Rum run question?

[midlife-u-turn]

I ran my first rum wash the other day. I have a combo/reflux column still and my intention was to do a stripping run and pump it through fast and carry over as much flavor as I could. I used Grandma's food grade original molasses and brown sugar. I had 3 wound copper mesh wraps in the column (which I've used in the past) but did not run any reflux. It started at 85% ABV and I took it down to 20%. The rum is good and clean tasting but not as much flavor as I expected. My question is- 170 proof is much higher than I expected with just passive reflux and running it fast. I have two batches currently in the fermenters and am wondering if I should continue to strip each similarly or should I just run it once with a little reflux and put it on some oak. My concern is if I strip it at that ABV and run a spirit run am I just going to be losing out on more flavor. 1 1/2 run? Thoughts?

[bearriver]

If you mix your entire stripping run collections, it comes out at 170 proof?

Can we see the still?

[midlife-u-turn]

I thought I should have clarified that a little better. Since it was a stripping run I didn't collect in pint jars as usual. I guess if it was linear it would average about 55%. Not overly high I guess for a stripping run but I collected down to 20%. I know it's a newbie question but I guess I'm looking for a little validation. Continue as is or do a single run, run a little reflux up the ABV, put it on oak and call it good?

I could be questioning myself because I ran an all grain barley the other day with the intention of running it twice. Same set up etc. it came out at around 55% and I decided just to put it on oak as is. I'm a M.A.S.H. junkie and to quote Col Potter there are not enough OOOs in Smooth to describe it already. Am I going to benefit, other than volume reduction, by running it twice?

[Drunk-N-Smurf]

If you want flavour, then a pot still is best. I don't know if you can run yours as a pot still? But that would be the way to go.

I haven't seen your still, but it's always better to run twice IMHO. Removes a lot of impurities left over from the strip run.

With my pot still, even after triple distilling, I still have loads of flavour.

[Tokoroa_Shiner]

Can you take the packing out? That would make it more like a pot still

[midlife-u-turn]

Thanks guys,
I'll remove the copper mesh rolls for the next runs and run it twice.
I could also significantly reduce the height of the column although it's kind of nice having that little distance if I get a some foaming.
I have found that cooking spray with the anti foaming agents works great for addressing that.
Thanks again