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Hello All,

I'm planning on a sugar wash strip run soon, and I have some feints from a previous corn-sugar mash spirit run. I thought I could use the feints for a future corn whiskey run, but I thought about using the feints to either put in a strip run or the subsequent spirit run. Some additional factors of the situation include the following:

1. I have the results of strip run that came from a sugar wash that was augmented with raisins for yeast nutrient. I used two packets of Safale US-05 yeast. Yield is 1.25 gallons at ~35 proof
2. My sugar wash sitting in the still waiting for the strip run comes from straight sugar and water using Alcotech Turbo Yeast. Because of cool ambient temps it about 8 days to complete fermentation. I did the wash in a hurry, so I failed to get an OG reading; therefore I'm unsure of the ABV. Tastes pretty potent, though (wine strength).
3. The feints come from a blended mash of 5 lb of corn meal, 5 lb of sugar, and 2 pounds of raisins cooked and pulverized in a food processor. The yeast was Safale US-04 (one packet).
4. All of the fermented mashes were 5 gallons.

Any comments or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Sure, put the feints in your sugar wash for the strip run. That's what I do.

What type of still are you running?

What do you intend to use the sugar wash for?

I like to save all my potstill feints for an all feints run.
If the feints were good, as in all grain or fruit, then they get re-potstilled
If they were sugar head feints, they get fed to the CM column for making neutral spirits for in-laws or fuel.

rob3rd wrote:...
1. I have the results of strip run that came from a sugar wash that was augmented with raisins for yeast nutrient. I used two packets of Safale US-05 yeast. Yield is 1.25 gallons at ~35 proof....
.
.
4. All of the fermented mashes were 5 gallons...

Was that really 35 proof...or 35%ABV?

If it were indeed 35 proof, that means your wash was only 4.4%ABV...a little low I'd think.

Here's the check:
1.25 gallons = 5 qt @ 35 proof (17.5%ABV) = 0.875 qt @ 100%ABV.
Then, 0.875 qt / 20 qt (5 gallon wash) = 0.04375, or 4.4% ABV wash.

So, 35%ABV sounds more like a typical wash, which would be roughly 8.75%ABV...that's closer to 2 lb. sugar per gallon.

Which was it...proof or %ABV?
ss

rob3rd wrote: 2. My sugar wash sitting in the still waiting for the strip run comes from straight sugar and water using Alcotech Turbo Yeast.

Personally I would dump it out, after running it to see why turbos are only considered as a fuel. Check out the tried and true for a good recipe. Rads allbran or Gerber will replace the turboshit right quick.

Still stirrin,

Thanks for the spot. My bad. It's 35% ABV.

NZChris wrote:What type of still are you running?

What do you intend to use the sugar wash for?

I am using a hybrid reflux-pot still. For strip runs, it will just be in pot still mode. The plan is to make an apple pie moonshine. I don't anticipate this having any real redeeming taste quality on its own.

All,

I appreciate all the input. I agree that in general turbo yeast does not produce a good tasting product, and do not plan on using it again. That said, I'm glad I gave it a try.

Regards
Rob3rd