minime wrote:I stripped this off this morning and recovered 12 liters of low wines. Haven't measured the % of the whole conglomeration yet but I gotta say at 50%ABV the smell from the distillate was EXACTLY like the smell you get when you're shucking fresh corn( I think it's the smell from the hairs). I was stunned to say the least as I didn't think you'd get that smell from something as processed as corn flakes. I took it right down to 20% and there was bits of oil starting to float on the top of the distillate. Unfortunately for me the only whiskey drinker I know has left town for an undetermined length of time so I'll have to be the judge of the finished product. Hopefully I can get this stilled sometime this week.
I charged the still today with 6 liters of backset, and the 12 liters of low wines. The ABV was 38% and smelled great. I put my 42 inch column on with just 3 scrubbers left at the top of the column for reflux and fired up the burner. After heads were gone I collected just under 1 gallon of 93%ABV.
Although the alcohol is very smooth it has very little flavor and is not worth the effort in my opinion. I MUST say though that the ferment with the corn flakes was absolutely furious. Something in corn makes yeast really happy.
Unfortunately you stripped out any chance of flavors coming through when you left the scrubbers in a column still, then ran it slow enough to come off at 93%!!!
For whiskey, rums, brandies, pot still, push hard, no reflux, and try to stay between 60-70%. None of this drip-drip stuff, push it out. Then, lotsa flavors, and still clean as clean can be.
Barney Fife wrote:Unfortunately you stripped out any chance of flavors coming through when you left the scrubbers in a column still, then ran it slow enough to come off at 93%!!!
For whiskey, rums, brandies, pot still, push hard, no reflux, and try to stay between 60-70%. None of this drip-drip stuff, push it out. Then, lotsa flavors, and still clean as clean can be.
Didn't think you could run a column like that. If it get around to this again I'll give it try. Were on to the new 3 inch VM column project now so it'll have to wait.
Stripped the first half of my cornflake wash tonight. The wash didn't smell nearly as bad as it did when I strained it and still had a nice corn taste. As I was running, when I figured I was past the heads, I took a sip on a spoon with some water. It was actually a very nice taste of corn (or corn flakes ) with none of the sourness apparent from the wash. Even the missus thought so! I think this will be a winner when I get the spirit run done. I'm looking forward to drinking my own corn likker!!
potbelly wrote:Stripped the first half of my cornflake wash tonight. The wash didn't smell nearly as bad as it did when I strained it and still had a nice corn taste. As I was running, when I figured I was past the heads, I took a sip on a spoon with some water. It was actually a very nice taste of corn (or corn flakes ) with none of the sourness apparent from the wash. Even the missus thought so! I think this will be a winner when I get the spirit run done. I'm looking forward to drinking my own corn likker!!
Hey pot, does it have a bourbon/ujsm taste? if so I might have a go at this.
Not sure yet what it will be like; I still haven't done the spirit run. I've been busy and will be away this week so it'll probably be next weekend before I can get to it. I'll post when I get 'er done.
I FINALLY got the spirit run done on this. After cuts I ended up with about 1.5L of 130 proof. Very nice mild corn flavour all through the hearts and at the transition from hearts to tails, a more pronounced corn flavour; sort of like corn chips. Of course I tossed that into the hearts as well. It tasted quite nice with a bit of water and I'm regrettng it a bit but I have it all aging with a mix of maple and oak sticks. I wish I had left a bit of white dog. Maybe next time, and I believe there will be a next time.
Can't wait to see how it ages with the oak and maple. I had a little today with Pepsi, and even after just a couple of days, it's pretty good.
Does anyone have a follow-up on their Corn Flake experiments...??? I'm considering trying a wash with either Corn Flakes or Total cereal... Also pondering using brown sugar from Sam's Club ($4.49/7lbs)... If that sounds like too much flavor I'll use plain white sugar...
rad14701 wrote:Does anyone have a follow-up on their Corn Flake experiments...??? I'm considering trying a wash with either Corn Flakes or Total cereal... Also pondering using brown sugar from Sam's Club ($4.49/7lbs)... If that sounds like too much flavor I'll use plain white sugar...
Hey Rad
I refluxed mine and threw away most of the flavor. I don't think it's hearty enough to withstand the column even if you push it down to 93 or so. I haven't been able to reflux under that without dragging tails into the product even with minimal packing. The corn flakes in the wash will REALLY get it working though. Keeps the yeast suspended I suppose. I'm not confident enough with the pot still to try it again. I've got some pot stilled brandy that I'm aging and will re-evaluate a couple months from now.
BTW I didn't bother trying to backset and re-ferment like UJSSM. That just might get you a whole lot more flavor.
Thanks, minime... I'm considering doing up a batch that will require several runs through my small scale unit, probably in stripping mode... I happened to consider using the backset while I was just out for a walk in this frigid weather... I still have some wheat germ kicking around too... Also want to try a wash using Bob's Red Mill 8 Grain Hot Cereal, Wheat-Less... Guess I'd better decide what to make, eh...
I've been threatening to make this for years and have never done it. As soon as I finish my Rum production line I'definately going to try it.
blanik
Simple potstiller. Slow, single run.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon) The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading
Wow, neat thread , thank you folks for sharing -gives me all sorts of (possibly bad) ideas. Fruit Loop likker anyone?
Those bulk generic cereals of all types are a pretty cheap way to experiment an a small scale. I think I'd like to take a poke at a wheat based cereal wash. I've had a few samples of other peoples wheat product (like it) and it might just do the trick. Just called the wife and told her to bring home some shredded wheat (100% per cent wheat). She thought I was nuts, but we'll see.
Another report on this recipe here, I decided this looked interesting and tried it myself. I used 7.5 pounds sugar, 2 pounds corn flakes, 1 crushed multivitamin, and 3 packets of bakers yeast for a 5 gallon wash. The only thing I did different from the original poster is I soaked my cornflakes in boiling water before I added them so I didn't have to worry about stirring them in. The hot water turns them into corn mush immediately. Took about 2 weeks to ferment out in my chilly kitchen (temp is down to 60 at night).
I let it clear for a few days in the fridge and then ran it through my pot still. Got 1.5 liters product out of it.. not sure about %, but it burns in a spoon. Don't have a spirits hydrometer here yet. It has a nice, but rather mild, corn flavor with a distinct vanilla smell to it which surprised me. Generally I am happy with it, was easy to put together and came out nicely. I have it aging with some toasted oak chips and that seems to be helping it out. I think I will probably try this one again.
OK I came here to try new recipes and I did this one first scaled to 20L. I don't have a lot to add to the discussion that hasn't already been said, but it fermented out fast and didn't really appeal to me as a low wine, the smell was kind of ... sharp. I mean it made me wince when I sniffed it. After I put it through the pot still I was actually sort of shocked that the hearts and tails gave off so much corn flavour. Makes sense I suppose, the cereal is processed to be appealing to the pallet.
Basically it's good, I'm going to pitch a full 160L wash and give it a whirl on a larger scale. I think I'll just keep the white run as it is for comparison to the larger batch.
Next experimental batch is the graham cracker at 20L... bring on the recipes
I've got a 30l batch of this stuff waiting to be run right now.
Fermented in about 5 days. Took the heat off it and it cleared up overnight. Has a real yellow colour to it. Still smells like cornflakes.
Minime,
When I've done 'unpacked' runs, I put a couple of scrubbers at the bottom of the column. Seems to keep the tails under control better than having them at the top.
InMyLessthanScientificOpinion
It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.
Valved Reflux, 3"x54" Bok 'mini', 2 liebig based pots and the 'Blockhead' 60K btu propane heat
Hawke wrote:Minime,
When I've done 'unpacked' runs, I put a couple of scrubbers at the bottom of the column. Seems to keep the tails under control better than having them at the top.
InMyLessthanScientificOpinion
That was my first attempt at this recipe and unfortunately I ran out of time to get another batch going. I'm going to put three 15 gallon batches together come spring and I'll be stripping and pot stilling them and reusing the backset AKA UJSSM. I think I'm getting the hang of pot stilling and aging. I've got an excellent brandy I made in November. I think Dnder is right about added corn malt for flavor too. Makes sense because the flavor is just too good right out of the box.
Don't know if this helps but this is ingredients for one brand of corn flakes. (AU)
Milled Corn
Sugar
Malt flavoring
High fructose corn syrup
Salt
Iron
Niacinamide
Sodium ascorbate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6)
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Thiamin hydrochloride (vitamin B1)
Vitamin A palmitate
Folic acid
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D
Vitamin B
I made a batch of this stuff and its in the fermenter. here is how i made it:
2 lbs bag of malto - meal frosted flakes ran though the blender and turned it into powder.
20 lbs of sugar
4 lemons
heated to 150F stirring for 20 min or so
added tap water to bring sg to 1.078
Finally got around to trying this wash. I'll put a little malt in it as Dunder commented that some Cflakes have malt added. My stuff is cheap and maltless.
A report will be forthcoming in a week or so.
Blanikthespy
Simple potstiller. Slow, single run.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon) The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading
Got 20 litres of this going last night and I've never had such a violent ferment. Hope it doesn't cause off flavours. Funny thing is that it smells like breakfast cereal. Put's a very different perspective on a cup of coffee and corn flakes for breakfast.
blanik
Simple potstiller. Slow, single run.
(50 litre, propane heated pot still. Coil in bucket condenser - No thermometer, No carbon) The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading
I don't think you will get any off flavors as such from a vigorous ferment.
Seems to me that most of the cereal recipes ferment aggressively.
The 3 liter jug (on oak sticks) I have is now turning a light brownish/orange.
smells good but it ain't no Dewars (or the like).
I have been switching from fridge to room temp and daily aerating by exchanging 16 oz. quantities from vessel to vessel for several minutes then back to the primary jug.
Certainly I have no idea weather or not it will ever be fit to enjoy neat.
I was wondering if you were going to tell anyone about this experiment. I'm going to run my next gerber tomorrow. No corn this time going to leave this one clean.
Debating on what to run next. Cornflake or grahmcracker, I did find a box of barley though so I might run it and compair.
) with none of the sourness apparent from the wash. Even the missus thought so! I think this will be a winner when I get the spirit run done. I'm looking forward to drinking my own corn likker!!
Keep on Stillin' 
