Birdwatchers sugar wash recipe

[TopShelf]

Thanks bushman, ill let it clear for a few then rack it..... or does it matter if I let it clear ? This is only for an alc. cleaning run.

[TopShelf]

I ran the bird watchers recipe.it came out really well but was wondering about the lack of cardboard smell in the tales. It smells more like a wine wash, and very watery. I did the spoon trick on what I assume to be the hearts portion, and it flamed up nicely. If I remeber correctly this means its above 50/ abv. Thanks for a great recipe Bw.

[DaveZ]

I've just finished running 2 X 25L washes of this recipe, my first distilling experience of any kind so I'm still fumbling my way a little. I tried to do each wash in a single run through my reflux still, but wasn't 100% happy with my results, so I combined the product and watered down for a final run. I discarded 100+mls on each run to make sure there were no foreshots left. I could still detect a different scent in maybe the first 5-600mls of the spirit run, so this has been kept aside as heads for the next distilling run. I couldn't really detect any "tails" but I put the last few hundred mls in the feints collection anyway. After cutting the spirit down to 40%, I ended up with about 12.5 Litres of drink. I think it's not too bad for my first run, but not perfect either, when compared to a bought vodka there's a bit more of an aftertaste in mine. I suspect that could be from either not allowing the wash to settle for long enough after fermentation, not racking correctly resulting in some sediment in the boiler (I have a proper racking siphon on order but it hasn't arrived yet), or starting with too high an initial SG (1.090) resulting in yeast stress. All things to experiment with as I learn what the hell I'm doing.

In saying all that, the end product is quite drinkable, I was rather "happy" by the end of the night last night and no sign of a headache this morning so it can't be all that bad right?

My biggest problem is that I have a work mate who's been distilling his own drink for many years, he tells me I'm mad for doing it the way I am because his way is the best way, the only way, and his drink is the best. He tells me I MUST use Turbo yeast and MUST carbon filter, he won't let it go I'm hoping I can get this recipe, or one of the other sugar washes, good enough to shut him up but I'm not there yet.

Thanks for the recipe and all the information in this thread, makes learning this art a joy.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Undies]

He tells me I MUST use Turbo yeast and MUST carbon filter, he won't let it go I'm hoping I can get this recipe, or one of the other sugar washes, good enough to shut him up but I'm not there yet.

I've been doing the BW wash for a while now, and I must say, you're streets ahead of where I was after my first wash. You're pretty close to getting a really great product cause you know the devil is in the detail. Once youn correct the little mistakes you made, it'll be great. Soon the turo will taste crap compared to yours. Keep us posted.

[DaveZ]

I've been doing the BW wash for a while now, and I must say, you're streets ahead of where I was after my first wash. You're pretty close to getting a really great product cause you know the devil is in the detail. Once youn correct the little mistakes you made, it'll be great. Soon the turo will taste crap compared to yours. Keep us posted.

Thanks mate. I think impatience has a lot to do with it, the excitement of running your first wash means you don't wait as long as you should or pay attention to the finer details. I think (hope) I can improve as time goes on. Do you think that improving on those 3 things I mentioned will improve the final product much?

Cheers,
Dave.

[Undies]

With this hobby, you get out what you put in. I suffer exactly the same problem. I'm so excited to have a new wash on, I sometimes show impatience, and the end product is effected thusly.

Remember, it's the journey, not the destination. Next time you put a wash on, do it all perfectly and enjoy the process and you'll have a great result.

[total]

Hey guys.
I just mixed up my first Birdwatchers.
I made a 4 gallon batch, using this calc -> http://shuggo.com/birdwatchers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Once i went to read the SG, it came out as 1.12...
What could have went wrong?
I used 4gal city tap water, 7.51lbs sugar, 1/2 lemon, a pinch of epsom, and 149g all natural tomato paste...

What should i do?

[Undies]

Did you add the total amount of sugar? Cause the directions indicate to add it slowly as you go until the SG reaches 1.08 (or so). The calculator is the approximate MAXIMUM you would ever need to reach that SG.

I once made that same mistake, so I just added water until the SG reached my goal. It worked just fine.

All the other ingredients can be added to their total. Note, that your calculation makes a TOTAL 4 gallons, not 4 gallons of water to be added.

[total]

After shaking it really well and pouring off my SG sample and not pulling it from a settled bottom, my SG read 1.083...
Its a bubbling away already!

And i brought it up to a 4gal total!
Hope it turns out alright!

[Undies]

After shaking it really well and pouring off my SG sample and not pulling it from a settled bottom, my SG read 1.083...
Its a bubbling away already!

Phew! Well done.

[total]

Im about to run to the store and buy 2 more 5gal jugs and make 2 more tonight...

[braemar]

Hi,
I have been doing this recipe for over 2 years now and have found the following gives me the best results to date, i hope it can help anyone just starting out.

Tomato paste wash 27 ltr wash (version 6)

Ingredients: * 6 kg sugar
*166 gms tomato paste (no preserves or spices)
*1 pinch Epsom’s salts
*1 teaspoon lemon juice.
*90 gms. bakers yeast (amount changes ferment time)
*clean water

Method: *completely dissolve 6 kg. sugar in 12 litres hot water
*dilute tomato paste in warm water
*combine dissolved sugar, tomato paste & Epsom’s salts
*top up to 27 litres with cold water
*aim for 25 to30 deg.c & max. 1.08 sg.
*stir in 1 teaspoon lemon juice
*pitch yeast. (wash must be 25 to 30 deg.)
*ferment until finished @ .98 or .99 sg. (maintain 26deg. to 28 deg.)

Clearing: *let settle for at least 3 days then decant into clean fermenter
*let settle for another 4 days then decant again
*let settle for at least another 5 days

Distil: *transfer cleared wash to boiler. (ensure no sediment gets into boiler)
*run still on full reflux for at least 30 minutes.
*spirit run on high reflux, adjust to keep head temp. under 82 deg.
*collect first 100 ml. of spirit and discard (forshots)
*keep all spirit collected after forshots up to 82 deg.
*any spirit collected between 82deg. & 90 deg add to next run.
*dilute to 40% and enjoy

yield: *spirit run should yield around 2.8 litres at 95% per 27 lts wash
*diluted to 40% gives around 7 litres of neutral spirit Per 27lts wash.

I use a home made copper reflux offset head still with a 900 mm column
packed with stainless scrubbers. My boiler is 50 litres and heated by lpg burner,
I normally run 40 litres at a time, I throw the first 150 ml.(foreshots), keep the
next 200 mls (heads) aside for next run. Collect the rest in 700 ml bottles until
temp reaches 82 deg. I always get 6 bottles all at 95 % abv. or better, all spirit
from 82 deg. up to 90 deg. (tails) I keep for the next run. I collect the spirit at
around 20 ml per minute. The secret to this wash is, (1) start sg. (2) Fermenting
temp. (3) Clearing, (4) Discarding the crap, (5) vapour temp, (6) collection rate,
(7) finish temp,

Regards Braemar

[sumnerd11]

Can i use spaghetti sauce as a substitution for the tomatoe paste? I looked at the ingresients and there dont appear to be any preservatives that from what i understand inhibit the yeast grow. Its all natural and things i know of. Enzymes too, thNks

[Harley Wolf]

I've used sauce with no problem. Used 16 oz for a 5 gal batch.

[braemar]

I use tomato paste that has no preservatives or spices in it, the 500 gm jars state it is only tomato + salt, i don't know if spag sauce has any spices in it, i just like to use the most natural ingredients that i can find. We can buy the 500 gm jars here in oz for around $2 and one jar does 3x27 liter washes so it's a nice natural and cheap nutrient.
Regards
Braemar

[sumnerd11]

Thanks for the replies. I would use paste ideally as that what the original recipe calls for, but irl, u know. Ive seen in other posts about spices though. What could these potentially do, as far as a negative aspect to the whole process?

[rad14701]

I've used tomato paste, tomato puree, and cheap tomato ketchup... Double the amount with puree and ketchup due to the added water they contain...

[Pesty]

I set up a 5 gallon carboy last weekend, Pitched the yeast into a 1.07 at 80 F wrapped it with a small heat blanket to keep it warm and now it's been a few hours since the last lock bubble. Grav sits at .995 waiting for the stripping runs tomorrow.

Ran my vinegar run tonight and getting all set for tomorrows runs.

[Bushman]

I set up a 5 gallon carboy last weekend, Pitched the yeast into a 1.07 at 80 F wrapped it with a small heat blanket to keep it warm and now it's been a few hours since the last lock bubble. Grav sits at .995 waiting for the stripping runs tomorrow.

Ran my vinegar run tonight and getting all set for tomorrows runs.

Did you do a low wines cleaning run or is the BW going to be used for it?

[Pesty]

I set up a 5 gallon carboy last weekend, Pitched the yeast into a 1.07 at 80 F wrapped it with a small heat blanket to keep it warm and now it's been a few hours since the last lock bubble. Grav sits at .995 waiting for the stripping runs tomorrow.

Ran my vinegar run tonight and getting all set for tomorrows runs.

Did you do a low wines cleaning run or is the BW going to be used for it?

Running in pot mode to strip then will re-run in reflux to make my cuts.

[rad14701]

I set up a 5 gallon carboy last weekend, Pitched the yeast into a 1.07 at 80 F wrapped it with a small heat blanket to keep it warm and now it's been a few hours since the last lock bubble. Grav sits at .995 waiting for the stripping runs tomorrow.

Ran my vinegar run tonight and getting all set for tomorrows runs.

Did you do a low wines cleaning run or is the BW going to be used for it?

Running in pot mode to strip then will re-run in reflux to make my cuts.

I think the question was whether or not the Birdwatchers will be used as your sacrificial (read throw away) alcohol laden run... You need to do a sacrificial run before using the still to make potable spirits... Yes, you have to waste alcohol, but we don't consider this to be alcohol abuse - it's a safety issue...

[Pesty]

yes I will be tossing this first run.. still have 3.5 gallons in the carboy to run later.

[wv_hillbilly]

Just got a batch of this fermenting for my sacrificial run after a previously failed attempt which was basically this minus tomatoe paste and one a day vitamins in its place. Very easy, lets hope this one turns out better than my last.

[Pesty]

Here are the results of my almost 3 gallon wash using the BW recipie to make 2 - 2.5 gallon batches that were combined into the 5gal carboy.
Ferment was wrapped with a heat blanket and kept temp in the low 90 F range for 2 days, then 80 F until it was done.

I siphoned off the wash into my boiler so all sediment stayed in the carboy.

The first 2.5 gallons run was the Sac run, the 2nd was the actual run

Ran in pot still mode on the combo still and pulled the following
1 - 85ml foreshots - dumped
2 - 300ml - 140 proof
3 - 300ml - 130
4 - 300ml - 120
5 - 300ml - 110
6 - 300ml - 98
7 - 300ml - 80
8 - 300ml - 60
9 - 250ml - 35 - dumped (no weird smells or the carboard wet dog I was reading about and temps were getting high so shut it down)

These numbers are about identical to the sac run i ran in the morning.

The next step is run it all in re-flux next chance I have to set the still back up.

[wv_hillbilly]

Not sure if this is normal or not, but it was bubbling fine then I mixed it up this evening like it says to stir daily, and it has stopped bubbling. Did I do something to F it up?

[jholmz]

let it go wv my last one you couldnt tell if it was working or not but kept dropping on the scale and smell kept transforming. i dont use an airlock so i cant go by that

[wv_hillbilly]

let it go wv my last one you couldnt tell if it was working or not but kept dropping on the scale and smell kept transforming. i dont use an airlock so i cant go by that

I don't have an airlock either, I guess bubbling was a bad choice of words, more like fizzing. It had bubbles on top, still does, but it was making a fizzing sound, now its not after I stirred it up.

[braemar]

I have found that if i pitch the yeast on top and leave it alone without stirring it at all it ferments out just fine.
I reckon just let the yeast do what it has got to do.
Regs
Braemar

[Undies]

I have found that if i pitch the yeast on top and leave it alone without stirring it at all it ferments out just fine.
I reckon just let the yeast do what it has got to do.

+1 that. I plop the yeast on top and let it work it's magic. It hasn't failed yet. It seems to liquify and sink into the wash all by itself.

[wv_cooker]

wv I started 2- 5 gallon containers 3 days ago, Stirred each of 3 days as it said, it would cake back over each day and now is just working away.