Search found 1044 matches

by SaltyStaves
Sat Mar 23, 2024 5:31 pm
Forum: Off-Topic Discussion
Topic: Cigars - what are you smoking
Replies: 18
Views: 290

Re: Cigars - what are you smoking

Had this for my bday last month. New Zealand has one of the highest tobacco tax-rates in the world. This stick cost me $62NZ ($37US). A treat for a special occasion, but even the most budget sticks here are prohibitively expensive, so I can't have as many as I'd like to. :esad: Perdomo10Maduro.jpg
by SaltyStaves
Sat Mar 23, 2024 4:06 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Weathered white oak question
Replies: 8
Views: 191

Re: Weathered white oak question

I got ahead of myself. The Fungi help breakdown lignin, which is the strong bond (wood glue) that bonds cellulose/vanillin. Lignin also degrades with heat, but the fungi working on the surface, would make more desirable hemi-cellulose available after a light shaving (verses a stave that does not get...
by SaltyStaves
Sat Mar 23, 2024 12:27 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Weathered white oak question
Replies: 8
Views: 191

Re: Weathered white oak question

(there's also anecdotal stuff about fungal breakdown of fibres, but given it's heartwood I'm not sure how significant that is) which will get at least some of the tannins out of your booze. The Fungi don't help with tannin. They break down cellulose into hemi-cellulose, (wood sugar). When hemi-cell...
by SaltyStaves
Sat Mar 02, 2024 11:49 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Chinese double-wall still, ordering and setup
Replies: 116
Views: 20435

Re: Chinese double-wall still, ordering and setup

The Booze Pipe wrote: Sat Mar 02, 2024 10:49 am I really like those EPDM triclamp gaskets enveloped in ptfe. But ya I was wondering if anyone had found something similar that’s flat to seal the glass between the stainless
ePTFE is good if you don't need to reassemble it.
by SaltyStaves
Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:11 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Book about making Scotch Whisky
Replies: 4
Views: 341

Re: Book about making Scotch Whisky

Arthur Motley who runs Royal Mile Whiskies, also has this channel -
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLiquidAntiquarian/streams

Hasn't posted any videos or gone live in a while, but they did have a few discussions on the last book, so it might be worth bookmarking.
by SaltyStaves
Wed Feb 28, 2024 4:46 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Gone to distill some gin at a distillery and shocked by some practices
Replies: 21
Views: 1064

Re: Gone to distill some gin at a distillery and shocked by some practices

If I recall the thread, that vid was just posted as an example.
by SaltyStaves
Wed Feb 28, 2024 3:47 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Gone to distill some gin at a distillery and shocked by some practices
Replies: 21
Views: 1064

Re: Gone to distill some gin at a distillery and shocked by some practices

This vid is from a Tasmanian Distillery a few years back. There isn't any footage from that Feb 21 incident (at least not publicly available). My understanding of that disaster, is that the victim had an ungrounded tote elevated on a forklift that was free-pouring NGS (so high 90's ABV) into a stai...
by SaltyStaves
Mon Feb 26, 2024 4:03 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: Peated Single Malt question...
Replies: 7
Views: 326

Re: Peated Single Malt question...

If I want a single malt that has nuisances of peat, I'll use up to 25% heavily peated Bairds or my local Gladfield malt. Those are 50ppm and 40ppm respectively. The Simpsons (medium) is around 20-30ppm.
by SaltyStaves
Mon Feb 12, 2024 12:10 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Single malt barley whiskry horrible taste
Replies: 23
Views: 951

Re: Single malt barley whiskry horrible taste

Moonshine31 wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:21 am When I drank my spirit run I had 7 jars and I drank the entire jar that was roughly 40%, no mixing or blending, I think it was numbered 3 or 4.
Thats a tails jar in my garage.
by SaltyStaves
Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:49 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Single malt barley whiskry horrible taste
Replies: 23
Views: 951

Re: Single malt barely whiskry horrible taste

For all we know, a single malt whisky has never passed your lips and you've made something that is the perfect representation of one, but you just hate malted barley... What are you comparing to? The last time I made single malt with 40lbs, I got 20L of low wines at 25.5% ABV. That was combined with...
by SaltyStaves
Sun Feb 04, 2024 6:13 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: My whiskey have a licorice flavor WHY?
Replies: 6
Views: 309

Re: My whiskey have a licorice flavor WHY?

Awfully small volume you're working with. Cuts get easier with larger volumes. I just wonder whether your stretching your cuts too wide?
by SaltyStaves
Sat Jan 27, 2024 7:38 pm
Forum: General Stilling questions
Topic: I need some math equation help...
Replies: 15
Views: 521

Re: I need some math equation help...

I find this calculator quite handy. https://hobbybrennen.ch/Rechner/en/MixingCalculator.html Thanks, but I don't understand what that does. :think: I was trying to figure out the total % of my low wines from my 2 jars...I think these are 2 different things, not sure. Its a mixture calculator. You e...
by SaltyStaves
Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:29 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: What'd ya'll make today?
Replies: 6949
Views: 737451

Re: What'd ya'll make today?

Covid has me stuck at home, but unlike last time, I still have my sense of taste and smell, so I'm spirit running a 70/30 Rye and Malted barley.
by SaltyStaves
Thu Jan 04, 2024 6:55 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: No Mash No sugar
Replies: 819
Views: 107740

Re: No Mash No sugar

I can't get past the 'Soju' character that this yeast seems to give everything I've fermented with it (Rye seems to be the most forgiving/complimentary). Having said that, I like it more than some sugar wash bourbon attempts I've made in the past.
by SaltyStaves
Thu Jan 04, 2024 5:40 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: No Mash No sugar
Replies: 819
Views: 107740

Re: No Mash No sugar

Had the last 65g of my long opened 500g block and had some leftover kibbled rye to use up. The best before date on the yeast was Aug 2022... YLAY overflow.jpg Safe to say that this stuff doesn't depreciate all that easily. My primary fermenter was in use, so I thought I could get away with next larg...
by SaltyStaves
Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:25 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Addressing the soapy Smell in Distillates
Replies: 9
Views: 2330

Re: Addressing the soapy Smell in Distillates

Proofing spirits down quickly and with large values (high proof dropped down to 40% ABV etc) can also create soapy character. The French brandy industries practice a process known as 'Petits Eaux' (Small Water) where they take barrel aged water and proof the brandy down slowly over months and someti...
by SaltyStaves
Wed Dec 13, 2023 4:52 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Is this a good oak for aging?
Replies: 10
Views: 901

Re: Is this a good oak for aging?

Yard seasoned oak for the spirits industry attracts Fungi that play an important roll in breaking down cellulose into hemicellulose. Why is that important? Hemicellulose turns to sugar when you heat (brown) it. You can bake a piece of steak, boil it or cook it in the microwave, but most people agree...
by SaltyStaves
Sat Dec 02, 2023 1:30 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: What'd ya'll make today?
Replies: 6949
Views: 737451

Re: What'd ya'll make today?

Odin's Rye Bread Whiskey. Used the backset to kick off a UJSSM which is bubbling away nicely.
by SaltyStaves
Tue Nov 28, 2023 7:42 pm
Forum: Whiskey
Topic: American single malt
Replies: 13
Views: 1169

Re: American single malt

I've yet to use any of my virgin oak to age single malt. It seems like a lot of American Single Malt is new fill barrels. I see that as a good thing, as it will differentiate American Single Malt and it will ensure that used bourbon and rye barrels will continue to be exported for all of the other b...
by SaltyStaves
Sat Nov 11, 2023 2:52 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: What'd ya'll make today?
Replies: 6949
Views: 737451

Re: What'd ya'll make today?

Spirit run on some Honey shine. My beekeeper friend gifted me some 2nd grade and melter honey. I wasn't able to get a brix reading but I made the wash up with a rough estimate of 50% fermentability. WRONG! It was more like 70%.... So it finished up around 11.4% ABV, which is much higher than I'd usu...
by SaltyStaves
Mon Oct 16, 2023 12:59 pm
Forum: Related Electric Accessories
Topic: Internal heating element risks
Replies: 18
Views: 950

Re: Internal heating element risks

May add a sightglass just above the level of my top element to ease my nerves around accidentally running dry I wouldn't think that would be anywhere near as practical as a float-switch connected to an alarm or relay that kills the heat. If you are worried about running dry, simply do not collect m...
by SaltyStaves
Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:14 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Peat
Replies: 13
Views: 816

Re: Peat

Could be stale. I've certainly had some sacks that are fresher than others.

I don't measure off the still. My low wines for heavily peated are typically 22-27% ABV (which gets bumped up to high 20's - low 30's once I add the recycled feints).
by SaltyStaves
Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:03 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Peat
Replies: 13
Views: 816

Re: Peat

I have double pot stilled single malts made with one hundred percent Baird's heavily peated malt.
I follow the Scots and recycle my feints, as well as stripping my low wines deeper than for most other spirits.
by SaltyStaves
Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:59 pm
Forum: Rum
Topic: Rum wash infection management
Replies: 10
Views: 1041

Re: Rum wash infection management

JustinNZ wrote: Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:20 pm 2.5 eh? Kudos. Rum and Coke time down here.
Well stripped twice before the spirit run.

Dark and Stormy for me. :thumbup:
by SaltyStaves
Tue Sep 26, 2023 10:10 pm
Forum: Rum
Topic: Rum wash infection management
Replies: 10
Views: 1041

Re: Rum wash infection management

My reading here suggests adding infected wash to an almost finished wash is a winner. Will mean having dedicated infected fermenters though and serious-arsed cleaning between ferments. Thoughts? As I see it, using infected wash/dunder in a live fermentation will eventually lead to a stall or total ...
by SaltyStaves
Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:18 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Union joint leak
Replies: 83
Views: 3005

Re: Union joint leak

Ya don't want or need any teflon tape on a union. The exception to this would be stainless steel unions. Without PTFE tape, you risk galling of the two parts and never being able to undo them again. The only thing I hate more than unions is threaded stainless! Lots of thick Teflon tape on those. Ye...
by SaltyStaves
Tue Sep 05, 2023 2:03 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Union joint leak
Replies: 83
Views: 3005

Re: Union joint leak

shadylane wrote: Tue Sep 05, 2023 9:19 am Ya don't want or need any teflon tape on a union.
The exception to this would be stainless steel unions. Without PTFE tape, you risk galling of the two parts and never being able to undo them again.
by SaltyStaves
Fri Aug 11, 2023 1:31 am
Forum: Drinks and Drinking
Topic: What is everyone drinking?
Replies: 2004
Views: 213640

Re: What is everyone drinking?

My take on traditional Poitín, which I call PoitíNZ, as it is made with NZ grown grains (malted barley and malted oats). Half of the barley is heavily peated.
by SaltyStaves
Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:21 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: What proof do you like for your moonshine?
Replies: 41
Views: 3865

Re: What proof do you like for your moonshine?

Just recently did a run of UJSSM. Hadn't made it in over 3 years and had been out of stock of it for at least half that time. I have always proofed it down to 80 (40% ABV) and had been enjoying it that way for the last 7 years. I made up a 1L bottle of gen 1 at 80 proof and instantly regretted it. I...