I need some guidance

[PANMAN1965]

I have a wager with my son .. he says NO WAY can I break 140 proof on my set up ( stainless 8 gallon pot with a cone top into a 2" copper pipe over to a 4 gallon thumper out to a liebig) I keep telling him we are getting 120 to 130 from only 10% washes... I have a shade over 3.75 gallons of 80 proof mixed heads and tails. My plan is to put the 3 qts into the thumper which will easily cover the inlet...3 gallons in the pot and run it kinda slow.. to be perfectly honest I do not care what it tastes like I just wanna win the bet lol. If it is also drinkable that will be a bonus. EVEN I get over 140 for a half jar I still win.. I believe I can do way higher than that running feints... so amm I on the right track with my plan or do I need to cut the proof down more before putting it in the pot?

[smokineod]

I'd dilute your 3.75 gal of low wines with a gallon or two of water to be one the safe side. Then put a gallon in the thumper n the rest in the pot! That way your on the safe side, and more likely to come out with a better product! And should still be a easy win for ya!

[DSM Loki]

With my pot still doing a spirit run with 40% low wines my first pint comes out over 80%. No need to take unnecessary risks to get over 140 proof. Dilute your boiler charge to 40% or less.

[PANMAN1965]

With my pot still doing a spirit run with 40% low wines my first pint comes out over 80%. No need to take unnecessary risks to get over 140 proof. Dilute your boiler charge to 40% or less.

it IS 40% its 80 PROOF sorry for the confusion.

[PANMAN1965]

I'd dilute your 3.75 gal of low wines with a gallon or two of water to be one the safe side. Then put a gallon in the thumper n the rest in the pot! That way your on the safe side, and more likely to come out with a better product! And should still be a easy win for ya!

I was thinking a gallon of water or enough to get to 5 gallons total.. 1/2 to 1 gallon in the thump the rest in the pot.. Thanks guys

[NZChris]

I see no reason to add water to anything if you want to win that bet.

[PANMAN1965]

I win.... 162 fores..... 1st jar 160

[PANMAN1965]

2nd and third jar 160

[PANMAN1965]

5 jars in still dead on 160

[PANMAN1965]

I see now why you guys do stripping then spirit runs

[PANMAN1965]

How low should I run this? 28 jars amd I am still over 140

[NZChris]

Run til it tastes bad. What are you making?

[rad14701]

We're gonna turn you into a stripper yet...

[still_stirrin]

We're gonna turn you into a stripper yet...

Oh no..he didn't just say that...

[PANMAN1965]

We're gonna turn you into a stripper yet...

There are a few things in life you do NOT wanna see... My naked fat ass is definitely one of them lol. I am trying to produce the best stuff I can. I pulled a small sample in the middle of the 160 stuff. Diluted to half with water. I gotta say even to an almost non drinker like me it was pretty good. I can imaginebif it was full stripping runs and not just heads and tails

[PANMAN1965]

Run til it tastes bad. What are you making?

Sorry I missed this earlier. It is just a run of mixed feints. Honestly just to try to win a bet but it ended up being pretty decent. Gonna cut it to 120 and I have part of a stave left from a woodford reserve barrel I am gonna cut up and put this on oak.

[NZChris]

There is no need to dilute that low for aging, especially with water. Try to find a flavorsome blend close to, or above, 125 that doesn't need diluting. That might be impossible because it's a feints run, but you might learn something by trying.

[NZChris]

Another trick is to do more than one blend. Wide cut for long aging, narrow cut for white dog/instant gratification. I've done three different cuts from one spirit run and all are turning out good in their own right, or have been drunk already.

[PANMAN1965]

OK I have the feints run on oak.. I used the woodford reserve stave I have and cut cubes off of it.. I didn't char it like I should have.. OBVIOUSLY it is charred on one side due to being a whiskey barrel. To be honest I can not find my torch. I DID follow TPEES oaking guide to determine how MUCH to put in but I still have a question.. I am oaking in quart jars. I left em a little under filled to accomodate for the oak cubes BUT they did not fill em up as much as I thought... is it ok the cubes are floating ( some) rather than submerged? or do I need to top em off with some 80 proof I have? ... also if I do by chance find my torch ( I know at 130 proof it is very flammable) can I pull the cubes out and char em or just roll with it as is?

[PANMAN1965]

borrowed the neighbors torch.. pulled the cubes out and charred em on the sides and left the ends as best as I could. I am happy with them now.... any thoughts on splitting up a vanilla bean between the 6 jars?