Blue Run

[bourbonbob1]

I made some passionfruit brandy the other day. Passionfruit, water, sugar, distiller's yeast, and yeast nutrient. I may have overdone the nutrient a bit, but the run came out fine until my tails,at about 195 degrees, started coming out blue. I've read that yeast nutrient reacts with the copper and causes the run to come out blue. Being new at this, I guess my question is: should I toss this out? I read in other posts that by adding some citric acid and running it through the still a second time will fix the problem. I added the citric acid and the blue went away as well as the slightly funky smell. But is it safe to drink if I distill it again? Does anyone have any info on this?

[meatheadinc]

Personally I would not drink the blue distillate. Sounds like copper sulfate solution to me.
I think you have already got an answer in another post. - passion fruit brandy ?
Even if its now clear, I would throw it. You said it was tails....
I would be suspect on there entire run. You can make some more booze, health is hard to fix.
Be safe

[woodshed]

When in doubt, leave it out.

[bourbonbob1]

Sounds good, why take a risk. I'll dump it and chalk it up to lesson learned. Watch the nutrient levels!

[drinkingdog]

I know you said it was distillers yeast. It's not turbo is it? The blue color can also come from turbo which also deals with to much nutrients.

[Prairiepiss]

I would toss it. And probably do a cleaning run on the still.

[Odin]

Yes. Good advice from Mr. P. And the reason the blue color only came over during the later part of the run may have to do with solubility in higher abv ranges (heads, hearts). Don't drink it. Also flush the parts that didn't look good. You can use a 50/50 cola/water mixture and put your copper parts in for up to 12 hours. After that, clean out with water. Another treatment like that just prior to the run. Only that time just for maybe half an hour.

Regards, Odin.

[bourbonbob1]

Thanks to all. Back to the drawing board!

[BourbonStreet]

I just saw a preview of the new Moonfakers (yep, it's still on!) and they had the same problem. The juice looked like Windex...

[Odin]

... probably better than what they normally make, right?



Odin.

[bourbonbob1]

Yup, Windex is exactly what it looked like. Got a new batch fermenting right now. I've cleaned the still as per everyone's recommendations and will try a new run of Wednesday. Thanks for all the info.