sweetfeed whisky

[Dutch41]

QUESTION:
1. As I prepare to distill the second generation, do I place the entire first collection of SF whisky in the boiler with it to re-distill ?

[Prairiepiss]

QUESTION:
1. As I prepare to distill the second generation, do I place the entire first collection of SF whisky in the boiler with it to re-distill ?

Did you just do a stripping run with the first?
There are many ways to go about it. Add the stripped run to the second wash for another run. Or stripped both the 1st and 2nd gens combine them dilute to 40% and run a spirit run. The first way as you described will carry over more flavor then the second way I posted. But it also might not be as high in ABV as the second way. So you need to figure out which way is best for you.

[Dutch41]

I ran the Sf thru my reflux still in pot mode (No water in reflux tower/ only condensor), I ran it slow so I did not get too hot, ended up with 5 large jars and quit when the smell was a bit off. I restarted the second batch with sugar in about 4 quarts of backset (from 8 gallon boiler), let it cool and added to the fermenter. Second generation bubbled for a day or two and it should be ready by Saturday to still BUT I will be running it thru a pot still head that I purchased from Hill Billy Stills. I'm not exactly sure what the difference is in a stripping run and a regular run. Thanks...

[bentstick]

Stripping run, balls to the the wall, cut fores, collect rest down to about 35/30 abv ( I usually don't go lower for SF) As fast as your condenser can keep up.
Regular run ( spirit ) slower a small twisting stream nice and easy. Air out, Make cuts, blend, age. I usually divide in 2, half goes on oak Half is white. Hope it helps.

[Catfish King]

I have been using Producer's Pride all grain feed from Tractor Supply. I have been having very good results with it. They show it on there web site. Here is a link to it so you will know what to look for http://www.tractorsupply.com/producer-s ... b--5021132
I hope this helps some of the members that are looking for the right feed to use. It does not have pellets or alot of additives. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and keep the thumper thumping!!

[Dutch41]

Thanks BS, helped a great deal. Have a great New Year...

[Odin]

Mr. Fish,

Like UJSSM, SF gets better when you did a few generations and you get yourself some backset that has been rerun for a few generations. I personally would not throw the results of gen 1 in with gen 2. It will be better than gen 1, but will it be better than gen 2 without the addition of gen 1? What I like to do is taste the various generations and see where/when the quality goes up. From that moment on, I use that generation (and the ones to follow) to age on wood. The ones before I run thru my fractionating still, to get me a descent vodka with mouth feel. Sinces (at least in my esperience and with my kind of fractionating still) SF even as a vodka brings over quite some taste (eau de vie de whiskey?), I usually combine those first gens 50/50 with a neutral to make it more "vodka" and less "eau de vie de whiskey".

Just my way of doing things, but maybe it helps you.

Odin.

[Dutch41]

Odin. my Dutch friend, I have to say that as my generation one has aired out, there are a couple jars that are quite appealing and I was tempted to keep as Kentucky Shiner mentioned in previous posts. However, that is a great idea you mentioned just for the purpose of comparing the different generations... Do you or anybody on the SF Forum feel the need to add a little yeast when you rejuvenate a generation?

Thanks to all... Have a Great New Year...
PS: Odin, I remember growing up with Mom and Dad and we would have some Ole Bolen to bring in the New Year...

[Odin]

Ole Bolen? Sounds interesting ... but what is it? Something Dutch?

I do not rejuvinate my yeast bed. Find it is strong (very strong) and will start to work in second, third gens even better and faster.

However, in the UJSSM thread I read that some members feel their yeast decays after like 10 gens. I have not gone that far, so I don't know from experience.

Odin.

[Odin]

OLIEBOLLEN!!!

Yes! The Dutch New Year's treat! Father of the donught, I read. Great to see some "New Holland" survive in the States! There are still some Dutch based words in the US like "cole slaw", "dollar", "boss" and off course "Santaclaus"! Not trying to be nationalistic, though.

Now, on "oliebollen" (balls cooked in oil -> "oil balls"), I will have my share! Tonight we will celebrate old & new (as we call it: oud & nieuw) at my brother's place. He is a very good "oliebollen" cook! We will talk, laugh, enjoy oliebollen, drink lots of beer and around midnight we will collour the sky bright with arrows & crackers to scare of the ghosts of the old year passed. And to have fun!

Have fun too! And a great new year.

Odin.

[Dutch41]

Happy New Year... I ran my second generation yesterday and doing batch two of a second generation today. Second generation had great mild flavor though I noticed some air bubbles in a few jars, almost look like carbonation. We'll see how today goes...

[Dutch41]

Hopefully I will be finishing up today, it got late yesterday and shut her down but she is heating back up now. This has been a great experience. It tastes so good I do not know where to make my cuts but we'll figure that out. When I decide to put this on oak, what is the best to dilute with, diistilled water, spring water etc... Also what ABV/PROOF has everyone found best to be at for oaking. Thanks. KS-thanks for sharing the recipe. I guess UPS did not run here on Saturday, hopefully I get the pot still head today.

[Odin]

Distilled water is good. Spring/tab water is not so good. Calcium might cloud your drink. I personally have a brita filter. Gives me 1.5 liter of filtered water (up to 80% of minerals taken out!) in 5 minutes. Works great.

Ageing on wood: between 62.5% and 50%. Higher than 62.5% mite give you off taste. Under 50% less effective. Expect to loose some 3/4% on the process. Drinking strenght: between 45 and 50%. That's what I do, at least.

Great to see your second gen being so successful

Odin.

PS: Guidelines for cuts can be found on the parent site. An estimated 3% of collected alcohols as fores, 17% as heads, 57% as hearts. Beware of the decrease of ABV while pot distilling. Need to compensate for that. And: this is just a rough guideline. Taste & smell (and so: experience) will do the trick. On the other hand: some heads & tails are needed in a whiskey if you allow it some time to develop. Might actually improve your likker's taste over time (and on wood).

[stevie_dangerfield]

I followed direction to the T. Had it sizzling away when it started last night but has slowed considerably this morning. room is around 73. new bucket with good air lock. Should I leave it be or add more yeast?

[bentstick]

What kind of yeast? How much did you use? What is the s.g now?
How bout a trip to welcome center. Tell us what you are doing.

[Dnderhead]

quit bugging the yeast,let it do its thing.

[snuffy7]

pardon me if this has been gone over...this is a long thread. my question is if I'm gonna cut my product to 40% and age on oak does it matter if I cut it first or should I cut it after aging? thanks

[Bull Rider]

Snuffy, after. But let it age and then taste it, cut if necessary.


Bull

[rad14701]

Ideal aging proof for flavored spirits is 120 - 130 proof (60% - 65%)... That's where it interacts with charred oak the most efficiently...

[snuffy7]

thanks again guys. I learn something new everyday on here.

[wannaB1]

I have a test batch fermenting now and I will be running this in an electric keg. Has anyone ran this in an electric set up and was extensive straining necessary?

[Buteo]

I line my fermenter with a paint straining bag. Once the cap falls I just lift the bag and let it drain then let the wash set for 24 hrs. then rack off and put it in the still. I'm using a internal element and haven't had any problems. The all grain sweetfeed mix I'm using clears up pretty quick.

Buteo

[Dutch41]

Gen1 and Gen2 went well. I've got Gen3 brewing now and it should be ready by Monday at the latest. I ran Gen1 and Gen2 thru a reflux still in pot mode but the next one will be thru the pot still head I got for hillbillystills.com. I'm going to this local store this week to buy an old whiskey barrel and remove the bands, cut her up into oaking size pieces and char a couple up, I'm ready for some oaking. That's all for now.

[beowoulfe]

I line my fermenter with a paint straining bag. Once the cap falls I just lift the bag and let it drain then let the wash set for 24 hrs. then rack off and put it in the still. I'm using a internal element and haven't had any problems. The all grain sweetfeed mix I'm using clears up pretty quick.

Buteo

Great idea, thanks. I've got gen3 almost ready to cook now. Gen4 will be in a paint straining bag.

[Dutch41]

Gen1... Kept 1 jar because it tasted good
Gen2... Got 4-5 jars
I left them out with coffee filters for a few days to air out and then I put them in the frig, had to clean up the man-cave. Needles to say, they are crying for charring and smell awesome.

[snuffy7]

I've read of people aging their hooch a year or more, I'm planning to get a new oak keg to store mine in. What is the ideal time to age? I'm gonna say use the taste test but just wanted some opinions. Can you over age?

[frozenthunderbolt]

I've read of people aging their hooch a year or more, I'm planning to get a new oak keg to store mine in. What is the ideal time to age? I'm gonna say use the taste test but just wanted some opinions. Can you over age?

You can over oak- too much time on too much oak - harsh and woody spirit
You cant over age - time for the spirit to mature - helped by letting it breath a bit and agitating it occasionally.

If you have done the former, sometimes the latter can provide a solution (up to a point).

Depending on the size of your keg and what you are making, with a new keg i would be looking at anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, taste little and often, and put it in the cask at around 65.5%.

Once you are happy with the taste, check your % and then temper to 40-50% and put into glass for as long as you can stand before drinking

[spencer321]

I searched for this but couldn't find it, I bought producers pride 12% and it was mostly pellets, I figured I've got it I'm going to try it, anyone who's used the pellets have any idea as far as results go?

[Fastill]

I searched for this but couldn't find it, I bought producers pride 12% and it was mostly pellets, I figured I've got it I'm going to try it, anyone who's used the pellets have any idea as far as results go?

I don't know how to post links but I found 252 hits for "pellets".
Mainly says don't use them. The Sweetfeed I bought had pellets and it was horrible. No way to even rack the wash off the slime that it created. Not that I would have run it because the whole wash smelled bad.

[spencer321]

i found plenty of results for pellets too, i know how the search button works, There were a few people who actually ran their pellet mixtures... however i could not find their results which is what i was looking for, the result if anyone HAD run it