Some questions on buying my first still

[OCDistiller]

I've thought about it and decided that I'd prefer to buy my first still as opposed to trying to build one and need some guidance on what to get and where.

I'd like to be able to make rum and whiskey at around 60% abv so I can barrel age it. I'd also like to make nuetral spirits that I can use in liqueurs. As for size, I'd be making quantities enough for me and occasional gifting.

So here are the main questions so far:

- Pot or Alembic?

- What size should it be/how many Liters?

- What features should it have? What features will I probably not need?

- How much should I spend?

- Are there any websites/brands/companies/models in particular that you'd recommend?

- Are there any websites/brands/companies/models that I should totally stay away from?

Thanks!

[Durace11]

So what you want is flavored and neutral and you want to keep it hobby level for personal use.

Brewhaus or Mile-Hi would be a good choice IMO.

http://www.brewhaus.com/
http://www.milehidistilling.com/


Both Brewhaus and Mile-Hi sell a reflux column that can be un-packed to preform as a pot still. For the hobby scale I would stay in the 8 to 15 gallon range. A 15.5 gallon keg makes an excellent boiler if you can find one around your area. Most places sell an 8 gallon or 15 gallon milk can of some sort. As far as how much to spend, spend as much as you feel comfortable spending depending on your situation. Most people consider the sites above to be higher priced than building it yourself but if you are intent on buying rather than building that's about what you are going to pay.

Do plenty of research before you buy so you know exactly what you are getting and how you are going to use it to make what you want to make. The basics are pot = flavored product, reflux = neutral. Plated can make a neutral but you'll have to be going with quite a few plates to get all the flavor out.

[OCDistiller]

Any thoughts on those little Mr. Distiller systems or the Alembic distillers?
I'm looking for something small enough where I can use it inside (stovetop or on a hotplate).

[Prairiepiss]

Mr distiller is not what you want.

An Alembic is just a pot still that's shaped bit different.

If you want to produce a actual neutral? You will need a reflux still of some sort.

If you can live with a decent vodka that has a little grain flavor and mouthfeel. Then you can use a pot still. Just run it 3 or 4 times.

As far as size. 5 galling boiler is what we normally suggest as the smallest you would want to start with. Anything smaller will make cuts hard to make and learn. And they just don't produce that much. A 5 gallon bucket is a good cheap fermenter. And matches a 5 gallon boiler pretty good.

Example of how much you mite get from a still. Please see my thread in the new distiller reading lounge about how much you will get. For more detail.

But let's say you do a 5 gallon bucket ferment to 10% ABV. You will get around 4 gallons of 10% wash. That 10% wash will will give you around .4 gallons of finished product after cuts and diluting. So maybe a half gallon of barrel ageing product.

If you were to run something around a gallon boiler. You would get around .1 gallon of finished product. From one run. And that won't be the best because with such a small amount cuts would be hard.

By far the best boilers are kegs. Either a pony or a 15.5 gal. They can have electric elements installed and are just all around a good choice. I know they seem big. But if you want to make the best product you can. You will need a decent size boiler and still.

[Durace11]

Mr distiller is not what you want.

+1 from experience, if you are going to spend the money you can get a decent pot still for the same price. A milk can with a pot still head can fit on a stove top, even one with a microwave above it, and you can easily run water from the sink. I know from experience, you can't use the microwave when it's running but it works, just eat something first so you don't get hungry mid run. I've used this setup working from a buddies kitchen and it works fine. A hot plate or internal element also works fine in the kitchen and it all breaks down to fit in a broom closet when you have friends/family over to visit.

[Hawk_]

If you check I have my milehi tower for sale in the clasified section. It would work great for what you are wanting.

[OBX Phantom]

One other thing you should take into consideration is the difference between copper, and stainless steel. Stainless steel is much easier to keep clean than copper, just because copper tarnishes. That being said you do need to have copper in your system in order to remove sulpher from your wash, but if you go with stainless the copper can be added with the packing in the column.