My nickname is Unikis, and I am distiller too ;)

[Unikis]

Hi!

I am from Latvia. I am 34 years old. My grandfather made beer all his life. Now I regret, that I didn’t learned his skills while he was alive. My father-in-law makes fruit vines but he almost does not drink them.

I made my first alcohol when I was about 15 years old. It was kind of sparkling vine from birch juices. I did it 2-3 years.

I restarted to make it about 2,5 years ago. Problem is- I can make it just in springtime. This year I started to make fruit vine. I added to it sugar for higher alcohol level. Vine tasted good, but I got big head ache next day. I didn’t like that and started to look in Internet for homemade pot stills. I made one from 9l presser cooker. I spend about 50$ for making it. I did double distillation and got about 0.7 litter 70% stuff. I made my own charred oak stick and putted in bottle for a week. Half of first bottle was drunk without dilute. Next day for my friend and me was heavy because of high alcohol concentration.

During last two months I experiment a lot with apple bandy. I have more than 70l of apple vine to distill with my 9l pot still.

I am happy to find this forum! Already have got a lot of information and inspiration!

[Odin]

Welcome!

Learn to make cuts and you won't have that head ache anymore.

Odin.

[drinkingdog]

Welcome to HD. Between learning to make proper cuts and diluting your finished product before drinking it you will find that not only will you enjoy drinking it more , the next day will be more enjoyable. Enjoy while never compromising safety

[Unikis]

I did cuts. Other half was OK. I believe, that 70% was/is too much. I remember my worst hangovers, which I got after drinking Absinthe (60 or 70%).

I newer had head ache from my distillations again.

[Unikis]

Today I received my first barrel. I bought it on eBay from seller nopal_verde http://www.ebay.com/usr/nopal_verde

Thickness of all walls are about 1cm. Smells very tasty.

I ordered 3l, but actually it is 3.3l. I am going to age there apple brandy 52% alc/vol for about 2.5 month.

[Odin]

First rinse it out with warm water. And if you put brandy in: check every week, since it will transfer a lot of wood the first one or two times you use it.

Odin.

[peteturbo]

Hi Unikis, welcome,
That seller is in Mexico and you are in Latvia. Any problems, how long was delivery? Apple brandy is one of my aims too (at least that is what i have told the wife) and i have about 50L of various apple cider / residue outside waiting. we wanted to use a sherry or port barrel, so we would buy a new barrel, then season it with sherry or port.
Pete

[Unikis]

That seller is in Mexico and you are in Latvia. Any problems, how long was delivery?
Pete

I bought my barrel in 23.10.13. and today is 05.11.13. That's 13 days. Barrel stop leaking in 4-5 hours.

Write now I am running one more missing liter form filling barrel

[Odin]

What kind of wood are they made from?

[Unikis]

What kind of wood are they made from?

Oak. They also have website: http://www.barrelsonline.com

I also use to work with wood, and my guess is, that maybe they use for their small barrels used oak from big previously used barrels. If not, then oak have dried outside for long time and have some dark lines even after sanding. Anyway, smell was nice and strong.

[peteturbo]

Hmm, they have mixed reviews on ebay, but all the bad reviews seem to have been at the christmas rush last year, so i have ordered one too! same reason!
I'll let you know when it arrives.
Pete

[Unikis]

Just two days have passed and I can't understand, how it is possible not to touch barrel for a week. I even checked today liquors smell, color and taste. Its already light golden and taste have started to get sweeter. I have made about 300ml extra liquor for replacing angels share and my testing loses.

[peteturbo]

when i get my barrel, i intend to fill it with port or sherry, and then drink that desperately.
then in goes the calvados!
p

[Unikis]

My barrel has no leaks, but I think that angel’s share will be about 150ml on 3300ml barrel per first week. It’s almost 5%. I add missing liquor every second day, because I am very interested in process.

Is share so big because of thin walls (about 1cm) or small barrel size? I use 53% alc./vol.

[Fastill]

My barrel has no leaks, but I think that angel’s share will be about 150ml on 3300ml barrel per first week. It’s almost 5%. I add missing liquor every second day, because I am very interested in process.

Is share so big because of thin walls (about 1cm) or small barrel size? I use 53% alc./vol.

You could still have liquid soaking into the oak.
Is this barrel charred, toasted?

[peteturbo]

My barrel arrived from Mexico today!!!
Wow, its beautiful. I'm really pleased with it ad very grateful that i read your post about it.
Regards
Pete

[Unikis]

I am happy to be helpful!

After about one week angels share became insignificant, so, I guess, that Fastill was write about liquid soaking into the shared oak.

My eau-de-vie after 10 days in first barrel:



Aging in barrel differs from aging with oak chips and sticks. I think, that for the moment I am not ready for aging in bigger barrels- I want faster result After time, when I will have enough drinkable stock, I will be able to wait longer time...

[Unikis]

I made some pictures with my pot still, which can show some beginner, how simple and functional everything can be.

POT STILL FROM PRESSURE COOKER


PRESSURE COOKER'S COVER FROM TOP


SWAN'S NECK'S CONNECTOR


PRESSURE COOKER'S COVER FROM BOTTOM


MANUAL COOLING SYSTEM


CONDENSER THROE BUCKET INSIDE


CONDENSER THROE BUCKET OUTSIDE

[Unikis]

20 days have passed since my 52% apple brandy was married with my barrel. Alc./vol. have dropped till 50%. Color have not changed observable, but smell has become sweeter, taste have become a bit smoother and some dry aftertaste on tongue appeared. Angels share during last ten days are insignificant.

[peteturbo]

looks good!

[Jimbo]

Looks good Unikis, but seriously, keep your mitts off for 4 months minimum. You can do it. You be glad you did, trust me on this one. If you have enough to last 1 year , starting at 6 months old, You'll have enough to last ya till next years batch is 6 months old. Cant say enough about some age with any hooch, but anything oak aged, really gets amazing at 4-6 months. 4 months seems to be a turning point, at least to my taste buds.

Cheers! Nice work!

[Unikis]

Cant say enough about some age with any hooch, but anything oak aged, really gets amazing at 4-6 months. 4 months seems to be a turning point, at least to my taste buds.

Cheers! Nice work!

Thanks for advice! It's easier to wait, if I have something else to drink, and I have created small stock already, so- it will not be a problem to wait 4-6 or even 12 months. It's good to know some numbers. I am looking forward to order some other barrel or even two about the same size. In another one I would like to age some whiskey.