My first run...need advice on blending

[johnodon]

I did my first run ever last night...Sweetfeed Whiskey. I think things went well. I started with ~4 gallons in the boiler. I chucked the first 4 ozs. of fores just be safe. I tried to collect in 150ml increments so I can learn my still but overshot a few times...usually due to kids. So, I ended up with 15 jars of anywhere between 150ml and 200ml. I was a able to keep the output to a fast drip (close to a stream) pretty consistently. I have to say...EVERY single jar came out crystal clear. No clouding at all. I did run that output through a coffee filter so I am not sure if that helped.

Here is how they came out.





Can you guys offer some advice on blending? I really ony want the best stuff...the rest can go into the next batch. I plan on letting the jars air for another day or two and them blend the good stuff, dillute to 55 ABV and put it on oak for a few weeks. I want to end up with 80 proof in the end.

TIA!

John

[johnodon]

Sorry for the crappy pic....

[Vapour trails]

I m kind of new to the blending my self. But i think if you would of recorded the distillation temperature at each jar you collected, that would help your blending decisions along. You will most likely have to just smell it and taste it. assuming you threw away enough of the heads and you want to blend for a final product of 55%, i'd keep everything over 55% and blend it down. Your ABV average is 62% for your first six jars and a total of 1015 ml. If my app is correct, you need to dilute with 129.18 ml. I hope this helps.

[HolyBear]

Nice... SF really needs some ageing time for best results. Like, a couple years for my taste. I assume you've read the thread on cuts for potstill? You'll probably only keep the middle 1/3, for SF, you can dip into the tails a little further for flavor, be careful towards the heads SF heads is HOT . Good job man. PS ifn ya can, set back a bottle of it and forget about it for a couple years...

Here's the thread... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=11640

[johnodon]

I m kind of new to the blending my self. But i think if you would of recorded the distillation temperature at each jar you collected, that would help your blending decisions along. You will most likely have to just smell it and taste it. assuming you threw away enough of the heads and you want to blend for a final product of 55%, i'd keep everything over 55% and blend it down. Your ABV average is 62% for your first six jars and a total of 1015 ml. If my app is correct, you need to dilute with 129.18 ml. I hope this helps.

Thx Vapour.

Can you point mw to the app you mentioned? I'd like to check it out.

BTW...you're not a Rush fan are you? Just a guess based on your name here. Vapor Trails was one of their recent albums.

John

[johnodon]

Nice... SF really needs some ageing time for best results. Like, a couple years for my taste. I assume you've read the thread on cuts for potstill? You'll probably only keep the middle 1/3, for SF, you can dip into the tails a little further for flavor, be careful towards the heads SF heads is HOT . Good job man. PS ifn ya can, set back a bottle of it and forget about it for a couple years...

Here's the thread... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=11640

Thx waca.

I did read the thread on potstill cuts. I just wanted others to suggest where they would blend and see if I have it right.

BTW, what is a good recipe that is ready to drink sooner than later? I would love to get some to my father-in-law in a few months and see what he thinks.

Thanks again,

John

[Vapour trails]

Its on the app store. called the distillers toolbox. U have a keen sense. I do like rush lol.

[Prairiepiss]

Taste and smell is what you need to learn. Numbers can't tell you what you like. Well not this early in the game. I can't offer you any suggestions because I'm not there to taste or smell it. This is something you will have to learn on your own. Start in the middle work your way out. If you like it set it in the like pile. If you don't like it sit it in the don't like pile. If its questionable well more then likely this early in the game if its questionable I would leave it out. You mite find a jar in the tails you like the flavor of. Be careful it is easy to add to much and ruin a good run.

Good luck.

[Boda Getta]

Text book run. The guys all posted good advice. The only thing I could add is +1 Wacabi1 on SF heads; I've SF much "headier" than UJSSM and too much heads can ruin your blend unless you age it a long time. If you are like most guys just starting out, you will not want to wait +1 years to drink it. As you get more experienced and have built up your stock, that will change.
+1 PP. There are guidelines on blending by % ABV ect ect but there are so many variables, as PP said it always comes down to smell, feel and taste.... 98% taste. The no. 1 thing I recommend to new guys is not to be greedy. It's human nature, given the excitement you have for your new hobby, plus the $, time and effort you put into the wash, is to maximize the output. Resist that urge and realize that the jars that do not make the final blend will not be wasted. All the heads and tails not used can be saved and re-ran. Some of my best results have been from feints runs. Set up a feints jug and save all heads and tails. Once I learned that lesson, it was much easier to resist the greed urge. Many recommend airing for a day or so, I've found that it's usually best to air at least 3 days, particularly true for SF. Be sure and try to dilute the samples consistently. Don't rush the process and don't feel like you have to complete the process in one sitting. I found that toward the heads end, it's easy to "burn out" your taste buds and smell buds. Take a break and slow down. In my experience, the dead giveaway for not including a jar in the final blend is smell and taste... if you pick up any "chemical" smell (acetone'ish) = feint jar. For me, If I pick up any "tongue burn", "tongue bite" = feint jar. Throat burn is fine, but you want that fairly minor as well. My goal is for the final blend to be drinkable in an enjoyable way but realize that proper aging, charring, ect will make a "good" result great, but short of a long, long aging period, you will never be happy with a bad blend regardless of age. I recently re-ran some SF with over a years charr/age because of excessive heads in that blend.
Take you time and enjoy.
Good luck

BG

[condo33]

Its on the app store. called the distillers toolbox. U have a keen sense. I do like rush lol.

Thanks for the App heads up! J.

[Richard7]

It looks like you have been given VERY good advice on blending. The only thing I would stress is taste and smell. After all isn't that what you are after? Numbers can help give you a clue but if you have a bad run the numbers might not line up with the taste and smell. Other factors can help you as well, reading the bead (google it), feel (You can tell if any fusel oils are present by the feel of it between your fingers), sight (some heads and tails tend to be cloudy, not all but some.). You may even be able to detect heads by holding your eye over a shot glass with some product in the bottom of it. Acetone and methanol will make your eye water just from the vapor. It looks like you are off to a good start Keep it safe.

[johnodon]

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I really appreciate it!

I tasted...sniffed...looked at....

Jar 4 is where the strong smell really seemed to fall off. It is also where I didn't get hardly any tongue burn. Jar 10 is where I started to get a little buttery smell. So, I went one jar further just to have a little extra flavor.

I ended up blending jars 4 through 11 for a total of 1200ml @ 50% ABV. Now to source some oak strips and stick these on a shelf for a few weeks. I'll then pull the oak and try to let them age as long as I can stand.

Now, I have ~1000ml of feints @ ~30% abv. How much of that is safe to add to my next generation? All of it? Half of it?

Thanks again guys!

John