Inspired by Gin

[mikeac]

I know that Gin can be made by allowing the vapor to rize through a basket of botanicles and juniper berries. I was wondering if you could use different flavors ie apple, melon etc, in a basket to give it that flavor? Any one tried it? I was also thinking instead of a basket if I just put it in my colum? would it have the same effect? I have a 3/4" column about 18" long on a pot still. Again I was wondering if anyone has tried it...I will try it anyway, just wondering if anyone else has tried tried it and gotton good results???

[Uncle Jesse]

never tried it but give it a shot. why not? find something local or regionally unique if you can, that would create something kinda special.

[Tater]

Id be real carefull not to create a blockage in my column. But Ive heard of several differnt things put into gin baskets for flavor.

[copperstill]

I've put fresh fruit into the pot with my second run to try and increase the fresh fuit notes, and that seems to work a bit. I would think about the size of the pieces of what you intend to cut up. One would want to have a large surface area to volume ratio.

[mikeac]

I was just thinking of starting some apple while I try and distill vodka, I may be getting ahead of myself as I havn't tried to make vodka in a potstill yet, but if it works the variety is endless

[mtnwalker2]

Mike, heed Tater's warning. If you put apple or other in the column, and you have a screen to keep it from all falling into the pot, it will cook down and block vapor flow, then either a kaboom, or one hell of a mess.

[birdwatcher]

Gin Recipe:

juniper berries 35 grams
cardamon 1 "
orris roots 1 "
corriander 1 "
lemon peel 1/2 lemon
350 ml. water
Break up juniper berries in a blender. Just the yellow zest of the lemon.

Into a small pot still.

Collect 75 ml distillate in one bottle, 75 in another. Add 75 ml 95 % ethanol to each bottle. The first bottle will be stronger.

add 10 ml to a liter of vodka for a bottle of gin as good/better than you can buy.

Plans for the still: http://www.gin-vodka.com/making-gin.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Enjoy,

G

[birdwatcher]

Re my message; the dittos should be under the grams.

Cheers,

G

[Dr. Lector]

I make my gin by putting the botanicles in a coffee filter ,wraped tight and placed on top of the packing with good results. However I am using a 2" colum.
I have seen a setup where they use a quart mason jar as a thumper and put the fruit flavor in it. I think this would be a safer alternative with your smaller colum. While I have no first hand knowledge about the stills on this site , I did like the look of the setup and in theory it should bring across the fruit flavor and raise the ABV.
I belive the site was http://www.stilldrinkn.com onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow . I hope this helps you out and if you try it let us know how it works out.

[Dr. Lector]

Sorry here is the right link
http://stilldrinkin.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[muckanic]

="mikeac". I was wondering if you could use different flavors ie apple, melon etc, in a basket to give it that flavor?

You need something with significant essential oil content, which is why spices are normally recommended. Generally, fruit seeds would work better than the fruit itself. Other common sources: citrus peel, flowers (provided they have a bit of bouquet).

[mikeac]

looks like I may have to rig up a mini thumper to use as a gin head, I never thought of that...

[hornedrhodent]

="mikeac"
looks like I may have to rig up a mini thumper to use as a gin head, I never thought of that...

Apple peel packing in the column - would it work as well as copper or raschig rings - whats the HEPT of apple peel?

[schnell]

regarding the stilldrinkin site:
i don't know if I'd buy a still from someone who can't spell 'distillate'.

how about using a sanitary inline filter body to make a gin head and botanicals basket. just clamp it between the boiler and the head.

[muckanic]

="mikeac". looks like I may have to rig up a mini thumper to use as a gin head, I never thought of that...

A thumper doesn't buy you anything that adding your herbs direct to the boiler will not. The point of suspended basket designs is that steam has more energy than boiling water. Also bear in mind that the higher the alcohol concentration, the lower the H20 concentration, and consequently the lower the extraction temperature.

[marquee moon]

Gin Recipe:

350 drams water

Birdwatcher-
Is this drams or grams?

1 dram = 1.8 grams

[mikeac]

A thumper doesn't buy you anything that adding your herbs direct to the boiler will not. The point of suspended basket designs is that steam has more energy than boiling water. Also bear in mind that the higher the alcohol concentration, the lower the H20 concentration, and consequently the lower the extraction temperature.

The thumper wouldn't actually be a thumper, it would look exactly like one, but instead of water/mash/alcohol it would contain packing and flavoring agent, that way the steam would rise through the packing and pick up the flavor...I think it would act exactly like a gin head

[birdwatcher]

Gin Recipe:

350 drams water

Birdwatcher-
Is this drams or grams?

1 dram = 1.8 grams

I beg your pardon; that should have read 350 ml. water.

I will correct my original post.

G

[blanikdog]

I know that Gin can be made by allowing the vapor to rize through a basket of botanicles and juniper berries.

If one is using a pot still with a thumper, could one put botanicals in a basket in the thumper for the same result?

[mikeac]

I haven't tried it, but as far as I see it you held the botanicals above the liquid in a thumper, the vapor would pass through them just like in a gin still...again no experience with this yet, but I think it woudl work