller next door ran into glass or SS, I would buy his.
by NZChris
Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:14 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: New member from New Zealand
Replies: 12
Views: 190

Re: New member from New Zealand

Firstly, the **Welcome Center** rapidly gets unfriendly if you start asking for advice on it, so I advise you to start another thread elsewhere. NZ Scrap metal dealers copper bins often look they contain at least one kitset still to me. Have a good idea of what you are shopping for before you tour t...
by NZChris
Mon Mar 18, 2024 11:39 am
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: different box type cereals
Replies: 2
Views: 61

Re: different box type cereals

I’ve only done it with a random selection of breakfast cereals left behind by visitors. With 8 years on oak it’s very nice but there’s not much left.

They are unlikely to have preservatives in them. If you like the flavor try it.
by NZChris
Sun Mar 17, 2024 8:53 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: And so it begins... from maguey to mescal
Replies: 15
Views: 367

Re: And so it begins... from maguey to mescal

I wouldn't take his word on the saran wrap without checking. I suspect 350F is way over its useful maximum.
by NZChris
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:59 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: And so it begins... from maguey to mescal
Replies: 15
Views: 367

Re: And so it begins... from maguey to mescal

Nice score.

Temperatures, times, numbers from conversion etc. will all be appreciated if you collect them.
by NZChris
Sat Mar 16, 2024 3:04 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Blue berry Rye Whisky
Replies: 4
Views: 161

Re: Blue berry Rye Whisky

I would make the whisky first, then run some of the finished heart cut through the berries to make a geist to blend with some of the whisky to get an intensity I like.
by NZChris
Sat Mar 16, 2024 12:08 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Aluminum Hobby Lobby Lids for storing
Replies: 5
Views: 198

Re: Aluminum Hobby Lobby Lids for storing

There will be plenty of contact. Any time the lid is cooler than the contents, vapour will condense on the lid at a higher proof than the liquor.

Liqueur du pendu is a method used to add flavor without color. Look it up.
by NZChris
Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:16 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: 10 year old ferment UJSSM gen 15
Replies: 4
Views: 263

Re: 10 year old ferment UJSSM gen 15

If the ferment tastes like a nice vinegar, save some for your pantry.

Did the airlock have any water in it?
by NZChris
Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:44 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Need a little help
Replies: 12
Views: 263

Re: Need a little help

I was happy with my yield at the same ratio, (pot still).

Your problem could be with the wash, or with how you tried to run the T500. It's not going to be easy to get good answers if you don't tell us what you did.
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:55 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Any ideas for old Malted Barley?
Replies: 12
Views: 276

Re: Any ideas for old Malted Barley?

Boil some on the stove. If it doesn't smell nice, don't use it for whiskey.

It might still be ok for neutral if you have the appropriate still.
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:24 pm
Forum: Fruits & Vegetables
Topic: Moumtain mezcal
Replies: 4
Views: 225

Re: Moumtain mezcal

Does it taste ok?

Double distillation is the usual way to distill mezcal, green distillate would be highly unusual after double distilling.

What did you do?
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:50 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Thailand
Replies: 6
Views: 164

Re: Hello from Thailand

Welcome to the forum.

You certainly have some unique challenges due to your local regulations, but you also have flavorful produce available that most of us here don't have access to.

I wish you good luck for your venture.

Cheers
Chris
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:11 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Noble Vodkas of Russia XVIII Century
Replies: 26
Views: 1064

Re: Noble Vodkas of Russia XVIII Century

The two people who tried it at 40% abv and three times dilution with neutral have liked it and so do I, which means that I will have quite a bit of finished product for my efforts even though it was made using a mini still.

My wife is using the leftover meat broth in tonight's dinner. :D
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 4:17 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Noble Vodkas of Russia XVIII Century
Replies: 26
Views: 1064

Re: Noble Vodkas of Russia XVIII Century

I've just finished running my first interpretation of this and am experimenting with how much neutral to cut it with. I'm very happy with it. It remains to see what others think of it.
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 2:09 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

A lot of folk here talk about sugar burn, hence their preference for AG vodkas.
I don't drink vodka, so it doesn't bother me, most of my sugar washes are used for making gins, Absinthe and the likes.

Young white UJSSM, I tame the burn by enjoying it at a lower proof, which does have an advantage.
by NZChris
Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:46 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: New member from New Zealand
Replies: 12
Views: 190

Re: New member from New Zealand

Welcome to the forum. Do a lot of research before you spend any money. Start by deciding what you want to make, then research the best tools for the job. Pot stills are cheap and easy to build and are better than reflux stills for many flavored products. My reflux still is seldom used and that is on...
by NZChris
Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
Forum: Condensers/Cooling Methods
Topic: How to make a vapor cone without soldering
Replies: 17
Views: 551

Re: How to make a vapor cone without soldering

One tap at a time, annealing will help.

viewtopic.php?t=78431
by NZChris
Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:20 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

I figured it was the other way around, and that the yeast so disliked the pure sugar solutions that they couldn't help but piss out something unpleasant. Even with access to a mass spec this would be hard to resolve though! That could well be the reason, but I've seen nothing to confirm it. One exp...
by NZChris
Sat Mar 09, 2024 11:00 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

That's not very helpful for someone wanting to make vodka to drink and has an empty cellar.

This thread may help. viewtopic.php?t=92136
by NZChris
Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:03 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Some questions on 1 litre mini Alembic still and how to control hot plate?
Replies: 25
Views: 688

Re: Some questions on 1 litre mini Alembic still and how to control hot plate?

I doubt that anyone would try running wash in a 1l still.
by NZChris
Sat Mar 09, 2024 1:06 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

I suspect that 'sugar burn' isn't caused be the sugar itself, but by a lack of whatever congeners mask the burn. I have no idea which ones they are, and I'd love to find out. I make a very smooth sipper at 45% using a burney sugar wash that I make from my pressings, backset and feints from making br...
by NZChris
Sat Mar 09, 2024 12:21 am
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast
Replies: 16
Views: 519

Re: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast

I can't find a recommended yeast for rum on Angel's website.

If a relative newbie to distilling is recommending a yeast for rum that its manufacturer isn't recommending, why would you follow them?
by NZChris
Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:27 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

wheat is a good choice. it's pretty bland and its cheap. if you don't have a tall reflux, your gonna have to wash it down by redistilling with fresh water until it's clean. maybe 2 or 3 spirit runs. then carbon filter it with activated charcoal then dilute with good RO water. That seems like a lot ...
by NZChris
Fri Mar 08, 2024 10:46 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Some questions on 1 litre mini Alembic still and how to control hot plate?
Replies: 25
Views: 688

Re: Some questions on 1 litre mini Alembic still and how to control hot plate?

I've been running my partially copper pot still and preheater for over thirty years without having a problem with blue distillate. The 3l copper alembic that I use for a variety of products has never produced blue distillate in the several years that I've owned it. I've never run wash in it, I do th...
by NZChris
Fri Mar 08, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

Here's an easy one for beginners.

viewtopic.php?t=76531
by NZChris
Fri Mar 08, 2024 3:59 pm
Forum: New distiller reading Lounge
Topic: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?
Replies: 24
Views: 750

Re: Best Top Shelf Vodka Recipe ?

Birdwatchers is for making neutral, not vodka.

Make your choice of all grain ferment, then strip a lot of the flavor out of it.
by NZChris
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:04 pm
Forum: Yeasts, Enzymes, Fungi, Nutrients
Topic: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast
Replies: 16
Views: 519

Re: Yellow Label Angel Yeast & Rum Yeast

The Angel website doesn't say anything about using AG-2 for rum, that has been added by a seller to increase sales.

Paying extra for a yeast doesn't guarantee a better result. Plain old bakers yeast will probably do just as good a job, the added enzymes in the AG-2 contributing bugger all.
by NZChris
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:29 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven
Replies: 64
Views: 2081

Re: Marble magic and a theory yet to be proven

I would only find out if my 13mm marbles cracked or split if I looked. If they did, it would probably be because I waited too long before pouring boiling water through them after the end of the run, but I don't. I did re-pack my 2" copper column a couple of years after I built it and the marble...
by NZChris
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:06 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: would you run it?
Replies: 43
Views: 1468

Re: would you run it?

I'm not aging it at all, I made this to have something to drink while I age my other stuff. Now I can start stripping the rest of my rum and start fermenting my HBB. :thumbup: That makes it easy as you are not wanting to guess what aging will do to it. If you choose a cut that you like on the day y...
by NZChris
Mon Mar 04, 2024 10:52 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: An easy little trick with hot oak
Replies: 17
Views: 564

Re: An easy little trick with hot oak

None of the more complicated methods posted look any better to me.