Redistilling flavoured spirit

Froggy · Post by **Froggy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:44 am

Hi guys,

I have about 15L of 40% spirit that smells a bit too sweet so i'm thinking about running it through the still again.

I also have a few bottles of 40% flavoured spirit which tastes crap. I'm wondering if its possible to chuck this into the still as well to see if I can separate the crappy flavour?

Any opinions?

Thanks

AfricaUnite · Post by **AfricaUnite** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:08 am

If you take the time you can pretty much rip just the ethanol leaving everything else in the boiler. But in this fast faced world who has the time

Ive used activated carbon to strip the color from red wine. If you wanted to skip the distillation process you could carbon treat the flavored spirit and that will strip the flavor and color right out of it.

Less carbon will be needed if you run it through the still again. It cant hurt, it will only make for a cleaner product at the end if you make the right cuts. You can carbon treat after this stage, or both times, everythings up to you.

goose eye · Post by **goose eye** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:13 am

yup you can. i would add some water if it aint over 1/2 full. would add some of your favorite juice to kettle to help a little on flavor. you can
burn the bottom of your kettle out if it copper over time. that why you need to be addin water on ocasions.
i no some boys that single footed some 4 times an each time they ran it the worser it got. they finally kicked the barrel over.
so im tole

Froggy · Post by **Froggy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:30 am

Thanks guys.

I have been relying on the carbon a bit too much I think, so I want spend some time perfecting the stilling and cutting process.

I only have a spirits unlimited reflux still with the ceramic things in the column so I have just purchased some copper mesh. I hope this will help with a cleaner higher % spirit.

AfricaUnite · Post by **AfricaUnite** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:53 am

Copper mesh is A-1, best packing ever. Soak or boil it in vinigar then rinse with distilled water, good as new every time.

Froggy · Post by **Froggy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:51 am

Does the copper need to be soaked in vinegar after every use of the still?

So far all I have been doing is pouring hot water with sterilizer down the column. Thats with the ceramic rings.

birdwatcher · Post by **birdwatcher** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:36 am

AfricaUnite wrote:Copper mesh is A-1, best packing ever. Soak or boil it in vinigar then rinse with distilled water, good as new every time.

Interesting cleaning point.

I must say, I have simply been running hot well water through the mesh for about five minutes, after every use and then drain

It would be a bit of trouble to boil up some vinigar, stopper the end, pour in to soak in the mesh and then wash out.

Do you really think this is nessesary, or are you being super/cautious clean?

G

Hackers · Post by **Hackers** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:22 pm

While I agree copper is good, structered copper has by the the highest surface area - which is what you are after.

With regards cleaning your copper, when I first started distilling I used to, like you, just use hot water which as a result I typically obtained about 88%ABV.

I was then advised I should add 5ml of citric acid per litre of water (my column uses 2L) and to note the difference. It was immediate - next run I was achieving 92%ABV and now that I have changed over to structered copper I am consistently achieving 94-95%ABV @ 1L per hour. I believe I have possibly achieved over 95% at times but I'm not too concerned around that point.

Froggy · Post by **Froggy** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:39 pm

I bought the structured copper from the amphora society. From all the reading I have been doing, this is the best!?

AfricaUnite · Post by **AfricaUnite** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:31 pm

Its easy enough for me to buy a gallon of vinigar for $1.77 at price chopper, put 2L of it in a pan and soak the mesh in it for a couple minutes while it heats up. Ive never just ran it with water, i cant see plain hot water leaving it with a bright brand new finish like vinigar does as its so acidic.. Does it make a difference, who know, its just the way I do it.

birdwatcher · Post by **birdwatcher** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:12 am

AfricaUnite wrote:Its easy enough for me to buy a gallon of vinigar for $1.77 at price chopper, put 2L of it in a pan and soak the mesh in it for a couple minutes while it heats up. Ive never just ran it with water, i cant see plain hot water leaving it with a bright brand new finish like vinigar does as its so acidic.. Does it make a difference, who know, its just the way I do it.

Tough for me to remove the mesh, however you've got me thinking. I'll give it a shot the hard way and report if I see a difference. This will be an interesting test. My mesh has been cleaned with hot water only, for ten years.

Continues to work great. Will it work better after the above process? We shall see.

Have a good weekend all.

G

Hackers · Post by **Hackers** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:03 pm

="AfricaUnite" Tough for me to remove the mesh, however you've got me thinking. I'll give it a shot the hard way and report if I see a difference. This will be an interesting test. My mesh has been cleaned with hot water only, for ten years..

There is no need to remove the mesh, simply remove the column and cover any outlets with duct tape. Then invert the column and pour in your solution, in my case warm water and citric acid and leave for five minutes. Then remove the duct tape and flush with warm water. you are now ready to go again.

Rocky_Creek · Post by **Rocky_Creek** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:50 am

No need to c lean the mesh, you are just slowly eating it away. I just remove, rince and let dry. The copper oxide does the same job.

hornedrhodent · Post by **hornedrhodent** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:28 am

="Rocky_Creek"
No need to c lean the mesh, you are just slowly eating it away. I just remove, rince and let dry. The copper oxide does the same job.

I agree with Rocky - You might even need the oxide for the sulphury stuff to act on. The fresh copper surface is rapidly oxidised anyway.

Does anyone know about converting sulphides to sulphates - I've read that copper scotch whiskey stills need to be replaced about every 10 years. I suspect that copper sulphate ends up in the boiler. IMO removing the oxide with acetic or citric acid just speeds up the disintegration of your copper mesh.

Post by **theholymackerel** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 11:51 am

This is in line with what I've been tellin' potstillers for a long time: Don't clean yer layne arm... just rinse it and put it away.

I've found that a new copper layne arm "gets seasoned" and the product gets better with use.

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