mani from iran

[mani_hgj]

hello to all home distillers
i distilled my first batch last night and it was successful!!!
my first batch was date vodka, i dont know if you ever experienced it or not!!
and of course have some problems which i should askhomedistiller experts to remedy that.
good luck to every one and enjoy...

[drinkingdog]

Hello and welcome to HD. You definitely have come to the most knowledgeable forum in regards to this hobby. As your name suggests are you from Iran? If so are you there now or some where else?

[heartcut]

Welcome. Always wanted to try some date washes, but they're too expensive in this part of the planet. I'll be waiting to hear how it turns out. Good luck.

[Odin]

Home distilling in Iran ... please tell more!

Odin.

[drinkingdog]

Home distilling in Iran ... please tell more!

Odin.

I thought the same thing. What's even more interesting is an Internet connection allowing to get here

[blind drunk]

Welcome to HD and may your stay be a pleasant one.

[Odin]

I read an article once on Iranian home distilling. It seems that pretty much every village has someone that does it. If for nothing else, because someone has to provide the "goodies" on - say - a wedding, no? I saw pictures of guys messing around with barrels, making crude sugar heads ... and I thought to myself: "those guys have BALLS!"

Now, and I am not trying to smoke you guys out, the name "Mani" may mean a lot in this context ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

If so, let me be the first to say I am happy the light still burns brightly in your country. Be it the gas flame underneath your stills or otherwise.

Odin.

[mani_hgj]

Hello and welcome to HD. You definitely have come to the most knowledgeable forum in regards to this hobby. As your name suggests are you from Iran? If so are you there now or some where else?

thanks friend, right, i am from iran and already i live in iran.

[mani_hgj]

Welcome. Always wanted to try some date washes, but they're too expensive in this part of the planet. I'll be waiting to hear how it turns out. Good luck.

thanks, dates are really cheap here, and date vodka has a smooth taste and pleasant smell to me. of course i did not drink my date vodka yet, that is just my previous experiences.

[mani_hgj]

Home distilling in Iran ... please tell more!

Odin.

dear Odin
you are right, distillery in Iran is forbidden and the if the government knows that you are distilling alcohol, then the penalty is dead!!! but, you may know that, Razi, the scientist who discovered alcohol, was Persian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_i ... ya_al-Razi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow), therefore using the alcohol is in bloods of Persians and in spite of government penalties and Islamic religious rules, so many many of Iranians use alcohol!! it may be interesting to you to know that here, we have all kinds of whiskey, vodka, beers, wines and ..., especially Iranians are very goof at SHIRAZ wine which is basically from Iran! of course they are very expensive for us because they are imported as contraband, maybe twice more!! before revolution there was no restriction to use alcohol by government, but after that ...

[mani_hgj]

Home distilling in Iran ... please tell more!

Odin.

I thought the same thing. What's even more interesting is an Internet connection allowing to get here

heh, yes, but thanks god that there are some smart peoples prepare us anti filter!!! i am already using Web freer software...

[mani_hgj]

I read an article once on Iranian home distilling. It seems that pretty much every village has someone that does it. If for nothing else, because someone has to provide the "goodies" on - say - a wedding, no? I saw pictures of guys messing around with barrels, making crude sugar heads ... and I thought to myself: "those guys have BALLS!"

Now, and I am not trying to smoke you guys out, the name "Mani" may mean a lot in this context ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

If so, let me be the first to say I am happy the light still burns brightly in your country. Be it the gas flame underneath your stills or otherwise.

Odin.

yes,and recently in a Wedding ceremony , 14 died, 100 get blinded or badly sick at a village in the west of Iran, because of sugar alcohol, which may be almost Methanol!!

i choose my name when i was a kid! maybe 3 years old! once i woke up and told my mother: mam, i saw a dream that some one told me my name is "Maani"!! from that day, may name has been changed to Mani, and the interesting part is that i hadn't know any thing about this name and even i hadn't heard it before!! when i grown up, one of my teachers asked me: do you know Mani was an Iranian prophet before Islam!!? and i told NO!! Really? he told me if you didn't know!! who chose this name for you! and i said My self, and told him the story!! he told me! you may be himself!! may be in your Past lives! who knows!!!

[drinkingdog]

I have to say with world conditions like they are I think it pretty cool that someone from Iran is on the forum. It truly is a shame that the world governments can't work things out so as to have peace world wide. I think it would be great to be able to go to Iran and other places of the world so as to enjoy different cultures and the history of different areas. We worry about getting caught and worst case scenario some jail time and fines. With you it is so much more dangerous. This forum is all about safety. In your case keeping it safe takes on a completely different meaning. Welcome again, be safe and enjoy.

[Black Eye]

Iranians are very goof at SHIRAZ wine which is basically from Iran!

tell me more about this, cause I love me some Shiraz. Now I want to get my hands one some Iranian Shiraz.

Welcome, Safe reading and Safe Distilling over there.... death don't sound like a good deal for home brewin.

[mani_hgj]

I have to say with world conditions like they are I think it pretty cool that someone from Iran is on the forum. It truly is a shame that the world governments can't work things out so as to have peace world wide. I think it would be great to be able to go to Iran and other places of the world so as to enjoy different cultures and the history of different areas. We worry about getting caught and worst case scenario some jail time and fines. With you it is so much more dangerous. This forum is all about safety. In your case keeping it safe takes on a completely different meaning. Welcome again, be safe and enjoy.

yes, i am completely agree with you and i hope world peace come to all of us very soon. thanks for all and i hope to be a good member of this forum, and receive your kind advises as well.

[mani_hgj]

Iranians are very goof at SHIRAZ wine which is basically from Iran!

tell me more about this, cause I love me some Shiraz. Now I want to get my hands one some Iranian Shiraz.

Welcome, Safe reading and Safe Distilling over there.... death don't sound like a good deal for home brewin.

thanks, yes, death is not justice for home brewing or distilling!
Shiraz Wine traditionally is from a city named Shiraz, because of its special grapes there, and the way they produce it. we order grapes from Shiraz which is 1000 Km far from Tehran! without Shiraz Grapes we couldn't produce Shiraz wine and it only will be the wine!! we don't use any type of yeast to ferment and nor any sugar! just put it in the clay casks!! other process is as usual and after 40 days it turns to a 12% Shiraz wine!!!

[heartcut]

Didn't know the origin of Shiraz. That explains why it's one of the few red grapes that thrives in a hot terrior. Thanks.

[LWTCS]

Hi Mani,
Welcome to HD

Dates have a very nice amount of sugar for a very good yeild.....But oh the work it must take to process enough dates to make a good amount of spirits must be enormous? Can you share with us how you will process your dates please?

Larry

[mani_hgj]

Hi Mani,
Welcome to HD

Dates have a very nice amount of sugar for a very good yeild.....But oh the work it must take to process enough dates to make a good amount of spirits must be enormous? Can you share with us how you will process your dates please?

Larry

yes, sure, just let me to prepare a good text to share correct information, be cause English language is not my mother tongue, writing of such texts need more attention and accuracy. i will post that within 2 or 3 days...

[Black Eye]

you do far better with your english than I do with my Iranian. keep up the good work

[ThrownOlive]

Welcome to the circus Mani

I'm excited to hear more about your date vodka. I'm not sure I've ever eaten a date, let alone had date vodka.

[drinkingdog]

I don't think I have ever drank date vodka, I have drank vodka on a date

[mani_hgj]

I don't think I have ever drank date vodka, I have drank vodka on a date

it would be more interesting to drink date vodka on a date!!

[Max_Vino]

i choose my name when i was a kid! maybe 3 years old! once i woke up and told my mother: mam, i saw a dream that some one told me my name is "Maani"!! from that day, may name has been changed to Mani, and the interesting part is that i hadn't know any thing about this name and even i hadn't heard it before!! when i grown up, one of my teachers asked me: do you know Mani was an Iranian prophet before Islam!!? and i told NO!! Really? he told me if you didn't know!! who chose this name for you! and i said My self, and told him the story!! he told me! you may be himself!! may be in your Past lives! who knows!!!

Welcome Mani
I completely understand...My real name is Denis...it comes from the greek god Dionysus...the God of wine....why that name ? well the world works in mysterious ways and we all have our destinies. Here is my picture with a few friends...Cheers,
Max Vino

[mani_hgj]

Welcome Mani
I completely understand...My real name is Denis...it comes from the greek god Dionysus...the God of wine....why that name ? well the world works in mysterious ways and we all have our destinies. Here is my picture with a few friends...Cheers,
Max Vino

Thanks Denis, Great name and nice Pic....

[Dan P.]

Welcome and hello, Mani,
As I type this, I am doing a stripping run of... dates!
From the singlings (1st distillation), this looks very promising, quite flowery and tasty.
I am eager to hear your technique. Mine was as follows;
Dates, 20kg
Take 5kg, pulp in blender, add a few nutrients and some lactic acid for acidity, add 25 liters of water and wine yeast, and ferment.
Distil this first 25 liters, use about 15 liters of backset (what is left in the still pot after 1st distillation) to supplement the processing of the next 15kg of dates, otherwise same as before. I used the backset for acidity, for nutrients, and because it had a very pleasing aroma.
For the second distillation I have set aside a gallon of cleared date wash to boost flavour. This is not going to be a vodka. I think I will put this on oak with maybe a tiny bit of date syrup, or maybe a few actual dates?
The dates I used were from Iran of course!
Regards,
Dan

[LWTCS]

Dan,
How long did it take to separate from the stones?

[mani_hgj]

Welcome and hello, Mani,
As I type this, I am doing a stripping run of... dates!
From the singlings (1st distillation), this looks very promising, quite flowery and tasty.
I am eager to hear your technique. Mine was as follows;
Dates, 20kg
Take 5kg, pulp in blender, add a few nutrients and some lactic acid for acidity, add 25 liters of water and wine yeast, and ferment.
Distil this first 25 liters, use about 15 liters of backset (what is left in the still pot after 1st distillation) to supplement the processing of the next 15kg of dates, otherwise same as before. I used the backset for acidity, for nutrients, and because it had a very pleasing aroma.
For the second distillation I have set aside a gallon of cleared date wash to boost flavour. This is not going to be a vodka. I think I will put this on oak with maybe a tiny bit of date syrup, or maybe a few actual dates?
The dates I used were from Iran of course!
Regards,
Dan

Hi Dan
good to hear about that. my technique is almost same except using the Dates! i use date extract instead of Dates! which was cheaper and more feasible to me! it don't need to separate any thing and is easy to use! filtering also will be easier. instead of Acid lactic, i us A bit of lemon juice, didn't have wine yeast so i use baking yeast! (in Iran we could not find any wine yeast!!) 20 liters of date extract mixed with 40 liters purified warm water which return a 1.1 in hydrometer.
Best Wishes
Mani

[Dan P.]

Dan,
How long did it take to separate from the stones?

The dates I bought were already pitted. I don't think I would have bothered, otherwise. I got them from a "wholefood" retailer fairly inexpensively, as I guess the demand for 10kg boxes of dates is fairly limited around these parts, they were happy to see them go!
There are three general classes of dates we get in this country (UK); 1. Fresh dates, which we get rarely and are far too delicious and expensive to do anything with other than eat, 2. Fancy dry dates, which come in a box, and in quite a wide range of quality, also too expensive and delicious, and 3. The bog standard bulk dates, which are usually pitted and have oil added (I didn't experience any problems from the oil, I think it is a minimal percentage), and are sometimes chopped.
Other than that, I didn't separate the pulp in any way, distilled it as sludge. I stir my still till it gets up to heat as a matter of habit, and the copper disperses the heat evenly enough to avoid scorching (so far!). Strangely the first ferment I did had the "rhino farts" smell one gets with apples, the second did not. Maybe something about the backset or acidity level??
Also, my yield was fairly low. My methods are primitive, and I do not fuss too much about super-clean ferments, but I think I was getting, in a ratio of 1kg dates to 5 litres of water, about 5% abv.

I can also get date syrup, which I enjoy on toast, but costs me £1.99 a pound, as opposed to the £13/10kg I payed for the pitted bulk dates. Obviously the sugars are more concentrated, but the content in my syrup is 63.3%, and there is also a molasses-y taste to the syrup, which I didn't want in my distillate.

Mani, sorry to hijack your thread. What kind of a flavour do you get in your vodka? Indeed, what kind of apparatus do you use, and how many distillations? Do you use backset?
I often use baker's yeast. It is often maligned but I like it just fine for most applications. I would be interested in the possibility of using yeast or making a yeast starter from natural yeast found on dates, as you say you do with Shiraz grapes. Fresh dates do have that dusty white bloom on them, and what yeast could be more suitable than the one nature already provided?

[mani_hgj]

The bog standard bulk dates, which are usually pitted and have oil added (I didn't experience any problems from the oil, I think it is a minimal percentage), and are sometimes chopped.
Other than that, I didn't separate the pulp in any way, distilled it as sludge. I stir my still till it gets up to heat as a matter of habit, and the copper disperses the heat evenly enough to avoid scorching (so far!).

Dear Dan,
Bulk dates are ok and are best choice, but as my little experience, by separating pulps still will work better and has better smell!

Strangely the first ferment I did had the "rhino farts" smell one gets with apples

I didnt had such problem but i guess the reason is by the thick layer of pulps which do not let Co2 scape from it and turns to that smell!! do you stir it well daily during fermentation??

in a ratio of 1kg dates to 5 litres of water, about 5% abv.

with Iranian bulk dates, we do mix 10 KG of them mixed with 40 Liters water which will turn 11% to 12%ABV

What kind of a flavour do you get in your vodka? Indeed, what kind of apparatus do you use, and how many distillations?

i don't know how to describe its flavor, but, generally, it is very good in taste and smell after second distillation. i use pot still without any reflux system. ratio was 1.5 liters of 45% Abv at first distillation from each 6 liters of wines.

I would be interested in the possibility of using yeast or making a yeast starter from natural yeast found on dates, as you say you do with Shiraz grapes. Fresh dates do have that dusty white bloom on them, and what yeast could be more suitable than the one nature already provided?

yessss,dates are very capable to start fermentation even without any yeast positioning in a warm (25-30°c), but, in this case, it shouldn't be more than 1.08, sweetness, i mean or fermentation could face some problems! after you collect the sludge of this batch, for next one you have the natural date yeast which will works well!