Just bought me a still...

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junglejuice
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Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

Hi guys last time I was on here I was using a Still Spirits air still and got jumped on pretty quick about it being crap so today I bought me a "real" still...

This is a pot still, correct?

So far I have been trying to make a neutral spirit to flavour into bourbon primarily but occassionally I make some butterscotch schnapps and some southern comfort, well try to anyway using one of the much maligned "turbo" yest washes.
The schnapps worked out not too bad at 20% but the bourbon and southo had quite an odour to it, well the base spirit had quite an odour somewhat like metho but not as strong.

So I have been reading the FAQ's for beginners and there is a lot to go through but one thing I didn't notice was two things with a 20l still how much volume of decent alcohol and at what % can I expect from it and how long would it normally need to run for?
It also mentioned for a pot still that for a neutral spririt to double distill it so is that simply refilling the still with the output of the first run back in on its own or do I add water to increase the volume again?
Does the "better" recipes than the "turbo" washes also require double distilling with this style of still for a neutral?
IS double distilling required for a straight bourbon recipe as well?

Please be nice... ;)

Cheers, JJ
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filb
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by filb »

Did you buy from ebay or a HBS you should have some sort of instuctions on how to use it or the shop should have given you at least a crash coarse in how but do some reading here anyway and you will learn heaps from the mentors on this site take notes and listen to there advise and wealth of knowledge and you cant go to far wrong
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Bushman
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by Bushman »

Junglejuice I am basically a positive person, hope you find your answers while researching this site but please be ready and take as a learning experience when you receive the comments coming about turbo yeast and 20% abv. :silent:
Prairiepiss
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by Prairiepiss »

It's not really a pot still. This would be a cm reflux still. Not a good one. It that's what it is. Here maybe this thread will help you.
Better Operation of a Brew Shop CM Still (novice guide)
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=13264
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junglejuice
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

filb wrote:Did you buy from ebay or a HBS you should have some sort of instuctions on how to use it or the shop should have given you at least a crash coarse in how but do some reading here anyway and you will learn heaps from the mentors on this site take notes and listen to there advise and wealth of knowledge and you cant go to far wrong
It was an ebay secondhand unit....
junglejuice
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

Bushman wrote:Junglejuice I am basically a positive person, hope you find your answers while researching this site but please be ready and take as a learning experience when you receive the comments coming about turbo yeast and 20% abv. :silent:
I would prefer not to use a Turbo wash if I can find a receipe/method that works for this type of still and gives me a decent result and uses relatively easy to find ingredients...

My knowledge is extremely limited but I am reading....
junglejuice
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

Prairiepiss wrote:It's not really a pot still. This would be a cm reflux still. Not a good one. It that's what it is. Here maybe this thread will help you.
Better Operation of a Brew Shop CM Still (novice guide)
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=13264
Now this is the sort of thing I am looking for, just gotta read it all now, cheers....

I don't know if it does mention it or not as I have started to read it but what does "CM" stand for????
junglejuice
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

I thought it would mention it, just hadn't found the link yet... CM = Cooling Managament, just gotta work out what that means now... ;)
Prairiepiss
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by Prairiepiss »

Gi have a look through of the rest of the must read new distiller reading lounge. I bet you just mite find a thread or two that will tell you. And I bet the thread names will give them away. A lot of us don't call that section required reading for nothing.
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junglejuice
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Re: Just bought me a still...

Post by junglejuice »

Prairiepiss wrote:It's not really a pot still. This would be a cm reflux still. Not a good one. It that's what it is. Here maybe this thread will help you.
Better Operation of a Brew Shop CM Still (novice guide)
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=13264
That is a very interesting read, thanks for that..

I found out it is a Still Spirits 25l Super Reflux unit....
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