strongest neutral spirit?

[danmac660]

so i run a feflux column and my favorite drink is apple pie so i just want a recipe that will make an extremely strong product. i have been doing a SF mash and its pretty good but would like something stronger. and i know someone is gonna want to bitch slap me but what about using distillers yeast?

[rad14701]

It isn't the recipe that makes high proof spirits, it is the distillation process... A reflux column will make higher proof than anyone should try drinking, from a health aspect... The highest proof you can get at atmospheric pressure is 190, or 95% ABV... But drinking anything much above 110 proof, or 55% ABV, can cause tissue damage from your lips right on through your system... Most reflux stills can produce between 180 - 190 proof (90% - 95% ABV)...

[Prairiepiss]

What kind of reflux still are you using? Hoe are you using it? As mentioned by Rad. A reflux still should make as strong as you can get it.

[danmac660]

its a bok design and im runnning it just like you said in your post in the new distillers lounge. and it was strong it was 160% but i want to get it as high as possible and get as much out as possible to whip up some apple pie.

[Prairiepiss]

Do stripping runs and then a spirit run.

[marshrunner757]

Highest isn't best and I assume you mean 160 proof or 80%. Anything over 85% on mine is considered heads. I have hit 95% on a few occasions but it's not drinkable.

[pfshine]

Damn where can i get a still like yours the best i ever got out of the boka was 95%.

[F6Hawk]

Damn where can i get a still like yours the best i ever got out of the boka was 95%.

He said he got 95%, you got 95%... help me with the math, please, but isn't that nearly the same thing?

[pfshine]

No he said he got 160%. Others posted while i was typing. It was a joke.

[F6Hawk]

No he said he got 160%. Others posted while i was typing. It was a joke.

I knew what you meant. But the order in which it came out was funny.

[danmac660]

160 proof lol my bad. how many stripping runs should i do before a spirit run? my boiler is a 15 gallon keg. should i just go ahead and wait till i have a full 15 gallons

[rad14701]

Tell us the dimensions of your Bokakob dual slant plate column... You should be able to produce 95% with it if it has at least 36" - 42" of packed column... Some have been able to hit that with less packed column, but at the expense of a reduced take off rate...

[1 elk hunter]

.. But drinking anything much above 110 proof, or 55% ABV, can cause tissue damage from your lips right on through your ...

So the 130-135 proof I'm pulling out of my pot shouldn't be drank straight? While I enjoy the smoothness of 100-110, I've grown quite fond of the bit of a bite the 130 has. Is that bite I feel tissue screaming as it dies?

[Odin]

.. But drinking anything much above 110 proof, or 55% ABV, can cause tissue damage from your lips right on through your ...

So the 130-135 proof I'm pulling out of my pot shouldn't be drank straight? While I enjoy the smoothness of 100-110, I've grown quite fond of the bit of a bite the 130 has. Is that bite I feel tissue screaming as it dies?

No. Dilute it to 40/45%, give it a few weeks rest, then drink it!

Regards, Odin.

[rad14701]

.. But drinking anything much above 110 proof, or 55% ABV, can cause tissue damage from your lips right on through your ...

So the 130-135 proof I'm pulling out of my pot shouldn't be drank straight? While I enjoy the smoothness of 100-110, I've grown quite fond of the bit of a bite the 130 has. Is that bite I feel tissue screaming as it dies?

That's a bit higher than I'd want to be drinking... Ever wonder why bars don't carry Everclear and most don't carry 151 Rum...??? It's because some idiot would order it and an equally dumb bartender would serve it straight up and the results wouldn't be pretty... I know a guy who thought it would be cool to gargle a shot of extremely high proof and he damaged his throat so bad it took about four days to heal to the point where he could talk, taste, and swallow... High proof alcohol can contribute to esophageal cancer, amongst other health issues... Bring that proof down... Drinking high proof doesn't make you cool or tough, it shows a lack of responsibility which is not a trait we promote here... Drop it down to drinking proof...

[danmac660]

its 60" tall. i did that just for the purpose of making my spirit as strong as possible. i know 160 proof is really strong i was just expecting a little higher.

[marshrunner757]

You should be able to pull 190 proof from that. If I pack my 48" with copper I can hit 190. That being said I typically use little if any packing anymore. I start at 180ish and at about 170ish I'm into good hearts.

[Prairiepiss]

its 60" tall. i did that just for the purpose of making my spirit as strong as possible. i know 160 proof is really strong i was just expecting a little higher.

The whole thing is 60" tall? Or just the packed section?

Even if the whole thing is 60" tall. That would still give you like 48" of packing.

Either you don't have it packed correctly?
Or aren't using enough heat?
Or just not running it correctly.

That thing should be able to put out 95%. With no problems.

And if you are just wanting some bite. Add a little more heads into the mix.

Another question? Why are you using the sweetfeed recipe for what you are making?

[5inned]

its 60" tall. i did that just for the purpose of making my spirit as strong as possible. i know 160 proof is really strong i was just expecting a little higher.

The whole thing is 60" tall? Or just the packed section?

Even if the whole thing is 60" tall. That would still give you like 48" of packing.

Either you don't have it packed correctly?
Or aren't using enough heat?
Or just not running it correctly.

That thing should be able to put out 95%. With no problems.

And if you are just wanting some bite. Add a little more heads into the mix.

Another question? Why are you using the sweetfeed recipe for what you are making?

PP is right, my boka is 52" (2" dia.) with about 36" of packed column and I am always above 90% (180 proof). So please post detailed info on how you are running it, as PP suggested you must be doing something wrong??

[danmac660]

ok my column is 68" tall with a safe packing distance of 50". i did not do a stripping run i just siphoned from my fermentor and started cooking. it took about an hour and a half before anything came out and i turned my valve off to let it reflux for 40 minutes. then i let it run at 3 drips per second till finished. maybe i didnt start catching the tails in time and it lowered the proof?

[danmac660]

and i just liked the thought of the sweet feed recipe and its been working but that is the point of this thread lol what recipe would be best for what im doing and is the SF is fine what can i do to improve?

[OlympicMtDoo]

If you are looking to make a high proof neutral use the birdwatchers recipe or any of the good sugar only recipes. I make a lot of good neutrals using Birdwatchers, I've got a CM reflux that I do a stripping run and then a sprit run to reach 190 proof, you should be able to get that the first run with your rig but whatever works.

[Prairiepiss]

ok my column is 68" tall with a safe packing distance of 50". i did not do a stripping run i just siphoned from my fermentor and started cooking. it took about an hour and a half before anything came out and i turned my valve off to let it reflux for 40 minutes. then i let it run at 3 drips per second till finished. maybe i didnt start catching the tails in time and it lowered the proof?

Did you not make any cuts?

What are you using to heat? How much heat?
What are you using for packing. How much packing?
Are the vapor temps stable? What are they?

Most people when shooting for 95%. Are looking DP a neutral. Or a close to flavorless drink. Because many of the flavors don't come through. So using a heavy flavor wash. Is kinda a waste. Nor that its wrong. It's just nor the norm. It very well mite give you the product you want? But if your wanting to flavor it with Apple pie. Why wouldn't you want the cleanest neutral you could get?

There are also other ways to make your Apple pie stronger. Like use less juice. Or more alcohol. Boil the juice down. So its more concentrated. And add more alcohol. Any number of things to get the ABV up. If that is what you want.

[danmac660]

i did make cuts but it wasnt perfect im still new at this.

propane heater on med for heat up then low/med for the rest of the way

copper mesh packing strips doubled over and pushed up the column

vapor temps was 175, went to 178 then at end went to 186and spiked to 195ish and couldnt keep stable

i am using apple juice concentrate with some spices and cinn sticks and it is amazing and strong as hell but just figured if i can do better why not. ill try the birdwatchers recipe. thanks PP

[rad14701]

How dense is your packing...??? Can you post a picture...??? It should be dense enough to where there is only slight resistance if your try to breath through the packed column... From your description I'd be led to believe that your packing isn't dense enough... If it is, and you have enough packed column height, there should be no problem having the column equalize to ~172F/78C with the needle valve closed, regardless of where you are in the run...

[fshhnt1]

Is it possible to over reflux a column, to drive proof lower than optimum?

[Prairiepiss]

Is it possible to over reflux a column, to drive proof lower than optimum?

Over reflux would cause a flooded column condition. So the liquid flooding the column would be what's coming off the still. And yes it could be a lower ABV.

Usually the sweet spot of most packed reflux columns is. Just below flooding stage.

But this all depends on what is being used for packing in the column. The above is true for packing like copper Scrubbers. SPP on the other hand. Runs better in a semi flooded stage. But the way it is designed. Will allow that to happen and still drain and allow vapors through.

[bobtail]

Highest isn't best and I assume you mean 160 proof or 80%. Anything over 85% on mine is considered heads. I have hit 95% on a few occasions but it's not drinkable.

I don't understand, why is your 85% cleaner than your 95%

[Prairiepiss]

Highest isn't best and I assume you mean 160 proof or 80%. Anything over 85% on mine is considered heads. I have hit 95% on a few occasions but it's not drinkable.

I don't understand, why is your 85% cleaner than your 95%

Because as he said. On his still the 95% is heads. And it drops to 85% for his hearts.

All stills are different. And fores and heads always come out higher ABV. Doesn't mean they are cleaner.

If it was a reflux still that would produce 95% all the way through the hearts. That would be a different story.

[bobtail]

I thought @ 95% marshrunner had to be running a refluxe still. I run a flute and get 95% -93% till the last few jars then drops really quick in the tails