Search found 25 matches

by flying cowman
Wed Jun 22, 2016 11:14 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Gin basket for Alembic still
Replies: 6
Views: 2287

Re: Gin basket for Alembic still

Well it works! Sorry Kareltje, I meant to reply before. When I said the bag was loosely fitted I meant, not stuffed in so tight as to block anything. It's snug not loose. However, it doesn't matter because the idea is that enough of the oils in the botanicals pass over. If you think of a small alemb...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 17, 2016 6:58 pm
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Gin basket for Alembic still
Replies: 6
Views: 2287

Re: Gin basket for Alembic still

looks like a clean job :thumbup: any thoughts about how to prevent blockage and boom!!? The inlet and exit holes are the same diameter as the lyne arm tube and the botanicals I have copper gauze to make a "bag" that loosely fits inside the pot. Plus the alembic onion head push fits into t...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:54 am
Forum: The Construction Site
Topic: Gin basket for Alembic still
Replies: 6
Views: 2287

Gin basket for Alembic still

Hi All, Having recently bought a new Alembic still, it just didn't seem right not to have some home made parts in my set up (I previously had a home made still). I'd like to make some Gin but prefer the idea of a gin basket to hold the botanicals rather than add then to the wash in the boiler. I swa...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 17, 2016 2:31 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Designing my first pot still, would love your feedback!
Replies: 11
Views: 2488

Re: Designing my first pot still, would love your feedback!

What is the intended purpose of the pump? I can't see any need for a pump with your still?

FC
by flying cowman
Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:29 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: First grain mash for a Gin attempt
Replies: 7
Views: 772

Re: First grain mash for a Gin attempt

Well here we are at day 10. I figured the grain wash was too acidic so added a bit of Bicarb and racked it into a carboy. It's now fermenting away again really well. I did the same with the molasses wash but that has slowed right down (still going but must be nearly done as it was at 10.5 % abv at r...
by flying cowman
Mon Jun 13, 2016 2:09 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: How to build a cider press
Replies: 45
Views: 37273

Re: How to build a cider press

I've seen that before but having taken a few washing machines apart over the years I'd only consider doing it by using a cheap new one. Have you seen all the milky white gunk that accumulates in washing machines? Even loads of acid washes would struggle to remove that stuff! :shock:

FC
by flying cowman
Sun Jun 12, 2016 10:46 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Norfolk England
Replies: 12
Views: 1237

Re: Hello from Norfolk England

I went to a big gin convention in London today. Turns out that virtually all the Gin producers here in the UK are rectifiers not distillers as such. In other words they buy a neutral spirit, add their particular botanicals and re-distil. Surely the fun is going from grain (or whatever) to the finish...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:27 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: What still to built or buy?
Replies: 476
Views: 267753

Re: What still to built or buy?

The still I made last year worked very well. I was made from old SS milking parlour equipment. The pot is an old milk "dump" bucket. Full, it holds around 22 litres so I tended to run 15 litre batches. I cut a hole in the bottom for a "Burco boiler" element. Half successfully tig...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 10, 2016 10:30 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: How to build a cider press
Replies: 45
Views: 37273

Re: How to build a cider press

I only started making cider again as we moved into a house with a few trees in the garden - I now collect apples from half a dozen local with trees plus a mate of mine who has a small orchard! Spend most days off in September and October on it now much to my wife's annoyance :wtf: :thumbup:

FC
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 10, 2016 12:40 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: How to build a cider press
Replies: 45
Views: 37273

Re: How to build a cider press

Thanks Jimbo, Not so experienced as you'd think as I had a long break from my early days on Dartmoor as a teen until I started making cider again about six years ago. However, my cider seems to be consistently good (so I and most of my friends think anyway) so I must be doing something right :D Dist...
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 09, 2016 10:57 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: How to build a cider press
Replies: 45
Views: 37273

Re: How to build a cider press

Ok, hopefully these will work - http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s308/ivanmanley/cider/IMG_0254.jpg http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s308/ivanmanley/cider/IMG_0250.jpg http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s308/ivanmanley/cider/IMG_0249.jpg http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s308/ivanmanley/cider/I...
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:58 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: How to build a cider press
Replies: 45
Views: 37273

Re: How to build a cider press

I make around 1200 litres (320 Us gallons) of "hard" cider a year. I use an old wood chipper as a scratter and a press I made from H section steel with a wooden bed and 20 tonne hydraulic jack to press. Over the years I've tried all sorts of self designed scratters and presses but think I'...
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:58 am
Forum: Pot Distillation/Thumper and Design
Topic: Designing my first pot still, would love your feedback!
Replies: 11
Views: 2488

Re: Designing my first pot still, would love your feedback!

A burco boiler element works great an are easily sourced cheap on ebay.

FC
by flying cowman
Wed Jun 08, 2016 4:01 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: First grain mash for a Gin attempt
Replies: 7
Views: 772

Re: First grain mash for a Gin attempt

Der Wo - Probably right. It's my first attempt at a grain mash but I've done a sugar wash before so I guess the lack of experience with the former shows.

Still_Stirrin - Yep think you're right there!
by flying cowman
Wed Jun 08, 2016 3:23 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: First grain mash for a Gin attempt
Replies: 7
Views: 772

Re: First grain mash for a Gin attempt

Hi again, My grain mash appears to have all but stopped fermenting but the SG is still 1.020 (down from 1.065). It started off very well and appeared to be fermenting nicely. I've tested it and there are no nasty tastes and the PH is 4. I haven't checked the temp but it's next to a Molasses mash tha...
by flying cowman
Sun Jun 05, 2016 5:57 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from across the pond
Replies: 6
Views: 432

Re: Hello from across the pond

Hello from another new UK member. Sounds like you have the skills to make a good still so don't forget to post some pictures.

FC
by flying cowman
Sun Jun 05, 2016 4:00 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: First grain mash for a Gin attempt
Replies: 7
Views: 772

Re: First grain mash for a Gin attempt

Yes it was two 15 litre batches. Thanks for the advice about the cloudiness issue. Will try and clear it as best I can before distilling.

FC
by flying cowman
Sat Jun 04, 2016 1:34 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: First grain mash for a Gin attempt
Replies: 7
Views: 772

First grain mash for a Gin attempt

Hi all, Made my first grain mash yesterday and want some after the event advice as it's a bit of a learning curve. I have cracked wheat at the farm for the cows. It's good quality so I thought I'd use some of that. I bought some pale ale malt to include for the enzymes. I made two 15 litre batches a...
by flying cowman
Fri Jun 03, 2016 10:12 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: 6ltr still problems
Replies: 26
Views: 7264

Re: 6ltr still problems

What? You mean a liter and a quart aren't the same thing? Cuz they are in my calculations. Life is too short.... Ah but what sort of quart? A US quart is less than a litre and a UK imperial quart is more? Bit like a US gallon is around 3.75 litres whereas a UK gallon is 4.5 litres. It's still very ...
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 02, 2016 12:55 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: 6ltr still problems
Replies: 26
Views: 7264

Re: 6ltr still problems

I love the way us English can mix up our measurements between imperial and metric - Quarts, gallons, litres, grams and ounces. We know them all! I can visualise a mile but not a kilometre! But to be honest though I grew up imperial I'm starting to realise I can guess a litre far more accurately than...
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 02, 2016 11:28 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: How old is your oldest?
Replies: 22
Views: 3216

Re: How old is your oldest?

Have a 15 litre oak barrel with apple brandy that's nearly a year old. It's 75% ABV and the intention was to take 5 litres out every Christmas and top it back up. That way it would age but never run dry! Trouble is - I keep taking the odd bottle out, but the idea was sound :lol:
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:52 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Norfolk England
Replies: 12
Views: 1237

Re: Hello from Norfolk England

Mickey-moo

Thanks for your very inspirational post. Nice to have some encouragement as the whole idea is exciting but also daunting!

FC
by flying cowman
Thu Jun 02, 2016 8:50 am
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Norfolk England
Replies: 12
Views: 1237

Re: Hello from Norfolk England

Hi Squint - Funnily enough I'm only about five miles from St George's distillery. They're a quite different set up to what I'm thinking and pretty big! They were a bit cool on the idea of me buying some ex-whisky barrels for my cider a few years ago, so I doubt they'd been too keen on an (albeit ver...
by flying cowman
Wed Jun 01, 2016 10:00 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Norfolk England
Replies: 12
Views: 1237

Re: Hello from Norfolk England

Hi again and thanks for the comments, Yes the legal system here in the UK is a huge stumbling block. The Excise people don't like small distilleries and will apparently do everything they can to thwart you if your still is less than 1800 litres. I'm not expecting to start distilling in August, but m...
by flying cowman
Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:03 pm
Forum: ** Welcome Center **
Topic: Hello from Norfolk England
Replies: 12
Views: 1237

Hello from Norfolk England

Sort of Novice but potentially commercial distiller here - Hi all, I've been making a fair bit of cider for years but only started distilling small scale last year. I first helped make cider as a boy on Dartmoor in the 70's but then started making it myself some years ago when I started a job as a d...