First vodka ( please review) tpsw
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First vodka ( please review) tpsw
I would like a forum veteran to revue my first distilling run. Plus I had a question about the taste, just to make everything was done normal.
I did a bird watchers mash, 5 gallons, sg 1.085, yeast : E-118. Fermented for a week or so, then filtered it.
distillation day:
Equipment : 8 gallon milk can pot with 24" stainless steel, packed with copper mesh, and condenser, thermometer on top.
started dripping at 70 c discarded first 250ml.
started collecting at 80 c to 83 c close to 1 gallon plus.
( tested the abv it was coming out to 70% taste was clean, little dry mouth ish, diluted with water, only tasted 1/2 table spoon, then spit out. )
continued collecting at pass 83c to 90c 3 liters.
( that I will use during my next distillation) Taste and smell observation: the alcohol smell was not as strong, taste started changing getting close to that cardboard )
After 92c was just dribbles more than spurts so I stopped.
filtering phase: Did a tube filtering, 1 cup activated carbon to 4-5 liters spirit. diluted spirit down to 50 abv.
Now for the taste: the taste is clean, not harsh like Smirnoff vodka, the smell is also more on the sweet side, no smells of acetone type , like you get from Smirnoff. the taste lacks character , and it has a ,not a dominant taste but like if you add it to straight juice you will still taste it, not like a after taste or anything. the taste is fine, it is not un-pleasant., its not neutral either. but it's not like a "absolute vodka" taste.
it's hard to describe I guess . I'm happy that it doesn't have harsh overtones, it's clean and smells on the sweeter side.
my question is did I do everything right? so I don't endanger myself. and could someone explain to me, do you think that this non-wow taste from my vodka is because its a tomato paste sugar wash , and not from and all grain recipe that I would assume would have better qualities and taste.
I did a bird watchers mash, 5 gallons, sg 1.085, yeast : E-118. Fermented for a week or so, then filtered it.
distillation day:
Equipment : 8 gallon milk can pot with 24" stainless steel, packed with copper mesh, and condenser, thermometer on top.
started dripping at 70 c discarded first 250ml.
started collecting at 80 c to 83 c close to 1 gallon plus.
( tested the abv it was coming out to 70% taste was clean, little dry mouth ish, diluted with water, only tasted 1/2 table spoon, then spit out. )
continued collecting at pass 83c to 90c 3 liters.
( that I will use during my next distillation) Taste and smell observation: the alcohol smell was not as strong, taste started changing getting close to that cardboard )
After 92c was just dribbles more than spurts so I stopped.
filtering phase: Did a tube filtering, 1 cup activated carbon to 4-5 liters spirit. diluted spirit down to 50 abv.
Now for the taste: the taste is clean, not harsh like Smirnoff vodka, the smell is also more on the sweet side, no smells of acetone type , like you get from Smirnoff. the taste lacks character , and it has a ,not a dominant taste but like if you add it to straight juice you will still taste it, not like a after taste or anything. the taste is fine, it is not un-pleasant., its not neutral either. but it's not like a "absolute vodka" taste.
it's hard to describe I guess . I'm happy that it doesn't have harsh overtones, it's clean and smells on the sweeter side.
my question is did I do everything right? so I don't endanger myself. and could someone explain to me, do you think that this non-wow taste from my vodka is because its a tomato paste sugar wash , and not from and all grain recipe that I would assume would have better qualities and taste.
Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
so a one and done? I'd call it a strip run and run it again, after collecting 3 more strip runs. also lower your potential alcohol a bit, maybe in the 1.07's would give a nicer result.
if you are making neutral, strip 4 runs fast and hot and then do a spirit run. If you quit with the lyne arm at 92* you left a lot of booze behind. lose the thermo and collect the strips (fast) until your ABV at output is around 10-20% depending on greed factor and the cost of energy and the amount of time you want to put into it.
once you have 4 runs of strips, do a spirit run, slower, but not too slow. a nice medium pace for your equipment. if it's 2" try for 3L per hour, no more than 4LPH.
let it air out for 48 hours, do your cuts and blend the drinking stock with clean, fresh reverse osmosis water to 40-45%
That's what i'd do anyway. maybe you'll get a veteran to give some ideas too.
if you are making neutral, strip 4 runs fast and hot and then do a spirit run. If you quit with the lyne arm at 92* you left a lot of booze behind. lose the thermo and collect the strips (fast) until your ABV at output is around 10-20% depending on greed factor and the cost of energy and the amount of time you want to put into it.
once you have 4 runs of strips, do a spirit run, slower, but not too slow. a nice medium pace for your equipment. if it's 2" try for 3L per hour, no more than 4LPH.
let it air out for 48 hours, do your cuts and blend the drinking stock with clean, fresh reverse osmosis water to 40-45%
That's what i'd do anyway. maybe you'll get a veteran to give some ideas too.
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
I would decide what you want. Sounds like you made a good not quite neutral. Neutral is often described as boring to those who like vodka. Do you want it more neutral? Run it again like HDNB says. Do you want more vodka flavor? Then don't listen to me! I think neutral is what vodka always meant to be when it grew up.
Overall sounds like you did great for such a short column, though I've played with carbon very little.
Overall sounds like you did great for such a short column, though I've played with carbon very little.
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
twice you mention filtering, first the mash, what did you filter it through, and did you filter everything in the fermenter?
second the distillate, what is your tube filter made of and what source for the activated carbon. was the carbon used before?
second the distillate, what is your tube filter made of and what source for the activated carbon. was the carbon used before?
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
For vodka I do a strip run, taking 80 ish gallons down to 13-15 gallons at 80 ish proof. Then I treat the low wines with a little baking soda, about a week later I run them in my column, staring at the low 163 deg range for heads, then it stabilizes about 164 which it will hold for hours, then when it starts climbing it's into the tails. Stopping about 170 deg which is deep into the tails.
Do cuts, then proof to 100, run through a simple carbon filter. A tube filled with carbon. 8-30 coconut which is washed to remove dust. Then proof to 80.
The trick is to hold azeo during the run which is easier to do from low wines, but can be done from a wash, just slower. Also I start at 1.07 to 1.075 as that still ends up at 12 % when it's fermented dry. Today's batch finished at .998, Monday's finished at .980.
I am at about 6000 ft which lowers the boiling point.
Do cuts, then proof to 100, run through a simple carbon filter. A tube filled with carbon. 8-30 coconut which is washed to remove dust. Then proof to 80.
The trick is to hold azeo during the run which is easier to do from low wines, but can be done from a wash, just slower. Also I start at 1.07 to 1.075 as that still ends up at 12 % when it's fermented dry. Today's batch finished at .998, Monday's finished at .980.
I am at about 6000 ft which lowers the boiling point.
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
Firstly - You will not "Endanger yourself" !
Congratulations on yout first run
It sounds as though you have got a result, although some would say you shouldn't be drinking that as it should be regarded as a cleaning run.
Firstly what is E 118 ? do you mean EC1118 ?
What was your gravity after "fermenting for a week or so ? " That sounds quick for EC1118 to ferment out.
Your temperatures don't sound right for a pot still - what still are you running ? IS it bought, or did you make it yourself ?
All in all though you've got product and it doesn't taste too bad - so you must be doing something right !
Congratulations on yout first run
It sounds as though you have got a result, although some would say you shouldn't be drinking that as it should be regarded as a cleaning run.
Firstly what is E 118 ? do you mean EC1118 ?
What was your gravity after "fermenting for a week or so ? " That sounds quick for EC1118 to ferment out.
Your temperatures don't sound right for a pot still - what still are you running ? IS it bought, or did you make it yourself ?
All in all though you've got product and it doesn't taste too bad - so you must be doing something right !
Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
I don't bother to drink anything that has only had one pass through a pot still. I don't care how many people you can find on youtube and forums who claim that what they make in a single pass is nice, because they can all do better by double distilling.
Get a fermenter that can give you at least three still charges worth of wash. That is the best decision I made when I started. One ferment gave me enough low wines for a spirit run and one weekend of hard out distilling made enough product for several months with quality that was way better than anything modern Youtubers and Home Brew Shop proprietors pretend you can make with singles.
Get a fermenter that can give you at least three still charges worth of wash. That is the best decision I made when I started. One ferment gave me enough low wines for a spirit run and one weekend of hard out distilling made enough product for several months with quality that was way better than anything modern Youtubers and Home Brew Shop proprietors pretend you can make with singles.
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
Sorry no veteran here! Just personal experience. Although, I would like to make a few suggestions:huxley wrote:I would like a forum veteran to revue my first distilling run. Plus I had a question about the taste, just to make everything was done normal.
I did a bird watchers mash, 5 gallons, sg 1.085, yeast : E-118. Fermented for a week or so, then filtered it.
If you took an original gravity reading, you should be taking subsequent readings until this wash ferments dry(1.000 - .990 all sugar has been converted to alcohol, wash will taste sour/not sweet. And this could take some time) then you are ready to run the wash. A couple more suggestions: let the wash settle or clear, then there will be no need to filter it (just siphon off the top). Also, consider using a different yeast. EC1118 is a good yeast, just a bit slow, Distillers active dry yeast(DADY) has given me great results with vodka.
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Yes, in my experience I was not "wowed" by the birdwatchers wash as far as flavor goes (pot stilled; I'm sure it's great if you reflux it). I would agree that you would get better vodka flavor from an all-grain wash, or even a sugar-head with rolled wheat.huxley wrote: and could someone explain to me, do you think that this non-wow taste from my vodka is because its a tomato paste sugar wash , and not from and all grain recipe that I would assume would have better qualities and taste.
If you like your final product that you've distilled and you are happy with its drink ability, then congratulations! if you don't like it, then congratulations on finishing an experiment. Now is the time to try again.
13.5g/50L keg
modular 3" pot/VM copper&stainless w/offset gin head
26g 4" stripping still
5500watts of fury
modular 3" pot/VM copper&stainless w/offset gin head
26g 4" stripping still
5500watts of fury
Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
as said 1.085 is a little high but better gains if you went 1.07 then the quality does shine through for a tpw.the column length is a little short for a reflux still the best sort of length is 48" so you have only a half column so it wont get the best from reflux i doubt.my columns 1.5m and i can hold out at 93 in a one and done (i cant complain at that) it gives me roughly 5.5 litres replicated everytime of 93% abv 186proof im very happy with the results i can taste a little tomato in it but after airing out for 48hrs its nothing worth complaining about watered down with spring water its hardly noticeable and mixed its perfect.i cant taste the vodka/neutral in coke,squash,mixers it kicks smirnoffs ass.
im using the same bread yeast (aldi) i began with im using 4.5kg white sugar and try my damndest to keep it heated and always put 2 extra packs of yeast in when refermenting.
how good did you feel after making your first batch?im blowing my first attempt out of the water now with the same recipe and loving it
im using the same bread yeast (aldi) i began with im using 4.5kg white sugar and try my damndest to keep it heated and always put 2 extra packs of yeast in when refermenting.
how good did you feel after making your first batch?im blowing my first attempt out of the water now with the same recipe and loving it
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
huxley wrote:I did a bird watchers mash, 5 gallons, sg 1.085, yeast : E-118. Fermented for a week or so, then filtered it.
started collecting at 80 c to 83 c close to 1 gallon plus.
5 gallons of mash and 1 gallon of output? is that accurate?
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Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
........The first batch is the monumental gesturemarkieb wrote: ............how good did you feel after making your first batch?............:
Re: First vodka ( please review) tpsw
yeah i meant the first drinking batch not the sacrificial run but well done for picking me up on it thoPikey wrote:........The first batch is the monumental gesturemarkieb wrote: ............how good did you feel after making your first batch?............:
lol my first batch (after my sac run) was the gate way to becoming an alcoholic lol i was drinking daddies happy juice every night for 3 weeks untill my other half said i think you need to cut back on that a touch darlin i managed to manipulate her to making her own 50l tpw with my guidance and shes running the next batch through the still she will then know the feeling of accomplishment like i did too and hopefully like we did with dancing we will have another hobby we can both enjoy.she likes to shout out infusions for me to create so if she does her own washes she can make her own.