New Irish Hills Distiller

[Bigdaddy]

Just starting out, 16 quart pot still. Made from a pressure cooker and 10 feet of copper tubing. My first run I double distilled 4 gallons of homemade cherry wine in to 145 proof spirit, mixed to a gallon of 80 proof. Smooth if I do say so for my first time. Fermenting a Rum wash now. This forum has been very helpful. I live in the Irish Hills of Michigan. Maybe I'll try an Irish Whiskey wash next?

[Braz]

Welcome Bigdaddy.

I've been to your area a bunch of times. Raced at MIS a few times back in the day, when the road course was still active. Then spent a whole bunch of weekends there in a press capacity.

[Ayay]

Hey Bigdaddy, looks like you started right with simple apparatus that works, and the lerning curve is automatic. Please say your pot is not aluminium!

[Usge]

Welcome Irish. Sounds like you are off to a good start
D

[Bigdaddy]

Saving for stainless, but used what I had on hand. Aluminum does dissolve any time you cook in it but I never tasted any metallic flavors in the soup or beans Ive cooked in it over the years, and metal can't evaporate at distilling temps, so safety isn't a concern for me (I know others feel strongly otherwise). I do want a stainless pot though just to eliminate variables. I think better for beer wort. I didnt notice any metallic flavor in the brandy, clear as water, aged with toasted oak and added back some of the original wine to dilute. Sipped smooth and flavorful after a couple of weeks. Wonder how smooth it will be in 6 months?

[Ayay]

Go to a stainless or copper boiler asap! Aluminium likes to dissolve in the alcohols, acids, and bases found inside a boiler. The stuff dissolved in the boiler won't get through the condensor but they will eat through the boiler. A leaking boiler is a big problem when it happens, so do it before it happens

[Bigdaddy]

I'll watch for that, my pressure cooker is heavy gauge so I don't think it's like the turkey fryers I hear about. I will go stainless asap, just seems better to me. I drink canned beer but sometimes it does taste metallic so I prefer bottled. Thanks for the warning.