SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Refined and tested recipes for all manner of distilled spirits.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

Ok another question. My batch stopped bubbling after 12 days. I decided to check ABV with hydrometer , and its showing way below 0%.. But it tastes sour.
What could be wrong ??
User avatar
tubbsy
Swill Maker
Posts: 186
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:34 pm

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by tubbsy »

2ndstill wrote:Ok another question. My batch stopped bubbling after 12 days. I decided to check ABV with hydrometer , and its showing way below 0%.. But it tastes sour.
What could be wrong ??
Hydrometer is useless on anything but clear liquids. The solids and unfermentables mess up the buoyancy of the hydrometer and will give a false reading. You need to measure the gravity and the start and again at the end to calculate the ABV.
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

Ok. I did measure gravity at the start so I will do it again this afternoon and calculate. Thanks for the info.
User avatar
acfixer69
Global moderator
Posts: 4832
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 3:34 pm
Location: CT USA

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by acfixer69 »

Sorry, it sounds like you are using a proof and triale hydrometer. Wrong tool for the job. You need to measure the specific gravity not ABV of the wash.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9677
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Saltbush Bill »

If its sour its done......run it.
User avatar
Cabron99
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 88
Joined: Sun Dec 02, 2018 11:29 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Cabron99 »

+1 to SBB
"Life is too short for cheap cigars"
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

Running it today. I'm excited. But I have to source some oak for aging.
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7657
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Yummyrum »

Are you going to run it on 4 plates like Salty or are you pot stilling it ?
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

I'm using a converted beer keg
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9677
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Saltbush Bill »

You can't distill anything with a beer keg......I think yummy would like to know what's on top of the boiler.
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

It has a 36" × 2" length of copper pipe on top. Then a 2" to 1/2", 90° reducer to a 40" Liebig
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

I'm waiting on some copper mesh packing.
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

It seemed to work well. I'm picking up some white oak today
User avatar
MartinCash
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 467
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:15 pm
Location: Southern end of the land Down Under

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by MartinCash »

Hey 2ndstill, you don't need copper packing inside a pot still column, unless your setup is all stainless, in which case throwing a couple of cheap copper scrubbies in the boiler might well equally well.
4'' SS modular CCVM on gas-fired 50L keg.
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

I thought if you put copper mesh in the column that it would act like multiple distillations at once ??
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by NZChris »

2ndstill wrote: Thu Jul 16, 2020 7:31 pm I thought if you put copper mesh in the column that it would act like multiple distillations at once ??
Sounds like you've been watching too much Youtube.
User avatar
MartinCash
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 467
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:15 pm
Location: Southern end of the land Down Under

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by MartinCash »

For a flavourful spirit like rum or whiskey, using a pot still, adding packing to your column will up the proof somewhat, at the expense of stripping out flavour, if you get some pasive reflux. You won't have much control over how much reflux you get, it will depend on the outside temperature and the amount of power you apply to your boiler.

If you insulate your column then you will have no passive reflux and the packing only really slows down your speed of production.

If you're looking at multiple distillations, you might consider the traditional approaches of strip-and-spirit run or running with a thumper. You could also go down the route of a plated still, but that's a whole different ball game. IMO it seems a shame to spend the effort to make an all-molasses recipe and then use a method that strips out flavour, but if you like the result, go for it. In general:

Pot still = no packing
Reflux still = packing (or plates)

I should add that I have a couple of small bits of stainless steel scrubber at the top and the mouth of my liebig to aid with huffing, and I have used a scrubbie in my main column to hold botanicals above it. But I get more benefit from chucking them in my boiler, where they even out the boiling rate and give me less surging.
4'' SS modular CCVM on gas-fired 50L keg.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9677
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Relying on.passive reflux to try to increase abv or as a means of getting more distilation phases is a complete waste of times.
chickenfeed
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 93
Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2017 12:13 pm
Location: Florida

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by chickenfeed »

MtRainier wrote: Sat Apr 20, 2019 3:30 am
Saltbush Bill wrote:I agree with yummy about the dunder.....fresh added before fermentation is as good as aged imo.
Got me beat why you would only use two plates....you'll get plenty of flavour with four and better separation of fractions.
Each to thier own I guess.
Thanks. I've run rum washes in the past and felt like I didn't have a lot of flavor with 4 so I was going to try this one with less. I'll give this a try with 4 to see what happens. It's fizzing like soda this morning.
I have been running 2 4" plates for some time now. 4 3" plates before that and pot still and packed column. I get more flavor with the two and have great compression of heads and tails. Just remember to balance out the column 1st and and let it equalize for about an hour before I then turn off the head and start drawing off the heads.
2ndstill
Novice
Posts: 32
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2020 3:27 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 2ndstill »

Ok thanks for all the info..and yes I watched some youtube..lol. I'm ok with the taste so I wont worry about any packing. Going to char my oak this weekend and add it.
User avatar
Copperhead road
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 494
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 4:28 pm
Location: Brisvegas downunder OZ

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Copperhead road »

Like any good Rum time on oak is everything, I’ve tried this rum “young” and it was good. Also tried it after two years on oak and it was exceptional and a completely different animal. I like this rum because it’s subtle but still rummy.

In Australia as a teenager I grew up on Bundaberg Rum, probably why I don’t like that stuff now. :oops:

I found SBB all molasses rum is a similar to Australian Inner circle rum in taste. Mind you by no means am I a rum connoisseur. Everyone’s taste buds are different I guess...

Sometime ago I had a barrel made With the intention to fill it pacifically with SBB all molasses Rum. Need to get my shit together because I still haven’t started. :lolno:
Never mistake kindness for weakness....
rolling
Novice
Posts: 80
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2018 9:07 am

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by rolling »

I started making SBB Rum last jan., and have a good amount put up on both charred and uncharted oak. Just took Salt Bush Bill's advice and am trying really hard to keep my mitts off of it. It helped that we moved, I lost my still space, and have it all in storage in my son's garage attic. I've got to admit I've been drinking more beer and store bought to help me give it time. Just got to keep waiting...
30xs
Swill Maker
Posts: 482
Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 6:05 pm
Location: WV

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by 30xs »

I put a ferment down on 9/20. Airlock activity seemed normal up until around 9/26. I also have a BW going in the insulated area that I’ve been keeping the heat on for. BW is at .992, so almost finished and has a clean alcohol smell. The SBB on the other hand has me questioning my molasses source. Here’s the full background to help figure out if it was protocol, or moll issues:

Heated 10 gallon to a boil and dumped ~15 gallon of molasses into the barrel. Poured boiling water over molasses and stirred. Filled the fermenter to about half, or slightly more before adding vitamins and Epsom salts, then finished topping off the fermenter with the hose. The hose set to jet gave me a foamy surface as it was trying to aerate the fermenter. Once topped the temp was 85 degrees so I pitched about a cup of yeast. Capped it up and had bubbles within an hour. I started the BW immediately afterwards using the same method and water. I didn’t check SG, because the thread said molasses don’t work that way. Tested today through a foam that seems questionable and it read about 1.050? The surface of the was is a yellowish tan with little pools that resemble melted butter. Is this normal for a feed stock molasses wash?
75B493BF-350C-40EF-B535-C8BC639E3186.jpeg
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by NZChris »

You should always take the OG, as the current SG isn't as useful if you don't know the OG.

Does it taste finished?
User avatar
MartinCash
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 467
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:15 pm
Location: Southern end of the land Down Under

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by MartinCash »

Molasses is full of unfermentable sugars and FG will be very high. If it tastes dry and there's no activity, it's done. I've never seen a molasses wash so pale. Are you sure you had decent mixing?
4'' SS modular CCVM on gas-fired 50L keg.
User avatar
Yummyrum
Global moderator
Posts: 7657
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:23 am
Location: Fraser Coast QLD Aussie

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Yummyrum »

Yup , a high FG in the order of 1.050-1.065 is pretty typical for this all Molasses Rum . The more often you make it, the higher it will go .

Regarding the yellow crap . That doesn’t look right .
I once got Molasses from the local rural store that had this oily shit on top of it . When I queried them about it , the just laughed and said it was probably transmission fluid from the Used 44gal drums they had the Molasses truck fill up . :?

They said it won’t worry the horses :lol:

I told them I didn’t want it . They let me have it for free . I ended up tipping it out .
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9677
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Saltbush Bill »

Thats a strange looking wash, I have no idea what that oily looking stuff is.....never had that happen on any of my molasses ferments? Did the container the molasses came in have a list of contents on the side?
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9677
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by Saltbush Bill »

rolling wrote: Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:27 pm Just got to keep waiting...
Reckon you have waited long enough, Id be sampling by now.
Im not sure charred oak is that good in Rum, but thats your choice,,,,,everyone has different tastes.
User avatar
tubbsy
Swill Maker
Posts: 186
Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:34 pm

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by tubbsy »

I think Yummy's on the money. I remember years ago the old man got some molasses to give to the sheep during a drought and it had a feint motor oil smell. I was only 15, so wasn't making rum and can't compare, sorry.
User avatar
SaltyStaves
Distiller
Posts: 1049
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2015 5:18 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Re: SBB's All Molasses Rum Recipe

Post by SaltyStaves »

30xs wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:15 pmbefore adding vitamins
You'll need to tell us what you used and how much of it. Good chance that explains the colour and the oil slick.
Post Reply