NChooch's Carolina Bourbon

[NcHooch]

If you can pull 5-6% out of an allgrain wash you are right on track. I am happy with 5% Potential ABV and estatic when I hit 6%. I am not greedy with allgrain. Don't care if I get full conversion, but usually do. Even when I don't, It is just grain that would normally be fed to my animals even if I didn't try to get any alcohol out of it. Nothing goes to waste.

X2 here .....when I do this, it's not about the quantity
(...course I'd hate to go through the effort and end up with a couple sips of tails )

[DFitz]

My efforts aren't so much about quantity as much as its getting as much about of the grain as possible. This next batch looks promising. I think I'll enjoy the AG process a lot more when I get a few more "tools for the trade". A proper mixer would be a great asset.

[Barney Fife]

Keep in mind that feed corn isn't fresh, and it doesn't have the sugar content potential of fresh corn, so you're not going to see high ABV mashes. Like the others, I think you're doing great already; don't try to 'push' for more, because it isn't there.

And definitely start a sugarhead over the spent grains! Mmmmm....

[rgarry]

Excellent idea. I was going to still this weekend and wasn't thinking of running a sugar head over the grain. The timing of your post is the best. I will follow what I do for UJSSM over the grains from this recipe. Thank you Thank you. Wonder how many others do this?

[DFitz]

I've ordered more grain to continue these efforts. I have 2 batches left to run from my first order. One in the fermenter and one to be cooked off on Monday. I'm hoping this will yield me 7.5 gallons of low wines. I'll put these wines aside in my carboys I'm holding all the low wines in from this bourbon for an eventual spirit run.

Keep in mind that feed corn isn't fresh, and it doesn't have the sugar content potential of fresh corn, so you're not going to see high ABV mashes. Like the others, I think you're doing great already; don't try to 'push' for more, because it isn't there.

And definitely start a sugarhead over the spent grains! Mmmmm....

Living in an area surrounded by cornfields I think that my marginal extraction results can get better eventually. Let me do some reading and find out where I can find a better/fresher corn supply. Its all around me I just need to find it and get it. even if I have to dry it myself (this could be part of the problem) I'll get better results,,, eventually.

[DFitz]

Finished stripping off a little over two and a half gallons off the second batch. All seems well with this run. I added this to the previous runs low wines and started another batch. Looking forward to an eventual spirit run...

[rgarry]

I ran a double recipe and was able to get a 1/2 gallon of finished product that is oaking now. I let it clear before running and know this wasn't necessary but I needed the extra time to run it. I ran it really quick through my flute hopeing to get some extra flavor. It taste great before oaking, and I can't wait till it finishes. I think the next batch I will do a triple run (I have a good 20 gallon pot). It's a lot of work for 5 gallons but well worth it for 15-20 gallons.

[NcHooch]

I ran a double recipe and was able to get a 1/2 gallon of finished product that is oaking now. I let it clear before running and know this wasn't necessary but I needed the extra time to run it. I ran it really quick through my flute hopeing to get some extra flavor. It taste great before oaking, and I can't wait till it finishes. I think the next batch I will do a triple run (I have a good 20 gallon pot). It's a lot of work for 5 gallons but well worth it for 15-20 gallons.

Ya, the hearts are pretty tasty white, eh?

[singlemaltluv]

Did my first stripping run on this (posted it in my first thread) and was quiet pleased with the results. Did make one mistake though, after airing and blending everything together I got a reading of 80% on the alcohol meter. Was a little disappointed at the results because I thought that the proof should have been a little higher. Let my sister tasted it and you should have seen the look on her face. She said that it was to strong and that she didn't like it. It wasn't until hours later that I realized that it was 80% (160 proof) and not 40% (80 proof) and diluted it to 65% and placed it on oak. Needless to say my sister want test my produce anymore .
Just went out and bought a 22 quart pot to do this recipes again and again.

[blind drunk]

Hey NChooch, sounds like you do a single run through your detuned bok. Am I right? Curious.

[NcHooch]

Hey NChooch, sounds like you do a single run through your detuned bok. Am I right? Curious.

Hey BD, I've done that before, and it works pretty well, but i've been using a 3" flute for about a year, and that works better. Single run, low n slow.

[Stillfarmin]

So, I have 12 gallons of this in fermenters, and plan on making 12 more this week, doing a couple stripping runs, and a spirit run on my pot still. This is how mine went:

14 pounds cracked corn
3 pounds malted 6 row
3 pounds malted rye

Followed heating schedule, cooked corn for 1.5 hours at a simmer. Pre heated my mash tun with hot water, so the insulation was up to temp, added my malted grains when the corn temp was right around 150. Mashed that for 3 hours, cooled and pitched yeast around 90 degrees. SG was around 1.042. So under 6% by a couple hairs. Oh yea, threw some alpha amylase in the mash. Does adding some to the fermenter yield many more points, if you didn't add it to the mash, and assuming you didn't get complete conversion? I suppose it wouldn't hurt.... Looking forward to running this, and putting it away on some oak for a while.