I made a run with my updated still. I converted to electric and man, what a difference.
I made a sac run first,<Converted to electric>, then a cleaning run, then another sac run, then I did this run.
I have a column reflux still that I run in pot still mode (Reflux valve closed). My wash was a sugar wash which consisted of 2 batches with this recipe.
8lbs sugar
1 - 6oz can of tomato paste
water, and a pack of s-04. I later added a packet of EC-1118 due to it stalling and nutrients.
Starting SG was 1.084
Last SG reading was .990. I figured the was was around 11%
I added 8 actual gallons of was to the my still and fired it up.
Product started coming off the still at 181 F. I collected 9 pints(8.5). Thermometer was calibrated with boiling water and inserted at the top of the main column (Vapor path)
I shut it down at 194 F.
I tasted it along the way and towards the end it started to feel a little slippery and thicker. I assumed I had hit the tails which made me shut it down.
Since I ended up with a half pint i decided i would just dilute it with tap water. I poured what I had in my beaker and checked it. It measured at 130 proof or 65%. I dumped some out of the beaker and added luke warm tap water to 80 proof. I added it to an empty jar and repeated the process. After it all settled in the jar, it was cloudy.
Now after some searching I found this posted by PrairiePiss
You used bad water to dilute it?
You made bad cuts?
You ran it to fast and smeared the cuts?
Dilution process was incorrect?
Those are your choices. Figure out which one it is and correct it.
This was my second run, so I was hoping someone might chime in and just confirm my suspicion that the last jar was just the tails and I should be ok to dilute the rest with tap, bottle or distilled water.
In the same thread I quoted there was also the discussion of how to dilute, Do you add the alcohol to the water or water to the alcohol. The OP ended up a little butt hurt and the thread headed south. I tried to Google the proper way to dilute but ended up finding a bunch of opinions and name calling. Just looking for confirmation from one of the "Chosen Ones" as the last OP put it.
My first run ended up horrible and I dumped it out. Couldn't control the heat, couldn't control the cooling.. it was a mess.
Thanks for the help