Love the taste

[Boxcutter]

Still very new but may need some help. Sorry if these things are covered already. Love the taste of my UJSSM and sweet feed washes coming out the still but once it airs out Its not as good whys that ?


And I'm fixing to run my second fermentation this Friday but having back surgery next week. What yall suggest I do start my third fermentation are just start over once I recover ?

[thatguy1313]

Best guess on taste is some of the higher alcohols that have a sweet, nice taste (but you don't really want to drink) are evaporating while airing. Either that or you just need practice blending. UJ and especially sweet feed really improve with aging. Do some big runs to stock up so you can put some away to age for a while.

The ferment question kinda depends on what you're fermenting in. An airtight container with an airlock will keep a wash fresh for a long time or if you have a freezer you can put it in that will keep it fresh a long time. If oxygen gets to it you'll have a problem. If you can cover it or freeze it then go ahead and start it. If its in an open container, wait til you recover.

[Boxcutter]

I have it in a 20 gallon brute trash can. It has a lid but it's not air tight

[OBX Phantom]

I would say that the question about whether to start another ferment or not would depend on how long your recovery is expected to take.

[Boxcutter]

Doc says 6 week but I'm hoping I'm back to normal in 4 are less. Going to have a lot of time for reading ,reasearching and learning new things

[firewater69]

I had a back surgery several years ago, & i wouldn't want to be lifting on anything very heavy for a while, if i were you i would wait till the doc gives the all clear. Just my 2 cents.

[cb_j]

bugger everything everyone is saying. wait until you're mobile then go and buy yourself a mash pump. you can ferment, pump it to clear in another vessel or straight to distill and then pump it out again later.
start that mash up now!

[MitchyBourbon]

Don't mess around where your back is concerned. That's the kind of thing that will punish you over and over if you don't take care.

[firewater69]

Thats no bs Mitchy! I've scared myself a few times, thinking i *@&#ed up again.

[moosemilk]

Just out of curiosity, you are airing it out BEFORE blending right? I can't see any way it would taste worse after airing out otherwise.

[Boxcutter]

Just out of curiosity, you are airing it out BEFORE blending right? I can't see any way it would taste worse after airing out otherwise.

No blending before airing it out. That must be where I'm messing up.

[thatguy1313]

Yep. Probably blending in too much tails. Collect everything in small containers, allow to air out overnight and then make your cuts and blend. You'd be surprised how much the flavor can change in just a few hours!

[Jo Diesel]

I would get your mash going. Bout the time you get to be able to move around, have a buddy load the still for you. Have lots of time to tend still and should be able to carry quart jars. Then get buddy to empty the still.
Really don't think it should be to hard to find someone to work for likker. I would!

[moosemilk]

This is a hobby, not a livelihood for you. Take your time to heal before messing around.

and +1 with thatguy
collect in smaller jars, like pint or half pint. Put a coffee filter over them and let them air for a day, two is better. Then go back and do your blending to your liking.

Plenty of info on making cuts and blending, all covered in the required reading.

[Boxcutter]

I'm absolutely no good at blending. I guess I'm trying to replicate the taste I am getting off the still as it comes out. Can yall tell me when I'm losing that taste ? Should I put the lid on the jars soon after to keep that taste I like ?

[USMC Cntry Boy]

It's really pretty simple here we go......first collect and discard your fore shots then get your pint jars and coffee filters ready....after you fill each jar take a coffee filter put over top of jar srew on ring and number it 1,2,3...ect and let them air out for 24 to 48 hours then line them all up removi.g filters and starting in the middle smell it taste it and go towards the begining of run and when you start smelling that acetone nail polish remover scent stop you dont want any of this in your blends...heads which is headache city.....now go back to middle jar and go the other way smelling tasting and as soon as you start smelling the old dog wet card board stop at that jar and save everything aftdr that for next strip run......now everything in between acetone and the old dog you blend and keep.....you still with me....now use dilution calc on main site to bring down to desired abv and put it away for at least 4 months min as it will go thru many changes in this period and besides opening jars maybe once a week after giving them a good shake keep your fi.gers and mouth off it and you will be rewarded even more of a reward if you let it age more...ok I am done good luck

[still_stirrin]

+1 USMC.
ss

[moosemilk]

Just to add on the blending, some like a bit of that heads bite. You can add heads, but even just a little can drastically effect the overall flavor. I've tried it just cause I like to experiment.

[thatguy1313]

Nuther quick note one blending. When running flavored washes you can get a lot of good flavor either in the heads (fruit washes/brandys) or the tails (whiskeys). Blending takes practice and patience to get just right. Something you can constantly improve on.