So last fall I got an idea to build a liquor still while in organic chemistry. So I perused the internet and found this site. So I did my standard main site reading and began browsing this forum for still ideas. I found a couple of gingerbreadman's posts and liked his stove top design and I also liked the overall simplicity of the VM still designs. I bought a 28l stock pot and put an offset (to clear the stove hood) 4 foot 3 inch diameter column on it with a 3/4 off take 6 inches from the top. I put a horizontal ball valve and a screw on connection above the condenser. At first I built a poorman's liebig condenser a pvc water jacket (thought I knew more than you guys i guess) which FAILED. 3 times. Explosively. So I finally got the condenser sorted out in February and began messing around with cheap vodka and sugar washes. I finally felt comfortable and began making rum.
The recipe I use is:
2lb dark brown sugar
1 gal mollasses
5tsp DAP
2tsp citric acid
1/4tsp epsom salt
a few crushed up multi vitamins
5oz tomato paste
3 packets of boiled bakers yeast
~3.7 gal water
So I've made this recipe about 5 or 6 times. I make the wash in the brew pot with bottled water and after it cools I add a premade red star yeast culture and dump a baking yeast packet on the top. The raw product is pretty high proof even though I run it wide open on the stovetop. After blending and a little caramelized sugar it is delicious with a nice cigar. The second wash I made I actually forgot about and I THINK it went sour. When I ran it the distillate smelled EXACTLY like snickers candy. Very weird. I ran that batch with some feints and white sugar liquor, it is actually quite delicious.
Two problems-
1. I really don't know where to go from here. I'm tired of rum, but it's just so easy to make. I have a tiny apartment and an anal retentive roommate so its hard to do involved/messy recipes or processes (although I would love to try some pugirum).
2. I have yet to run the rig in reflux mode or use my 4 inch double helix coil, I think I'm intimidated by it.
Any ideas? suggestions? criticisms? sly remarks?
Thanks.
