Basic Distillation 101

Other discussions for folks new to the wonderful craft of home distilling.

Moderator: Site Moderator

enterpryse
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:46 am

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by enterpryse »

First post here and figured that I'd say thanks. This post confirms what I'd found out by hook or by crook, the learning curve is as steep at the kit I'm building.

What would be a really great addition is a bunch of how toos, stuff that may be obvious to more experienced. Such as what is packing and where to get it, what connectors are commonly used and what they are used for and ultimately where to get them. Some detailed pics of some built stills too. - Maybe I'm not looking hard enough on here LOL

Anyway, Hi chaps nice to be on board.
cabtoohell44
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:44 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by cabtoohell44 »

Great, thanks heaps for that. Gonna keep these posts and reread a few times as they have cleared up a few things for me. cheers :D
claytonhaske
Novice
Posts: 43
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:51 am

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by claytonhaske »

DestructoMutt wrote:you can also minimize the amount of heads you get from a pot still by turning down the heat during warm-up. bringing the pot up to boil slowly, will give the foreshots more time to be the first ones liberated from the wash, so to speak.
isnt that the way your sopose to run a pot still anyway????? low and slow, is what iv heard.
goodtimes
Novice
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:08 pm
Location: Pennsylvania

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by goodtimes »

hello all, so I just ran my pot still with a sugar wash for the first time. I have read on here about fast or slow runs but mine seemed to run past 175 and settle at 190-195 using propane. Being my first time I didn't know that the heads were bad either and I wound up with a rather big bite in my product that probably could have been avoided. Thanks to you all for putting your knowledge on here for everyone to read.I guess the next step is to start playing with making a grain mash.
varocketry
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 514
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2013 5:15 pm
Location: somewhere not near Detroit

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by varocketry »

When making nuetral product you can limit the amount of heads through better separation of foreshots and body/hearts by letting your system (if you are running a reflux head still) run in equilibrium until the head temperature drops.
Can someone thoroughly explain this EQUILIBRIUM concept including head temperature comment.?
-Just need something else to build. -
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by rad14701 »

varocketry wrote:
When making nuetral product you can limit the amount of heads through better separation of foreshots and body/hearts by letting your system (if you are running a reflux head still) run in equilibrium until the head temperature drops.
Can someone thoroughly explain this EQUILIBRIUM concept including head temperature comment.?
The parent site covers it in detail so there is no need retyping that entire section here... :idea: And you just might stumble across a whole nuther wealth of information you don't even know you need to know yet... :ewink: In fact I know you will... :eugeek:
rad14701
retired
Posts: 20865
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:46 pm
Location: New York, USA

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by rad14701 »

claytonhaske wrote:
DestructoMutt wrote:you can also minimize the amount of heads you get from a pot still by turning down the heat during warm-up. bringing the pot up to boil slowly, will give the foreshots more time to be the first ones liberated from the wash, so to speak.
isnt that the way your sopose to run a pot still anyway????? low and slow, is what iv heard.
Not sure where you heard that but, no, you run a pot still with a stream as output, not drips... But you can run drips for the foreshots if you want... If you want drips then run a reflux column for neutral spirits... With a pot still you need to run fast enough for flavor to carry over because that's what their intended use is...
stooker
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2013 1:22 am
Location: South Africa

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by stooker »

Just joines and going through most of the stuff (again).

Really informative. Thanks for the time and effort.
evanwiley
Novice
Posts: 15
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2013 6:35 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by evanwiley »

Anyone have info on water type to use for mash? I live in Calgary Alberta and we have hard water, i can distill it...

Whats good to use? Tap, Spring, Distilled, Mineral. What are this differences and the best choices?

Thanks

Evan
Calgary Alberta
Dnderhead
Angel's Share
Angel's Share
Posts: 13666
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: up north

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Dnderhead »

any thing but heavy mineral or chlorinated .
newengland
Novice
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:00 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by newengland »

Not sure where you heard that but, no, you run a pot still with a stream as output, not drips... But you can run drips for the foreshots if you want... If you want drips then run a reflux column for neutral spirits... With a pot still you need to run fast enough for flavor to carry over because that's what their intended use is...
Very interesting. I run a pot still and just let it stream when stripping. For my spirit runs I go slow and cold. I get plenty of flavor. I have noticed that with my small (5 gal) still that streaming means higher heat and thus I get less separation at the various levels of heat and my product isn't as refined.
newengland
Novice
Posts: 83
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:00 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by newengland »

Hey Rad, gotta hand it to ya . . . good advice to run pot in a stream. In the midst of a spirit run as I write and things are going beautifully. No problem with too hot. And, it's cutting my distillation time considerably. I'm not spewing the distillate out. I adjusted heat so the drops just coalesced into a bumpy continuum. It's great, so I'm glad I happened on the post.
pt49
Novice
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:57 pm
Location: The land of Oz

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by pt49 »

I am just now running my 1st potstill run, its only a turbo wash, but I racked it into 5 litre jars to settle out for 4 days to clear it.

My still is only a 5 litre pressure cooker but I heated it so I'm getting a steady stream. On my 1st 5 litres I got 1.3 litres of spirit at 45%. It started out at 65% alcohol/vol and I stopped it when it was coming out at 20%.

Should I stop at higher than 20%... ?
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by NZChris »

Depends on what you are trying to make. I usually stop around 20-15%. It's only a stripping run, not a spirit run when you are making your finished product, so it's pretty hard to stuff it up.
pt49
Novice
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2013 2:57 pm
Location: The land of Oz

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by pt49 »

Thx mate... I ended up with just on 5 litres of 55% spirit from 21 litres of wash, which I'll dilute and run thru my reflux tomorrow... I should end up with about 3 litres vodka over 90% I expect
gary.angie
Novice
Posts: 75
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:49 pm
Location: Taranaki New Zealand

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by gary.angie »

Im more than happy to run a video demo on a run , as long as i can host it from a dedicated server for the homedistiller.org ,dont really want it on face book or youtube, only for memebers of this forum.
I would need some imput from members on layout of show, what they want to see etc.
Gary
Gizmo54
Novice
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:27 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Gizmo54 »

Im new here and had a question. We made our first batch off of a reflux and after a couple days the product started smelling bad kind of like burnt popcorn. The mash consisted of sweet feed sugar and ground barley malt. What could it be? We kept the temp on the pot at or just below 200F.
alexd1
Novice
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:55 am

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by alexd1 »

I noticed that you mentioned the different temperatures for making shine. I am in the process of making it but it's so watered down so I must not be running low enough. What would be a proper temperature for corn shine? Thanks!
tony184k
Novice
Posts: 43
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2013 2:59 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by tony184k »

im new at this im in a pole barn using a gas burner I have a column type still how safe is this
F6Hawk
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 803
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:43 am

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by F6Hawk »

evanwiley wrote:Anyone have info on water type to use for mash? I live in Calgary Alberta and we have hard water, i can distill it...

Whats good to use? Tap, Spring, Distilled, Mineral. What are this differences and the best choices?
Hard water is good for distilling, as long as it isn't TOO hard (I used 10gpg well water and it worked great). Minerals in the water seem to make the yeast grow better. Distilled water... nothing for the yeast to get nutrients from. Softened water... a lot of salt ions. Chlorinated... can slow or kill the yeast; leave it out overnight to let chlorine dissipate. Chloramine requires chemical removal.
User avatar
scout
Bootlegger
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:00 pm
Location: deep woods of arkansas

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by scout »

alexd1 wrote:I noticed that you mentioned the different temperatures for making shine. I am in the process of making it but it's so watered down so I must not be running low enough. What would be a proper temperature for corn shine? Thanks!
Sounds to me like you ran to hot. You didn't mention what type of rig you are running, if you have a pot still, and don't have a thumper keg, add one and put in some of your wash, then make a run watching the temp. Whisky comes off at 178f running at any higher temp., with out a thumper and you will get more water coming over than you want.
Just a Cooper and Whisky Maker.
"We like visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin way out in the wilderness"
User avatar
scout
Bootlegger
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:00 pm
Location: deep woods of arkansas

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by scout »

tony184k wrote:im new at this im in a pole barn using a gas burner I have a column type still how safe is this
Just watch out for any leaks of vapor and pressure build up.
Just a Cooper and Whisky Maker.
"We like visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin way out in the wilderness"
User avatar
scout
Bootlegger
Posts: 132
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:00 pm
Location: deep woods of arkansas

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by scout »

F6Hawk wrote:
evanwiley wrote:Anyone have info on water type to use for mash? I live in Calgary Alberta and we have hard water, i can distill it...

Whats good to use? Tap, Spring, Distilled, Mineral. What are this differences and the best choices?
Hard water is good for distilling, as long as it isn't TOO hard (I used 10gpg well water and it worked great). Minerals in the water seem to make the yeast grow better. Distilled water... nothing for the yeast to get nutrients from. Softened water... a lot of salt ions. Chlorinated... can slow or kill the yeast; leave it out overnight to let chlorine dissipate. Chloramine requires chemical removal.
If you are in doubt, get a good filter for your water line. Traditionally, spring water that tastes sweet is what we old timers look for out in the woods. For in town, and for keeping the low profile, just get a good filter system that you can hook up fairly easily. An other way to do it would be to build a sand column with some washed charcoal at the bottom to run your water through. This can be made from CPVC pipe and an end cap, set on a five gal or larger container, just put a hose to the top and run slowly so you don't overflow, the end cap need small holes for the water to exit the column into your collection container.
Just a Cooper and Whisky Maker.
"We like visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin way out in the wilderness"
Hound Dog
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3002
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:45 pm
Location: Hounds Hollow, VA

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Hound Dog »

scout wrote:
alexd1 wrote:I noticed that you mentioned the different temperatures for making shine. I am in the process of making it but it's so watered down so I must not be running low enough. What would be a proper temperature for corn shine? Thanks!
Sounds to me like you ran to hot. You didn't mention what type of rig you are running, if you have a pot still, and don't have a thumper keg, add one and put in some of your wash, then make a run watching the temp. Whisky comes off at 178f running at any higher temp., with out a thumper and you will get more water coming over than you want.
Alex, please do not listen to rubbish about the temperature. It is complete BS. There is no way on Gods green earth to control the temperature of a boiling wash in a pot still. You cannot control the temp of a boil only the rate of a boil. Just like boiling plain water over your propane burner, a raging boil bubbling out of the pot is 212 degrees and turn it down to a slight boil, it is still 212 degrees because that is what water boils at and you cant change it. The boiling point of your wash varies depending on the percentage of alcohol on the mixture you are distilling because it is a combination of water alcohol and a few other things. Just get it boiling, get the distillate running out your condenser at a small stream and adjust the flame to keep the stream small. The heat will gradually rise as you boil the alcohol out of the wash. There is nothing at all you can do to stop this as it is physics.

Go to the New Distiller Reading Lounge and read up. You will find lots of info there.
LM Still Operating Instructions
Cranky's New Distiller's Advice
Using Google Search

Drinking Rum before noon makes you a Pirate not an alcoholic.
Prairiepiss
retired
Posts: 16571
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:42 am
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Prairiepiss »

scout wrote:
F6Hawk wrote:
evanwiley wrote:Anyone have info on water type to use for mash? I live in Calgary Alberta and we have hard water, i can distill it...

Whats good to use? Tap, Spring, Distilled, Mineral. What are this differences and the best choices?
Hard water is good for distilling, as long as it isn't TOO hard (I used 10gpg well water and it worked great). Minerals in the water seem to make the yeast grow better. Distilled water... nothing for the yeast to get nutrients from. Softened water... a lot of salt ions. Chlorinated... can slow or kill the yeast; leave it out overnight to let chlorine dissipate. Chloramine requires chemical removal.
If you are in doubt, get a good filter for your water line. Traditionally, spring water that tastes sweet is what we old timers look for out in the woods. For in town, and for keeping the low profile, just get a good filter system that you can hook up fairly easily. An other way to do it would be to build a sand column with some washed charcoal at the bottom to run your water through. This can be made from CPVC pipe and an end cap, set on a five gal or larger container, just put a hose to the top and run slowly so you don't overflow, the end cap need small holes for the water to exit the column into your collection container.
Activated carbon or activated charcoal. Not just plain charcoal. There is a difference.

And there are plenty of good threads about water around here. You just need to use one of the search functions above to find it. The HD Google search would probably work the best for this.
It'snotsocoldnow.

Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man

Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
Prairiepiss
retired
Posts: 16571
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:42 am
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Prairiepiss »

Hound Dog wrote:
scout wrote:
alexd1 wrote:I noticed that you mentioned the different temperatures for making shine. I am in the process of making it but it's so watered down so I must not be running low enough. What would be a proper temperature for corn shine? Thanks!
Sounds to me like you ran to hot. You didn't mention what type of rig you are running, if you have a pot still, and don't have a thumper keg, add one and put in some of your wash, then make a run watching the temp. Whisky comes off at 178f running at any higher temp., with out a thumper and you will get more water coming over than you want.
Alex, please do not listen to rubbish about the temperature. It is complete BS. There is no way on Gods green earth to control the temperature of a boiling wash in a pot still. You cannot control the temp of a boil only the rate of a boil. Just like boiling plain water over your propane burner, a raging boil bubbling out of the pot is 212 degrees and turn it down to a slight boil, it is still 212 degrees because that is what water boils at and you cant change it. The boiling point of your wash varies depending on the percentage of alcohol on the mixture you are distilling because it is a combination of water alcohol and a few other things. Just get it boiling, get the distillate running out your condenser at a small stream and adjust the flame to keep the stream small. The heat will gradually rise as you boil the alcohol out of the wash. There is nothing at all you can do to stop this as it is physics.

Go to the New Distiller Reading Lounge and read up. You will find lots of info there.
+1 You can't control temps. And you can't use them to make cuts with either. There are threads in the new distiller reading lounge that explain that.
It'snotsocoldnow.

Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man

Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
mrmagoo
Novice
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:46 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by mrmagoo »

I have run vinegar and then a steam run.is the first run using mash just wasted?
Hound Dog
Master of Distillation
Posts: 3002
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:45 pm
Location: Hounds Hollow, VA

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Hound Dog »

Yep. You are using the solvent powers of alcohol vapors to clean what the water did not get. You still have to make sure it is clean after that.
LM Still Operating Instructions
Cranky's New Distiller's Advice
Using Google Search

Drinking Rum before noon makes you a Pirate not an alcoholic.
Prairiepiss
retired
Posts: 16571
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 7:42 am
Location: Somewhere in the Ozarks

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by Prairiepiss »

It's what we refer to as a sacrificial alcohol run. Meaning you need to toss it out.
It'snotsocoldnow.

Advice For newbies by a newbie.
CM Still Mods
My Stuffs
Fu Man

Mr. Piss
That's Princess Piss to the haters.
mrmagoo
Novice
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:46 pm

Re: Basic Distillation 101

Post by mrmagoo »

thats what i thought.thanks.i guess thats the shit they dont show ya on t.v.
Post Reply