Sour or Rotten Smell & Taste

[Tony_D]

Hey gang. Just got done making my first successful run and I got about 5.5 quarts of alcohol on the first run. However, it smelled and tasted really 'sour' or 'rotten' so I distilled it again and ended up with about 4.5 quarts. After the second time it smelled and tasted better, but still had some of the rotten smell and taste to it. I distilled it a third time and now have about 4 quarts but it still has a hint of a rotten smell and taste. I used a simple sugar wash posted on here and let it work off for 16 days. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated. This is my first run and, at this point, I don't have a clue as to how to make this alcohol better or get a different result on my next run.

[NZChris]

It probably came from the wash, so what did you do?

[Tony_D]

I used Wineo's Plain Ol Sugar Wash and followed it 100% I aerated it for about 15 minutes and, like I said, I let it work off for 16 days. I have no idea why it came out like this.

[NZChris]

Dirty still? Did you do vinegar and sacrificial alcohol runs?

[Tony_D]

This is my first run ever, so I don't know what you mean. I cleaned the inside of the still thoroughly before each run with dish soap and I did make cuts on the foreshots and tails.

[NZChris]

Don't drink it, it probably has flux in it. Throw it out. It could make you very ill.

[Tokoroa_Shiner]

Throw that crap out.
Proper cleaning runs need to be done.
Just water. Leave the condenser off to steam everything.
Do the same with vinegar and water 50/50 mix.

Then run an alcohol run. Throw everything away. It's all crap.
Then do your proper first keeper run.

[Tony_D]

When you say run an alcohol run, what do u mean?

[ben stiller]

Exactly what you did. That would have been your sacrificial alcohol run to clean the still, but first you were supposed to run water
and then water and vinegar. You need to stop and read much more before you continue. Find the spoon feeding thread and read it completely several times. Posting pictures of your still would also be useful.

Edit: http://ww.homedistiller.org/forum/viewt ... on+feeding

http://ww.homedistiller.org/forum/viewt ... 63&t=15489 Still Cleaning thread

Another edit: I found your welcome post from over a month ago and it is obvious that you did not read the spoon feeding thread completely. One of the early topics is cleaning the still. This road can getting rocky or smooth depending on how much effort you are
willing to put forth.

[Tony_D]

I've read the whole thing (thats why its been over a month since my welcome post). It's impossible for someone new to the hobby to remember it all on their first attempt.

[NZChris]

Write up notes then, especially important stuff, like safety. I have a piss poor memory and have to write up my methods before I start, refining them as I learn more, not just what to do, but why. It took me the best part of a year to research and build my first still and make my first rum. Internet didn't exist back then.