Funny smell in my first RUM

[Tinkster]

I am running my first rum, nice and slow , making 200ml cuts, at 180F or 80C thereabouts, I get this funny smell, it is like molasses and copper (although I seasoned copper by first soaking it in wash then minced it with vinegar water) well maybe not copper but something metallic and not exactly easily detectible. I cannot taste it in final product but it does stink a bit.

Any suggestions?

[firewater69]

did you do you cleaning runs, and sacrificial alcohol run? if not do NOT drink what you have ran. your still will get seasoned after a few runs, but if it's not clean it can make you very sick.

[still_stirrin]

... I seasoned copper by first soaking it in wash then minced it with vinegar water...Any suggestions?

Yup...I gotta' agree with firewater...don't drink it...it's sacrificial (cleaning run protocol). And you can't rerun it to make it clean either.
ss

[Tinkster]

OK good enough, as it sat it got much more mild, but I will take your advice. Yes I did vinegar run, but not the alcohol run. I thought it was clean enough but obviously not. Well its a good start. I am happy about the process, I got my water down to a nice trickle so that there is no vapours at all all condenses nicely, and the heat is perfect to keep the whole run at 80C.

Thanks guys.

[Emiliano]

Hello, I have a question .
You have to sacrifice career for alcohol each time the still or only after construction is used ?

In that case I can use the outside shots ?

greetings, thank you very much .

[jb-texshine]

On the plus side...rum is supposed to smell like molasses...

[Monkeyman88]

Hello, I have a question .
You have to sacrifice career for alcohol each time the still or only after construction is used ?

In that case I can use the outside shots ?

greetings, thank you very much .

Only the once after building. Also some like to do another if the still hasn't been used in a long time.

[Danespirit]

Hello, I have a question .
You have to sacrifice career for alcohol each time the still or only after construction is used ?

In that case I can use the outside shots ?

greetings, thank you very much .

As written , only after construction work is performed.
When the still had been unused for quite a while (especially with copperwork in the construction), it should be sufficient to do a small vinegar run.
Off-smells in the distillate is always a big warningsign that something needs to be taken care of..

[Emiliano]

Thanks , I did well !

I stay quiet.

A greetings .

[Tinkster]

Well my newbie worries are groundless. I put some overnight on oak chips and a little spice satchel just to see what happens. I forgot to mention it was a potstill, so the final mix excluding heads and tails, is 75% or 150Proof, when I diluted it by 50% any smell I didn't like was gone. In a glass I get nice toasted caramel flavours and the smell that was bothering me is really molasses. I guess I am not a fan of a concentrated molasses smell.
You guys might not believe it's any good yet, but I am pleased with the first run, mostly how well the equipment preformed, and , of course, the final product.

[Emiliano]

good job!

[kiwi Bruce]

You did the right thing. You asked for advice when you were worried that something might be wrong. Good job, well done.We are all pleased for you ! !

[yakattack]

Still should not be drinking that rum. I guarantee that you have unwanted chemicals from soldering in there. And while a tiny amount may not kill you, its not worth the risk to yours or others health. Make a new batch and chop this one up to failure to read enough before starting.

Don't get me wrong. Glad it worked for you, and now you have your feet wet you can get to doing your mandatory reading. (Cranky spoonfeeding thread) and make a batch you can drink.

There are a few rum reciepies in the t&t and a lighter rum is something you seems to be after.

Safety first friend.

Tak

[Emiliano]

Still should not be drinking that rum. I guarantee that you have unwanted chemicals from soldering in there. And while a tiny amount may not kill you, its not worth the risk to yours or others health. Make a new batch and chop this one up to failure to read enough before starting.

Don't get me wrong. Glad it worked for you, and now you have your feet wet you can get to doing your mandatory reading. (Cranky spoonfeeding thread) and make a batch you can drink.

There are a few rum reciepies in the t&t and a lighter rum is something you seems to be after.

Safety first friend.

Tak

you is right , when in doubt do not drink

[rad14701]

Better safe than sorry... Get used to sacrificing for the sake of betterment and safety... You can make more spirits but you can't make another you, your family, or your friends...!!!

[jb-texshine]

I was surprised at how much molasses flavor I got with brown sugar.try double distilling for less.

[rad14701]

I use dark brown sugar and it imparts a lot of molasses rum flavor, even in higher gravity washes... It's not worth going above 10% - 12% with dark brown sugar, however...

[Emiliano]

Hey Rad , which yeast used for washing rum ?

[Tinkster]

Sure thing, I am onto the next batch, now I have a peach cider I have been clearing for the last 3 weeks. Gonna give everything a good cleaning and run again.

[Danespirit]

+1 Yak
+1 Rad

You can have spirits by the litre, running of that rig...so why take a chance..??
Playing russian roulette with your health, is a bad solution....
Take it as a learning curve and threat it like a cleaningrun..

[rad14701]

Hey Rad , which yeast used for washing rum ?

I have used Fleischmann's Dry Active Yeast exclusively for years... Played with wine yeasts years ago but I get more consistent results with Fleischmanns purchased in 2 x 1 pound vacuum sealed bricks from Sams Club for about $5USD...

[Emiliano]

I'll see if I can get in my country , thank you!