Greetings from a new hobbiest

[Whiskey Nick]

Hello all,

I've been browsing and reading here for about the last 3 weeks since getting the 'crazy' and amazing idea of making home distilling a new hobby of mine. I took up a somewhat similar, yet totally different hobby back in college and learned everything and owe all of my knowledge and success to a site just like this one; so I'm excited to have now become a member here.

I have since built a pot still out of a 7 or so gallon turkey fryer (pot) and some copper I've bought at a local hardware store, began a ferment with a mix of corn and sugar (mash/wash style I guess), and ran a water vinegar run through the still to clean and make sure it works. I've got some exciting plans and am looking forward to making some delicious homemade whiskey! I also have a few questions that I'll be posting shortly, because my first attempt at fermenting hasn't been completely successful, but I'll save the details for another post haha.

I know I still have a lot of learning to do, but everyone on here has made the initial learning process a thrill and very easy, so thank you all ahead of time. I'll be posting on my progresses and would love to get some pics to accompany them as well.

Regards,

Whiskey Nick

[Halfbaked]

welcome whiskey Nick. The link in my signature is the best place to start reading. Crankys spoon feeding. Your Whiskey will thank you. When you make your 1st ferment come through the tried and true section. Welcome, be safe and make some good whiskey

[Bigbob]

Hiya Whiskey Nick, +1 on whatHalfbaked said. Crankys post answers most of the questions new people have. Enjoy the forums!

[Whiskey Nick]

Thanks halfbaked! I have read most of the spoon feeding, just before my eyes started bleeding hah. And I actually started my first fermentation, but not before reading enough because it hasn't been completely successful. But I'm in the process of righting it and going to try something a little simpler to get my feet wet first. I'll stick to some of the tried and true recipes before working on new things for sure.

Thanks again.

[T-Pee]

Vinegar first but don't forget the sacrificial alky run. It gets what the vinegar doesn't.

Welcome to HD!

tp

[hawgwrench]

Welcome! Dang near everything ya need to know is here, the search function will find it if need be. That's a good size rig to start out with, sorta get the feel of the process. That turkey pot ya have aint aluminum is it? That'll mess ya up right outta the gate, those make popskull....

[Twinrivers]

Welcome aboard. I recommend Uncle Jessie's Simple Sourmash Meathod for all new beginners. You will find it in the tried and true recipes section. Are you using city water? What kind of yeast? What is your PH? Did you hydrate your yeast?? I use a yeast bomb and it never fails. pulling off a good ferment can be a bit of a bitch but with some reading and a little guidance you will pull it off. For your sacrificial run just dump a 10 pound bag of sugar in 5 gallons of water and hit it with some good activated bakers yeast. It's a throw away batch anyhow. Good luck

[T-Pee]

For your sacrificial run just dump a 10 pound bag of sugar in 5 gallons of water and hit it with some good activated bakers yeast. It's a throw away batch anyhow. Good luck

Don't forget a can of tomato paste for nutrients. Yeast liveth not on sugar water alone.

tp

[Whiskey Nick]

Welcome! Dang near everything ya need to know is here, the search function will find it if need be. That's a good size rig to start out with, sorta get the feel of the process. That turkey pot ya have aint aluminum is it? That'll mess ya up right outta the gate, those make popskull....

I am pretty sure you are dead-on and that pot is actually aluminum !! I went out today and bought a 16qt cheap SS stock pot to alternate in place of that one until I can find another larger SS one like the turkey fryer I began with. Good eye and thanks!

[Whiskey Nick]

Vinegar first but don't forget the sacrificial alky run. It gets what the vinegar doesn't.

Welcome to HD!

tp

Thanks, I'm going to do a sacrificial alchy run the next chance I have a few hours to play around. I had to make some adjustments to my setup and get a new pot since I think the original might be Al and not SS, but I'm pretty much good to go again. I'll grab a gallon of some cheap wine and mix it with some water and see how it works separating the good stuff from the bad. Can't wait to see how it works.