Is carbon filter necessary after strip NS run?

[bandit42]

Hi Guys,
When making neutral spirit, is it necessary to carbon filter the "hearts" collected from a good low wines run?
(My washes are basic 6kg sugar, 22lt water, 85g turbo mix - cleared washes - 4 x 25lt batches stripped for 1 low wines run)
Thanks,
Bandit42

[decoy]

its not necessary.

running it through carbon or charcole will clean out a % of flavours, smels chemical desirable and not.
i find it makes the spirit to clean and you dont feel geting drunk untill its to late..

it helps with making the spirit taste smoother tho...
CORECTION...: just noyiced your question...

dont waste your time filtering a striping run.... no need..

do it after final run..

[Oaty]

To filter or not to filter that is the question...whether tis nobler in the hearts and minds of men ...There's alot of disagreement in the discussion of filtering or not filtering... First after a spirit run definately not. Filtering should only be done after cuts are made. In my opinion filtering is not necessary at all. If you ferment clean and make proper cuts filtering is redundant. In addition you introduce the possibility of contaminates from the carbon. You must have a reliable source of charcoal. Nothing like a bit of petroleum to flavour your spirits. Yumm...

But apparently many here disagree.

[nutmg1]

I don't have an opinion on this subject at this time but have been pondering this subject. I'm on about my 10th sugar was batch and while I always get a good product it’s not exactly Grey Goose.


I always collect in 3 cup increments and number my jars. I start in the middle and work my way out. I usually get about 8 to 10 3 cup jars of what I consider drinkable vodka out of 100 pounds of sugar.

This makes 8 to 10 handles. Only the middle 2 or 3 are neutral enough to drink straight in a martini.

Does this sound about right? Do you think I should consider filtering?

I've been watching a TV show called the "Thirsty Traveler” he was at the Stoli distillery in Russia and they showed their filtering system.

Stoli isn't my favorite but I'm still not getting the Vodka that I think I should.

Thoughts???

I run an offset reflux with a 40 inch column. I get 90 to 94 thought my runs.

[tracker0945]

A number of breweries carbon filter their product, including some well publicised companies who actively promote their filtering practices.

When I first started distilling and using the Turbo kits (for making a neutral) following the included instructions I found that with my limited knowledge of running my still, that I had to carbon filter to get rid of the unpleasant tastes.

As things have progressed, I now have no need to carbon filter my neutral.

I would say, let your product air out for a day or so, then if you are happy with the taste, do no more. If it tastes like shit, you may either water it down and run it again or try filtering, your choice.

But as it has been said many times before, if you have a clean ferment and run your still slow, you should get clean product out.

Cheers.

[bandit42]

Guys,
Thank you all for your comments and input.
Today I compared some of my filtered product to unfiltered, 40% APV, both were acceptable to my taste.
Think I will keep the "best" of the hearts from spirit runs (unfiltered) then filter the rest (cutting heads and tails of course).
Regards,
Bandit42

[seravitae]

ever since i discovered the wonders of reusing carbon all my NS washes get at least one or two filters.

i reckon it makes a huge difference for smell of my product, but then again i havent played with 'airing out' my distillate so im not sure if it doesnt need just that..

[HookLine]

ever since i discovered the wonders of reusing carbon all my NS washes get at least one or two filters.

i reckon it makes a huge difference for smell of my product, but then again i havent played with 'airing out' my distillate so im not sure if it doesnt need just that..

Don't underestimate the power of airing and ageing. Put one bottle aside from your next batch of neutral. Instead of sealing it up with a cork or screw cap, place a coffee filter over the top held on with a rubber band. Leave for several weeks. Taste.

[seravitae]

yeah, im going to be trying just that - of my two big aging bottles of bourbon, one smells *great* but the other tangs of tails due to possible greed. *smacks his wrist* however, i found that leaving the bottle lid off overnight cleared away a lot of the tails smell.

[punkin]

Hook, where do you get bloody coffee filters from?

I did have a source from a rep of a big catering firm, but they switched machines.

i've googled to the shithouse and checked every dept and specialty store in town, finally gave up and just been using paper towels.

[HookLine]

Coles and Woolies stock unbleached coffee filters. 'Harris' brand. Cheap. Always got em here.

[punkin]

Coles and Woolies stock unbleached coffee filters. 'Harris' brand. Cheap. Always got em here.

Where?

In with the coffee?

[carlos castenada]

hi all,

yeah, i get mine from coles also, lots of different sizes etc. in the fancy coffee isle.

cheers

[rad14701]

I've had the misfortune of having cheap filters partially dissolving with only moderate ABV spirits... Lesson learned was to always test a new brand of filters so you don't contaminate an entire run... It sucks having to filter out the filter and wonder what else ended up in the final product...

[HookLine]

Coles and Woolies stock unbleached coffee filters. 'Harris' brand. Cheap. Always got em here.

Where?

In with the coffee?

Yup.

I've had the misfortune of having cheap filters partially dissolving with only moderate ABV spirits... Lesson learned was to always test a new brand of filters so you don't contaminate an entire run... It sucks having to filter out the filter and wonder what else ended up in the final product...

Good tip.

[Hawke]

I've been using Wally World coffee filters sinse I started. Never have had a problem.

[myles]

Some of the homebrew wine recipies need to be aired for several months - for the sherry and madeira types. They often call for a plug of cotton wool. Think this would work with ageing spirits?
Myles

[new_moonshiner]

I agree hook. airing out for a week or two makes a world of difference .. I do that mostly after cutting the 95+5 neut. down. It seems to really open up.

[Rod]

ever since i discovered the wonders of reusing carbon all my NS washes get at least one or two filters.

i reckon it makes a huge difference for smell of my product, but then again i havent played with 'airing out' my distillate so im not sure if it doesnt need just that..

Don't underestimate the power of airing and ageing. Put one bottle aside from your next batch of neutral. Instead of sealing it up with a cork or screw cap, place a coffee filter over the top held on with a rubber band. Leave for several weeks. Taste.

Hook ,

Do you do your airing before or after cutting

[HookLine]

Hook ,

Do you do your airing before or after cutting

Before and after for flavoured spirits. After for neutral.

[big worm]

before you filter just try airing for a week or so, hook and dunder made a firm beleiver of me. you take a neutral just run and to me it has a sharp smell and a bite to the taste....let it sit in a open jar like a mason or a pickle jar with a filter on it for a while and it looses nearly all the smell and taste. and wait to make the cuts as well

[kubota]

I noticed that you are using a turbo yeast and for that you are way better off filtering.
Whenever i run a turbo i let it air for a day and then into the carbon filter.
If you know that your going to filter than clean up ya carbon the day before cause it works a lot better.
After filtering ya can drink it straight away. Not everyone can wait a couple of weeks for it to air out.