what I learnt to get supirior product from a reflux still..

[Lynx_Gen]

So, over the last lil while, I've had several runs under my belt.
I always tried to "Make cuts" separating into separate containors about every so bit, (roughly about evey 100mls.) I could tell the differance between heads n tails, but could never realy find a clear cut sense of presance of the hearts.

It was always kinda blurred together, and I would take what i found to be the best smelling/tasting bits from the middle and toss em together. (I have a small unit, it doesnt produce much each run.)

So the other night I was did a run, and ended up with a low return, (Aproximately 2/3rds of what i would usualy get, before it weakend out and smelled/tasted like cardboard.)

I think it was cuz I reduced the amount of sugar somewhat, due to the length of time my ferments were going.

As it is, being slighty disgusted, I ran it wide open for another short period. I had another run to do yet, and figured I'd just dump the previous into the next one. and thats what I did.

I pulled the usualy amount of foreshots with each run, which in my case I take off almost double whats recomended.

What i found was on the second run, I could run MORE heat. Also what I found was there was a much more clearer distinction between heads hearts n tails.

I had this wierd fear that I would loose out overall, but in the end, I seemed to have gained.

This is prolly largely due to at the end, when I got a little bit into the tails, I just let her run for an extended period of time, and mass collected it for the next run.

I found a big difference, and a clear cut distinction between the cuts. I ended up with a product 4 times better than any of my previous runs! OMG! Its like day and night comparison.

Point is, to anyone runnin a small unit, try this, do a double or triple run, tossing the previous runs product into the next one, you'll get a far supior and much better and satisfying product. its very well worth it!

I think I'll be making a pot still soon to do fast stripping runs, that or adapt the boka to transform into a pot still.

so anyone else have a similar experience, or am I just imagining things?



~L~

[Richard7]

+1 on the sugar amount = to your lower yield. You can add the heads and tails in your next run or save them up for a spirit run. Just be sure to dilute what you are going to redistill down to at least 40% ABV.

[guittarmaster]

yeah, i agree. it seems the more I recycle my heads and tails the more defined the transitions are.

GM

[LWTCS]

Great post for the stove top crew. WTG.

[OlympicMtDoo]

I agree completely, I do all double runs for my neutrals even using a 16 gallon keg, cuts are much more obvious the second run.

[Rod]

I have a small still , 5 litre super reflux , purchased before I read anything here

however, I only make neutrals and gin ( using a parrot for infusions ) which I redistill ,without anything in the column

to the point of my post

as I do each 5 litre run , I keep the first 50 ml , which I add to the next 5 litre run

and then on the final run discard the 50 ml

works for me

I also have a heater control devise and can control the distillation rate , particularly at the start

makes the first cut very clearly defined

the final cut is when the temperature starts to rise at the end