Search found 46 matches

by EDragon
Thu Oct 02, 2014 6:24 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Help please! Toxicity of month old (infected?) still dregs?
Replies: 5
Views: 1649

Re: Help please! Toxicity of month old (infected?) still dre

Well to answer my own question (hopefully) a friend of mine that studied biochemistry and knows more about that area than I do says based on everything it's probably just mold that grew on it, and nothing horrid. Just to lysol and bleach the area and use fabric detergent to get any spores up. Will u...
by EDragon
Thu Oct 02, 2014 4:44 pm
Forum: Safety and Related Issues
Topic: Help please! Toxicity of month old (infected?) still dregs?
Replies: 5
Views: 1649

Help please! Toxicity of month old (infected?) still dregs?

Hi there! This is one of those "ED, I can't believe we're asking this question" stupid questions, but it seems a bit important, and I'm sure someone else can learn from it in the future. What happened: I did a stripping run in my AirStill a few months ago: simple sugar wash with Red Star D...
by EDragon
Sun Aug 03, 2014 7:36 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: CM Still Output Improvement Mods Mile High / Brewhaus PSII.
Replies: 372
Views: 266477

Re: CM Still Output Improvement Mods Mile High / Brewhaus PS

This isn't directly related to these stills, but the same 'class' (CM short tower): main obstacle, after exploring this design some, seems to be simply having enough coolant to make the CM condenser at the top of the tower actually work to help the reflux. This doesn't seem to be easy, and so maybe ...
by EDragon
Sun Aug 03, 2014 4:56 pm
Forum: Mashing and Fermenting
Topic: light and fermentation?
Replies: 2
Views: 780

light and fermentation?

I'm wondering if light has any effect on fermenting (particularly a simple sugar wash). I use some old multi-gallon glass jugs for fermenting at times, and it seems to take FOREVER even for the smallest one, did a larger batch (with slightly too much sugar) in a plastic food safe container and was d...
by EDragon
Sun Aug 03, 2014 4:52 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Verveine du Velay
Replies: 16
Views: 2992

Re: Verveine du Velay

Great thread everyone! If the Duplais book is correct on the Chartreuse then it completely kills the 130+ herbs and plants propaganda I've read :( Though perhaps this is more the commercial version rather than the original one that seems to be packaged as Elixir Vegetal these days. Thanks for the fi...
by EDragon
Thu Jul 31, 2014 7:47 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Verveine du Velay
Replies: 16
Views: 2992

Re: Verveine du Velay

bearriver :
I found it while searching here (and amongst the vast reservouirs of the web) for a recipe (and/or even just a full ingredient list) for Verveine drinks. :)

I'd give half a kidney for the recipe to Chartreuse and this :P

ED
by EDragon
Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:10 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Column safety question
Replies: 4
Views: 1021

Re: Column safety question

so basically there's enough fuel (the alcohol vapors) but not enough oxygen in the column for this to be an issue, that's my takeaway ;) :)

Thanks! I prefer to ask questions first before having a problem, so I'm a bit paranoid on things like this at times :)

ED
by EDragon
Thu Jul 31, 2014 12:07 pm
Forum: Recipe Development
Topic: Verveine du Velay
Replies: 16
Views: 2992

Re: Verveine du Velay

Any luck yet?
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:35 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?
Replies: 11
Views: 2360

Re: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?

Prairiepiss : correct, forgot to include diluting before distillation. I've actually experimented with both, the higher ABV seems to actually 'free' more of the flavors from the herbs in my experience. If you macerated at 40% longer perhaps you'd have the same effect, but I'm not sure. Probably dpen...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:04 pm
Forum: Absinthe
Topic: My best Absinthe so far...
Replies: 282
Views: 149310

Re: My best Absinthe so far...

anywhere to find pontica seeds that anyone knows of in the US/Canada?
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:03 pm
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?
Replies: 11
Views: 2360

Re: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?

DAD300 - it depends on the still, amount of herbs, type of herbs, etc. I use a pot still for that, and also macerate in high octane neutrals (90-95% depending on the batch I get out of my friend's column). Let it macerate for a week or so, then distill in pot still. Trust me, the flavors come throug...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:43 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?
Replies: 11
Views: 2360

Re: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?

I do maceration, then distill, would be in barrels after that, then perhaps some more maceration for color depending on flavor and color of product from barrels.

Thanks everyone!
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:40 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Column safety question
Replies: 4
Views: 1021

Re: Column safety question

Thanks! That's what I meant by 'flash', was igniting just from heat, no ignition source (such as wood and some other solids can do)
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:13 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?
Replies: 11
Views: 2360

Re: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?

Thanks! :)
What flavors do those bring out from the wood? And how burnt is the wood/type of wood you're using? I want to go for vanilla/sweet/creamy ideally.
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:12 am
Forum: Research and Theory
Topic: Column/Reflux theory (temps and cuts)
Replies: 3
Views: 987

Column/Reflux theory (temps and cuts)

I tried searching but got the dreaded 'too many results' no matter what combination I tried. Are there any threads on column/reflux theory (temps, cuts, etc)? My still is a CM so I'm going to go over to the CM to see specific things related to that, but one on columns/reflux in general seems like it...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:56 am
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Column safety question
Replies: 4
Views: 1021

Column safety question

Afriend and I built my first column still. So I have a question before I try to get a high neutral out of it, since that's my goal. Is there a danger of flash combustion in the column if there's too much reflux and too much heat? It's not going to be closed off, but it's built on the CM idea to get ...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:50 am
Forum: Flavoring and Aging
Topic: Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?
Replies: 11
Views: 2360

Oak aging high (60-70%) ABV?

Product I'm wanting to experiment aging is about 60-70% ABV (an herbal liqueur similar to chartreuse). Has anyone experimented with barrel aging anything that high in ABV? I know some rums are, but I'm wondering if there are any nuances or other things that I should know about. Also, what flavor doe...
by EDragon
Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:52 pm
Forum: Absinthe
Topic: My best Absinthe so far...
Replies: 282
Views: 149310

Re: My best Absinthe so far...

Sweeps- That's the one I was thinking of (yolixpa), I'll have to see if I can track down the recipe for it and give it a shot. I know mugwort has some (at least mild) psychoactive properties, though if the hype from artemesia absinthium is any clue than we can guess it's minute. Oddly enough I remem...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:10 pm
Forum: Absinthe
Topic: My best Absinthe so far...
Replies: 282
Views: 149310

Re: My best Absinthe so far...

catmint and spearmint really aren't a substitute for hyssop, it's got a unique flavor/aroma all its own. Angelica isn't terribly hard to find, and I'd recommend tracking it down. Mugwort would be interesting, it's hallucinogenic, I've read about a liqueur from Mexico based on it, but I haven't been ...
by EDragon
Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:01 pm
Forum: Column Builds
Topic: CM Still Output Improvement Mods Mile High / Brewhaus PSII.
Replies: 372
Views: 266477

Re: CM Still Output Improvement Mods Mile High / Brewhaus PS

Wondering if the Mile High dual purpose can be run on an electric element? I'm very wary about running a still near or on an open flame, especially when I'm trying to get higher ABV out of it, but I don't know if an electric element would pose any other problems. Also, I don't have the material to m...
by EDragon
Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:25 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Is this really a dual purpose still?
Replies: 10
Views: 1794

Re: Is this really a dual purpose still?

I don't notice any difference with or without packing... But I like to run with packing so I can compress the Foreshots and Heads before switching to pot still mode... Of course my LM runs a bit different than a CM but how the packing does or doesn't work remains the same... Rad - thanks again much...
by EDragon
Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:14 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Is this really a dual purpose still?
Replies: 10
Views: 1794

Re: Is this really a dual purpose still?

Have a read through the cm mod thread. Link in my signature. This might explain some things. Side note. Before you to buying one of these. You may want to take a look at the threads about the TTB getting the purchasers info from these manufactures. And have been busting more and more people. Not sa...
by EDragon
Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:07 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Is this really a dual purpose still?
Replies: 10
Views: 1794

Re: Is this really a dual purpose still?

No, removing the packing is not required but you could if you want to see if there is a difference in performance... Personally, I'd leave it in rather than potentially sacrificing performance by unpacking and repacking the column repeatedly... I run my LM columns in hybrid and pot still mode with ...
by EDragon
Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:20 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Is this really a dual purpose still?
Replies: 10
Views: 1794

Re: Is this really a dual purpose still?

Without forced reflux, by turning off the coolant flow to the CM reflux section on the column, the structured packing serves very little purpose once it gets up to vapor temperature... This allows it to run as a pot still with no modifications... Kick the reflux coolant flow on and you're back up r...
by EDragon
Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:10 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Is this really a dual purpose still?
Replies: 10
Views: 1794

Is this really a dual purpose still?

So I was looking for something I could use as both a pot and reflux still (all I have is a small pot right now) and came across this thanks to a google search : http://www.milehidistilling.com/products/new-mighty-mini-dual-purpose-3-gallon-distiller.html . It claims to be able to be used as both a p...
by EDragon
Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:24 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Help: Hearts around 60% - 80% ABV, want 45-55% ABV of hearts
Replies: 9
Views: 1525

Re: Help: Hearts around 60% - 80% ABV, want 45-55% ABV of he

Sorry I didn't make it clear. So it's stripping run/s to get to 95%, then macerating for 24 hours, then spirit run. Only one stripping run (before maceration). So should I add extra amounts of what I use for flavoring then since it's going to be diluted? And would it have a better taste if diluted w...
by EDragon
Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:53 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Removing Alcohol, leaving flavor
Replies: 11
Views: 1367

Removing Alcohol, leaving flavor

This is going to seem an odd question for here, but the herbal liqueur I'm making (it's got fennel, lemon balm, and a few other things that have a nice textured flavor) is something a friend of mine who owns a coffee shop LOVES. In her personal coffee she mixes it in and it tastes delicious. However...
by EDragon
Mon Feb 24, 2014 1:46 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Help: Hearts around 60% - 80% ABV, want 45-55% ABV of hearts
Replies: 9
Views: 1525

Help: Hearts around 60% - 80% ABV, want 45-55% ABV of hearts

So with what I'm making, an herbal liqueur where the herbs need to macerate in near (or above) 90%ABV for 24 hours to get the best flavor I usually end up dilluting it down to 40 or 45% ABV after the maceration is complete for the spirit run. When I do this the hearts seem to start around 80%ABV and...
by EDragon
Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:30 pm
Forum: Novice Distillers
Topic: Too much Sulfite
Replies: 18
Views: 5067

Re: Too much Sulfite

I'm trying to make some high ABV 'grappa' with commercial wine some friends gave me in my pot still. Most of the bottles say 'contain sulfites' (and all are cheap wine, so probably all of them do) - has there been any headway on this? Any other people that have had problems with sulfites? What did y...