Search found 70 matches

by Selby
Sun Apr 18, 2010 3:32 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Strength Of Craft Spirits
Replies: 8
Views: 1699

Re: Strength Of Craft Spirits

Hi, Rednose or anyone else for that matter, sure you can use it! Anyone who can show how toxic commercial spirits are compared to what we make, is doing us all a favour. Selby.
by Selby
Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:26 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Strength Of Craft Spirits
Replies: 8
Views: 1699

Re: Strength Of Craft Spirits

After some thought, I decided to put a codicil label on the back of the bottles (60mm x60mm) which I think could apply to all of us. It included quote- "This whiskey is hand made under the protocols of craft Spirit. Double distilled,with Methanol, volatile and heavy alcohols removed during both...
by Selby
Thu Apr 15, 2010 6:03 pm
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Strength Of Craft Spirits
Replies: 8
Views: 1699

Re: Strength Of Craft Spirits

Thanks Guys,I age on charred oak @ 55% for 3 months then dilute to 40% +. I guess there's toxicity other than ethanol in commercial spirits. I can get sick on wine also. Maybe what we are making is good ole "AQVA VITAE" (water of life) after all.
by Selby
Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:32 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Strength Of Craft Spirits
Replies: 8
Views: 1699

Strength Of Craft Spirits

Hi, All, I haven't posted in quite awhile, but need some opinions. My friends & relatives love my bourbon but say they find it is not like a 40 % strength spirit ( which it is), & though they can get pleasently inebreated they say they could not get sloshed on it! Should I leave some of the ...
by Selby
Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:21 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: unrefined sugar
Replies: 8
Views: 1516

Re: unrefined sugar

Thanks for your reply ahiaruhe, reason I asked is, it has always seemed to me to be an odd situation in countries like USA & Australia where home distilling is supposedly illegal yet well known but ignored. Surely they're not worried about loss of excise with so few people who go to the trouble ...
by Selby
Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:02 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: unrefined sugar
Replies: 8
Views: 1516

Re: unrefined sugar

Hey Kiwistiller, Was New Zealand called "The Land Of The Long White Cloud" before Home Distillation Of Spirts was made legal there ? - Only kidding ! Seriously, has there been any comment there of adverse effects on N.Z. Society since the change was made to the Customs Regulation which all...
by Selby
Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:37 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Grain Mash ABV
Replies: 18
Views: 7278

Re: Grain Mash ABV

When making Bourbon I have best results by first mashing the corn with enzymes & malt for at least 1 hr. then boilingin a double boiler 11/2 hrs. When cool to mash temp. add to remaining barley malt & rye & mash all 90 mins. - 2 hrs. Selby.
by Selby
Sat Sep 26, 2009 3:18 am
Forum: Beer, and Wine
Topic: using carbon on beer
Replies: 22
Views: 10008

Re: using carbon on beer

In my 40yr.+ brewing experience, I long ago found out that the only way to remotely approach anything like a good commercial beer is to ferment at as low a temperature as possible - prefferably in a 'fridge set no higher than 5deg. centigrade for at least 3 weeks. This means of course you are using ...
by Selby
Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:13 am
Forum: Tried and True Recipes
Topic: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method
Replies: 4778
Views: 1052602

Re: uncle jesse's simple sour mash method

I always thought the aim of making grain whisky was to not rely at all on sugar otherwise you end up with sugar head moonshine. Selby
by Selby
Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:53 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Novice Guide for Cuts (pot still)
Replies: 321
Views: 406516

Re: Novice Guide for Cuts (pot still)

I liked your tutorial Kiwi, good stuff. Would you mind telling me- (a) What yeast do you use for you grain whisky over there?,(b) Do you find Turbo Yeast okay for this purpose? I'm in Oz. Thanks, Selby.
by Selby
Wed Jan 28, 2009 6:53 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: aging with electricity!
Replies: 54
Views: 11224

Re: aging with electricity!

It occured to me that wine makers face a bigger job cleanig up their product since they are stuck with all the bad alcohols we can avoid . I mean look how sick you can get on wine compared to our carefully crafted spirit. After reading the paper, the differences it would make for us seem scarcely wo...
by Selby
Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:57 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: aging with electricity!
Replies: 54
Views: 11224

Re: aging with electricity!

Thank's for the link Red Lion.
by Selby
Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:52 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: aging with electricity!
Replies: 54
Views: 11224

Re: aging with electricity!

It seems to be the electric field that does the job since the wine apparently is not in direct contact with the electrodes. I don't understand the titanium bit. Of course the ultimate question for us- if it works - is will it ever be available for our use?
by Selby
Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:38 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Accelerated Ageing
Replies: 2
Views: 697

Re: Accelerated Ageing

Thanks tater, I only happened to hear about it on my iPod.
by Selby
Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:54 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Accelerated Ageing
Replies: 2
Views: 697

Accelerated Ageing

A couple of Chinese scientists have apparantly come up with a way to dramatically accelerate the ageing process. By inducing an electric field into wine via 2 shielded titanium electrodes for just 3 minutes, they appear to have speeded up the chemical action between the organic acids & ethanol t...
by Selby
Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:52 am
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Final Filtering
Replies: 8
Views: 1259

Re: Final Filtering

Thanks Hack & Dnder , I've gone the toast route before but don't get the "vanillin" like charred oak gives after standing 3 months. It comes out beautifully in the bottle over time.
by Selby
Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:53 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: Final Filtering
Replies: 8
Views: 1259

Final Filtering

How do you guys final filter your Bourbon off the charred oak? I dilute it to abt. 42% & 1)- Filter through a coffee filter without the paper. 2)- Re-filter through the filter using 2 papers after every 2 qts. 3)- Final filter through 1 paper. I suspect if I use a water purifier or similar I wil...
by Selby
Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:30 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Stainless
Replies: 22
Views: 7239

Re: Soldering Stainless

Thanks fellas.(Guys) , I ended up getting the job done as easy as silver soldering copper after the local welding supplier pointed me in the right direction. For anyone interested in silver soldering .020" thin kitchen grade stainless, here's the specs. Flux:- EZI - WELD 602 Flux containing Flu...
by Selby
Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:35 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Stainless
Replies: 22
Views: 7239

Re: Soldering Stainless

Thanks Rad & Dndr. Almost as soon as I had finished posting it dawned on me to search Engineer/ Metallurgist John Palmer's excellent book "How To Brew"- formerly free on the Net & shore 'nuff in the chapter titled Soldering Brazing & Welding John suggested the metal had to be &...
by Selby
Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:36 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Soldering Stainless
Replies: 22
Views: 7239

Soldering Stainless

Does anyone know the secret of joining stainless to stainless? Itried to silver solder as normal but it went like water on a cabbage & wouldn't stick .Should I use acid in place of flux, get compatable solder etc.? It's too thin to electric weld. - Thanks Selby.
by Selby
Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:00 am
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: I Would Drill 500 Holes and I Would Drill 500 More
Replies: 41
Views: 6660

Re: I Would Drill 500 Holes and I Would Drill 500 More

I learned long ago when I used to make beer using unmalted corn, barley, rice etc. that the best results from boiling came from mashing the cracked grains with Amylase enzymes for about an hour first which starts you off with a much thinner porridge to boil. It then makes for much easier boiling &am...
by Selby
Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:26 pm
Forum: Mashing, fermenting, flavoring and aging related hardware
Topic: I Would Drill 500 Holes and I Would Drill 500 More
Replies: 41
Views: 6660

Re: I Would Drill 500 Holes and I Would Drill 500 More

Just as well it's not stainless your'e drilling Punkin! I was faced with the same prospect when making my st. steel double boiler. Ended up buying the thinnest slitting grinding wheel disc for my side grinder & the slots it made did the job great.
by Selby
Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:38 pm
Forum: Grains
Topic: Trouble malting barley
Replies: 77
Views: 49017

Re: Trouble malting barley

Update:- I remember now I changed the steep water 2 or 3 times during soaking to further oxygenate. It is quite possible to "drown" the grain during a lengthy soak wihout air & it will simply go rotten. Also I turned the grain bed over 2or 3 times a day mainly to prevent matting of the...
by Selby
Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:13 am
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: I made a double boiler
Replies: 5
Views: 1544

I made a double boiler

I made a double boiler pot still as I intend to start fermenting & distilling on the grain to both maximise sugar & alcohol. I'm wondering can anyone tell me do I tip the whole ferment - yeast & all into the still, or otherwise how do I seperate the yeast from it & do I need to provi...
by Selby
Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:01 am
Forum: Grains
Topic: Trouble malting barley
Replies: 77
Views: 49017

Re: Trouble malting barley

I made several batches of malted barley some years ago & found it is best made at the lower temperatures of the year around 50-60f. Wash the grain well & soak for at least 24 hrs. with a fish tank airstone bubbling through it. Make a malting tray of wood say 4ft. x 2ft. x 4inches deep raised...
by Selby
Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:45 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: VODKA
Replies: 13
Views: 1924

Re: VODKA

Coud be an argument here in favour of legalisation.- People need to be free to pursue & procure uncontaminated Spirits!
by Selby
Mon Oct 13, 2008 5:10 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: VODKA
Replies: 13
Views: 1924

Re: VODKA

My daughter says she & her friends love my vodka because it is gentle in it's onset & aftermath (ie. no nasty hangovers), leaving them a bit incredulus at the "40%' claim. I do believe though that commercial whiskies are allowed to include a percentage of Methanol, perhaps not much more...
by Selby
Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:12 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: VODKA
Replies: 13
Views: 1924

Re: VODKA

The most common question I'm asked about my Spirits is - "is it really 40% alc. ? - doesn't seem like it" & I've been moved to demonstrate with my spirit hydrometer on a couple of occasions. Does this indicate our craft skills are not appreciated because people are so used to methanol ...
by Selby
Fri Oct 10, 2008 3:57 pm
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: VODKA
Replies: 13
Views: 1924

Re: VODKA

Good idea ! thanks. minime.
by Selby
Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:26 am
Forum: Novice Forum Graveyard
Topic: VODKA
Replies: 13
Views: 1924

VODKA

When I made my last batch of Vodka I took great care to make it very clean, bordering on neutral spirits. My family & friends told me they didn.t like it as much as my previous efforts . They said it had no assertiveness in the mixer which they missed compared with the original . Ergo, sometimes...