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UPDATE: I think it's been around a week with the vanilla in it. Anyway the results are not as I expected/hoped. There is some minor vanilla flavours but also a cheap alcoholtaste which I didn't get from the spirit alone. Extract has alcohol in it from memory so my guess this is the problem. Next tim...

I'm a newbie too and have just finished my first brew. I made the following: 16 kg of sugar 2 packets of spirit yeast 50 litres of water Ferment for 3 weeks, run though reflux still and out came 94% spirits, watered it down to 40% and ran though a carbon z filter. A lot simpler then I thought it wou...

Base is my spirit from a reflux still, originally 94% watered down to 40%

Yeah Vanilla beans are strong flavours so I tried it with extract. I wanted to leave it for a good week before trying but I couldn't help myself and tried it today. (1 day of aging.. hah) Was not enough vanilla if anything at the moment. Being extract, would it enhance with age or should I try addin...

I'm using an dark rum essence. Top Shelf Classic Jamican Rum

Just did it. I added 4 teaspoons of vanilla extract to 700 mls of dark jamican rum. (Top Shelf Classic) Hope this is enough, I cannot smell any vanilla but the taste could be there, will leave it to blend for a week or so before I decide if it is enough or if I need more. Should be a cracker with co...

I have just started out and an currently filtering my first batch now.

I was wondering how much carbon would be required for around 10 litres of filtering?

I am using a z filter which holds around 180 grams of carbon.

Thanks!

Cheers, I might just do as I have said above, maybe with the extract though if I can get it.

Should be nice.

I am thinking of making a vanilla infused rum however was unsure how to do it. At a guess I would just put 1 vanilla bean split down the middle with seeds scraped out into a bottle and fill with rum. Leave it for a few weeks, strain and drink? Anyone done this before? And if so would a dark jamican ...

I know this is an old post but if you do read this Arnie_sla, I wouldn't mind seeing a photo of your setup, sounds just like something I should do.

My current z-filter is leaking no matter what I do so I think I will build something different.

Thanx

Thanks lawnman, Last night I stopped the process and emptied out some of the carbon, this spead up the process and am now getting 1 drip a second. Next time I will add a little less carbon and hopefully this will give me a better speed. As I am doing 10 litres, I will change the carbon after the fir...

Am just running though my first filter now and I was wondering 2 things. Is around 1 drip per 5 seconds about right for the z filter and should I be worried about evaporation at all from the already filter liquid at the bottom? 3: How much cabon should be used per litre? The zfilter came with around...

Just what I thought. Thankyou.

I emailed the homebrew store that states this and they confirmed:

"Soak in the chips for 4 weeks then drink. No essences required."

Cheers.

Was doing some googling around and I read someone was aging the netural spirit in the chips without adding any essence.

Would this work? Would the chips give enough flavour to a netural spirit?

Thanks!

Great news thanks.

The yeast I used was:

http://www.stillspirits.com/wawcs016161/6161.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Turbo Extra 220g (2 packs)

Thanks for the quick reply.

So will this be a problem using it as is?

Similar question to above.

My first wash, 16kg of sugar in 50 litres, been sitting at approx 20C for 3 weeks. Just measured the gravity at 1.008. Is this low enough or does it need to work some more?

Thanks!

Awesome, Thankyou. Will have to give it a go, maybe even a comparision test to see which I like, with or without wood chips.

Any idea how long and how much I should be using to begin with?

Cheers!

Hi, I was wondering if it was possible to enhance an essence with wood chips. For example: I make a rum with an essence and I am not happy with the outcome. If I soaked the spirit in rum wood chips (my local HBS has this) would it give a different flavour and hopefully a better one? Am only new to t...

Hi markx, what's a natural essence?

(Only just starting out at this)

Thankyou

I've just got my still going and will have my wash prepared by the end of the week. While at the local Homebrew Store I picked up a Prestige Cuba Rum Essence and I am planning on making this one first. Anyone had any experience with this essence and if so how was the results? I'm not sure if I have ...

Hi All,

I was just wondering if anyone knew using essance how I could make something similar to Canadian Club?


Cheers

Tried this for the first time last night.

I am happy with it, nothing special but not bad either if you mix with softdrinks.

Smell is the only problem though.

Thanks for the info!

I wish I was joking...

I kinda thought that but wasn't sure...

I have just finished making the alcobase but have not tried it.

The mixture/wash stinks.

I was wondering what what happen if I boiled the wash? would this effect the alcohol % at all? and maybe reduse the smell at least?

Thanx

Hi, having never used a still before and nto being able to afford one at the moment I was thinking about it the other day and please correct me if I am wrong but isn't s coffe machine such as http://www.everythinghome.com/smdc.html?source=bizrate&kw=DCM2000 pretty much the same concept? and if s...

Thanx, this is what I have been told as well.

Just thought there might have been some other way. I do not have the money to buy/build a still.

Thanx Anyway

Hi All I have recently purchased an ALCOBASE Kit from my local homebrew store. I have not started making it yet but I was wondering if anyone had any time on improving the flavour of it? I ask because since buying the product I have been told it does not come out very nice at all. I do not have a st...