Canecutter Rum Kit

[belandaaron]

http://www.homebrewerswarehouse.com.au/rum.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Has anybody tried this?

It is $50 Aus plus postage. Im considering trying it out to see what is in it and how it comes out. Then I would more than likely try and replicate it if it turns out ok.

Worth a shot huh?

[plonker]

what sort of still you running b and a ? just put on a rum to day for my pot still.. might make the missus happy?? I hope

[kiwistiller]

I don't want to be a wet blanket here....

But...

Why don't you just use molasses? All they'll do is sell you some very expensive 'nutrients' (molasses) and say run it through a pot still...

to quote that link:

Real Rum is made by fermenting molasses and putting it through a pot still.

So.... ferment some molasses and put it through a pot still It doesn't get much easier than that (well, maybe sugar washes, but you know what I mean). lots of good recipes floating around.

$50NZ will buy you a 25kg bucket of molasses, enough for at least double (and probably more if you're cutting it with sugar like most do) what that 'kit' will make you. As that's about $1.70AU, you should be fine

[blanikdog]

I'm with kiwi here. Making rum with molasses is easy and $50 buys a lot of molasses from a Hay and Grain store. Check out the rum recipes in here and you can't go wrong.

blanik

[rubber duck]

I cant say ive ever tried any kit,so i dont know abought this one. 50 bucks is a hell of a lot of molasses and there are some realy good recipes on this forum. So im with the rest.

[plonker]

he he he.. yeah, my kit is molasses and raw sugar... (well actually treacle, raw sugar and brown sugar) we will see how it goes...

[kiwistiller]

why are you using both raw sugar and molasses, as a matter of interest?

[belandaaron]

As that's about $1.70AU, you should be fine

Now thats pretty funny hehe.

Thanks for all your input. I'm going to grab some molasses and see how I go. I've just found these guys online and I'll see if I can get some off them.
http://www.brandonmolasses.com.au/?gcli ... pAodT1m51w" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Plonker, I have a reflux at the moment on a 25L s/s boiler. I'm just looking into a pot still head to go on top of that. I've been reading violentblue's thread with great interest so I'm also thinking of how to incorporate a thumper into the plan.... Ultimately, I'm after a rum that resembles Captain Morgan / Coruba etc....

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... ussers+rum

[kiwistiller]

ltimately, I'm after a rum that resembles Captain Morgan / Coruba etc....

Mate, you are aiming WAY too low. don't be surprised if you beat tem on your first try. Also, if you like lighter rums, its worth giving a reflux run a try... I don't mind refluxed rum at all. the molasses flavour carries over surprisingly well in a column.

[belandaaron]

Thanks Kiwi! Those are encouraging words. I've been messing around with essences for years trying to come up with a decent rum and have failed totally. I really dont know why i didnt attempt this earlier apart from my lack of knowledge I guess. Really wish I'd found this forum a loooooong time ago tho!

I'm considering plonking on a Still Spirits stainless pot head at this stage. I know the benefits of copper but I dont have the know how to make myself something. will the still spirits one be good enough to get me started? I can get one for $80 so I guess its worth a shot..?

[kiwistiller]

I'd try and get a member to make you a head that can go on a beer keg if I were you. if you just use that Still Spirits head you won't be able to run slow enough to do potstilling justice... unless you get a controller as well or a smaller element... also if you've got a SS reflux unit at the moment, just detune it into a pot still... $80 saved. if you've got the still I think you do, see this thread http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 17&t=11265

[belandaaron]

Thanks Kiwi.

I have an Essencia Express and to be honest (contrary to popular belief) I think its pretty good for a readily available reflux... I know they aren't loved around these her parts tho.. hehe

Thanks for that link, its fantastic. Reading thru it now.

I'm running the 25L boiler that came with the essencia but I have added a 1000w element along with the standard 2000w. I did this to help with the heat up time and also in anticipation of putting on a pot head......

Will the detuned Essencia do the same job as that still spirits pot?

cheers! I really do appreciate the guidance. I'm pretty sure I need (want) a thumper too but no matter how much reading I do, the theory behind it all is still beyond me. Do you think one is necessary? If I can get a rum even close to capatian morgan etc, I'll be over the moon. Do you have a particular method or one of the recipes that you think I should aim for?

sorry to lump you with all these questions!

[kiwistiller]

Will the detuned Essencia do the same job as that still spirits pot?

pretty much exactly.

I'm pretty sure I need (want) a thumper too but no matter how much reading I do, the theory behind it all is still beyond me. Do you think one is necessary? If I can get a rum even close to capatian morgan etc, I'll be over the moon. Do you have a particular method or one of the recipes that you think I should aim for?

well its not nessesary, no, but I want one too don't have one yet... I really reccomend trying a nice molasses -ey wash with your current still, reflux it. It doesn't seem to be part of 'HD rum docterine" but I really reckon its well worth a try. the rather crap refluxing capabilities of that still will work in your favour, as more flavours will carry over. try packing the column with 2 out of 3 scrubbers, to help even more. put it this way: I did a side by side test, same rum wash, one I put through the detuned still twice, the other I refluxed once. I preferred the reflux, it was smooth and clean and fruity, and more flavoursome than the other (believe it or not).

just my two cents though I'm sure many will disagree with me on that. I like a medium body spiced, fruity sort of rum as opposed to a heavy navy one like most round these parts seem to, so the above should be read with that in mind.

Good luck!

[belandaaron]

Kiwi,

You're a credit to this forum. Thanks for the friendly direction. Its really appreciated and its nice to know that there are people as helpful and committed as you to help us out.

Cheers!

I'll keep u posted of results etc.

[kiwistiller]

aw shucks

[plonker]

why are you using both raw sugar and molasses, as a matter of interest?

Hey kiwi, raw sugar is cheaper for me than white, Molasses are the most expensive as I live in the middle of the city.... so as little molasses as possible at A$4 for 200ml... raw sugar is about A$1.10 a kilo from memory

I I start making a lot of rum I will find some cheap feed molasses..

Cheers..

[Dnderhead]

save up your pennies, make some phone calls, take a trip and buy a bunch. it will be worth it.

[plonker]

Thanks Dnder, we see how the missus likes this one... gotta to try to keep the little woman happy..

[Dnderhead]

There's nothing like the "real stuff" mite be a little more work but-----
Ive tryed adding sugar to many different mashes/washes ,, just don't care for it. maybe I'm spoiled.

[kiwistiller]

why are you using both raw sugar and molasses, as a matter of interest?

Hey kiwi, raw sugar is cheaper for me than white, Molasses are the most expensive as I live in the middle of the city.... so as little molasses as possible at A$4 for 200ml... raw sugar is about A$1.10 a kilo from memory

wow that's some cheap raw sugar. For some reason its more expensive here (economies of scale anyone?) and its hard to find in big sacks. you could always just use raw and call it cachaca? but yeah I take a trip out to the local feedstore every once in a while, get molasses, barley, corn... molasses is about $2 a kg still, but I'm moving closer to a sugar mill next year so I might be able to sort something out there

[Captain Morgan]

Hi all,

I know its only my first post but Canecutter Rum sounds Australian, therefore a Bundy type....

My recipe for this kind of rum is as follows. I've been doing it a while and I love it but I'm certainly no expert. I probably have things in there that people dont agree with but I put this one together and it works for me.

For a 25 litre wash.

5L Mollassis
1.5 kg Brown sugar
2.5 kg dextrose

Now I use the Essencia super 6 yeast in this but I'm sure there are cheaper and much better ways.

I add all the sugars with about 3 litres of boiling water. Stir like crazy.
Then add cold water and make up to 25 litres.

I stir at about day 3, day 7 and day 14. I then leave it for a few days to settle.

I put it all in my pot still distill in one run.

I leave for around a week on oak and its done!

I have no doubt that I'm probably doing a number of thins wrong but I like the taste


Cheers

[Captain Morgan]

Just out of interest, the old timer that I got the above recipe off a long time ago uses a small amount of carbon in his final product. This isnt necessary is it?? Wouldnt putting it on carbon remove some of the good flavours too? I know the saying that "if you need to put carbon in it you've done something wrong" but he always came across as quite knowledgable so I'm ust wondering.

He also uses an anti foaming agent in his wash before he distills. I've copied him on that one because I'm too worried it will foam over if I dont. Does anyone else use it?

Thanks all..

[ruger01]

Hi People,

Well i have bought this kit once and while it makes nice rum, i prefer as most do to make my own - 4L Molasses, 1kg Brown Sugar and 3 Kg White sugar. These stuff taste as good after a week on oak as the kit so for the price i would make up your own brew or follow someone elses the kits a bit pricy in my opinion. I have to use an anti foaming agent (Still Spirits brand - distilling conditioner) to stop this rum wash puking while running through the still. I use a starter batch to grow a yeast colony up from a litre version of the wash i'm making using plain old bread yeast as well(Lowan Brand - Instant Dried Yeast) works very well. the trick with bread yeast is rehydrating, throwing it on top dry doesn't work so well for me.

Hope this helps.

[kiwistiller]

could you give us a run down on what was in the kit?

[Captain Morgan]

Hi People,

Well i have bought this kit once and while it makes nice rum, i prefer as most do to make my own - 4L Molasses, 1kg Brown Sugar and 3 Kg White sugar. These stuff taste as good after a week on oak as the kit so for the price i would make up your own brew or follow someone elses the kits a bit pricy in my opinion. I have to use an anti foaming agent (Still Spirits brand - distilling conditioner) to stop this rum wash puking while running through the still. I use a starter batch to grow a yeast colony up from a litre version of the wash i'm making using plain old bread yeast as well(Lowan Brand - Instant Dried Yeast) works very well. the trick with bread yeast is rehydrating, throwing it on top dry doesn't work so well for me.

Hope this helps.

I'm also pretty keen to see what is in this kit. It seems like quite a bit of money to me, but hey, if it gets people started on producing themselves a decent home made rum then i'm all for it (and should order one myself! hehe )

[ruger01]

Hi Guys,

Well the kit contains a bottle of Molasses about 4 litres or so full, 2 bags of dextrose which weigh about 1.8kg each, a small bag of brown sugar around a kilo or slightly more from memory, a fairly large bag of oak shavings - not chips, a small pack of distillers carbon and a small bottle of blue coloured stuff which i believe is wash conditioner to stop it puking while distilling. There is instructions on the side of the box on how to brew it and oak it etc step by step.

As stated it would be good for somone i.e. myself when starting out to make a decent rum and it is a nice rum, but there is nothing in the kit that you could not buy much cheaper yourself as i did.

Hope this helps,

Cheers - Ruger01.

[Captain Morgan]

Hi Guys,

2 bags of dextrose which weigh about 1.8kg each, a small bag of brown sugar around a kilo or slightly more from memory

Far out! They could halve the price of the product and cut shipping by half also if they just sent the other ingredients and told people which sugar to buy locally. I guess they dont want anyone knowing how easy ALL of the ingredients are to source locally ....

[rad14701]

Hi Guys,

2 bags of dextrose which weigh about 1.8kg each, a small bag of brown sugar around a kilo or slightly more from memory

Far out! They could halve the price of the product and cut shipping by half also if they just sent the other ingredients and told people which sugar to buy locally. I guess they dont want anyone knowing how easy ALL of the ingredients are to source locally ....

That would totally kill the profit margin...