Sweet? smell

[moose]

Well, I've finally worked most of the bugs out of the system, and am collecting yeilds as I should, getting SGs like I should etc....but, the product, while distilling (during all runs) I'm getting a "sweet?" smell...that's the best way I can describe it...that carries over into the product. Not overwhelming at all, but also not like the "astringent, oderless" smell (sorry for the oxymoron there) of vodka (Skyy, eg.). Instead, it is astringent with a sweet overtone.

Wife says it smells "plastic-y"?

Stone/Nixon, using the Gerber recipe...following the distilling (collection) instructions laid out here...I stop collecting at around 80-81 C.

Not sure if it is what I should expect?? Or, if there is a flaw somewhere....it's very drinkable, but since I give most of the yeild away (not a big likker drinker ) I'd like for the quality to be the best I can produce.

Thanks for any/all input!

[kiwistiller]

normally a sweet smell is heads. I find that sugar washes do produce that sort of sweet smell though, my barley and rice vodka didn't have it.

[LWTCS]

Whats your heat source moose?

Are you airing your product at all?

[Hawke]

Do you use plastic in your still, or for collection?

[moose]

Sorry for the delay in responding! I didn't get a notification (probably not set up for it somehow?? )

No plastic in the still at all....just Cu, and collect into glass carbouy. The product has been open to air for months (partially..to keep bugs/dirt out), and I'm using an electric water heater as the heat source. I've noticed this aroma in all of the batches I've done (all sugar washes...the latter being more succesfull (re: yield) than the early ones. It is noticable during early collection (and tossing of heads), as well as, during late collection (prior to the majority of tails, as I stop collecting in the early/mid 80s)...and at the same strength of odor.

I like the simple sugar washes due to their ease (and my lack of experience)...but is there another receipe that you would recommend that could help me see if it is just the receipe itself?

[blanikdog]

Have a look at 'tried and true' link. Plenty of recipes in there.

blanik

[Saccie]

I think the smell you are talking about is your heads, to me its like a mild sweet grassy smell or taste I dont know how else to describe it. But I have noticed with some peoples sugar washes using turbos etc and low quality stills it seems to be through the whole distilate.

A few things you can try is, ensure you are discarding a generous amount to begin with (100-150ml) Have a little smell with a spoon and taste one drop or so with ur finger on ur tongue. Sometimes I let it run a little further if I still think some is coming through. Next you could try seperate your distlates, every litre or so put in a different bottle smell/taste the differences. I also dont catch any distilate over 79c.

If you still have the still have the smell/taste, there are some methods on this site like using baking soda, I found to be very effective in tuning up the final run (you need to re-distill to use this) also carbon filtering then redistilling helps a great deal aswel.