First real run

[vitoboy]

Hi all
Long time since I posted here...been busy I guess.
Final got my still built ... a cm ... I know ..old and inefficient design...mods to come.

Did the cleaning with vinigar,water run.
Did a sacrifice run with some bought cider.

Brewed my first birdwatchers 25l wash and ran it yesterday.

Collected in 7 jars...first 100 ml fores ...then 2 x 250ml heads ..then 1 l hearts ...another 500 ml hearts/ tails ..final 150ml tails.

I went slow...it took 6 hours in all...but results seem good...heads and hearts jars are showing 87/89% and last jar down to 60% ..got bored at this point and shut it down.

Been tasting this morning with a view to cuts...but I have to say all jars (not fores) seem very similar ...apart from the final jar.

Interesting flavour wise...not what I'd call smooth at all...the most similar thing I can link it to is some French cherry eau de vie I have (shop bought).

I was hoping for a bit more neutral really .. but first go so Im pretty happy.

I have 30l of 1/2 apple - sugar wash to run this week..then I'll start the mods on the still.

Any advise on aging the Bw guys..?

Cheers

Vitoboy

[still_stirrin]

Did you put coffee filters on the jars for 24-36 hours to air out the volatiles? If not, that could be the “sharpness” you noted. Let them “breath” and it’ll get better.

Personally, I prefer Rad’s All Bran as a neutral better than the Birdwatchers. I get more “sugar bite” in the BW than the all bran, probably because the grain flakes buffers the volatile congener production.
ss

[vitoboy]

Ta still stirin

No..but I left the jar lids open over night....I do have a pack of unbleached coffee filters though...
I watered down the second 250ml jar today with water to 42/3 % and it was a lot smoother than yesterday
Guess I'll hang on and see how it goes...in the mean time crack on with the apple.

Thanks again.

Vito

[NZChris]

If you want TPW to be more neutral, ferment four times as much, fast strip down to 40% low wines, (or when it starts to get stinky), then spirit run that with the CM. That should get you a large quantity of very fine neutral.

I don't age, or drink, Birdwatchers without making something else out of it first, saving my oak for rum, whiskey and brandy. There is a lot you can do with neutral that is better than making 'oak tea'.