Odin's Easy Gin

[heyhaychapman]

I found Odins numbers for cuts spot on for the mascerate and boil technique. I just finished my 1 litre sample bottle and now I am back for a 4 litre run.

Any one compared the 12 hour soak and all into the boiler method v's the 2 week mascerate then boil?

[still_stirrin]

I found Odins numbers for cuts spot on for the mascerate and boil technique. I just finished my 1 litre sample bottle and now I am back for a 4 litre run.

Any one compared the 12 hour soak and all into the boiler method v's the 2 week mascerate then boil?

I've done the 24 hour soak and also putting the botanicals into the boiler while I get set up (see NZChris's description of this, also in this thread). What I've found is that they both work great. Macerating for 24 hours will boost the juniper character, but also the dry quality from the botanicals.

Putting the citrus in the riser above the boiler worked OK, but the character was minimal. So, macerating the citrus for a period seems to help balance its character with the botanicals. Now, I do both...macerate the citrus for 24 hours and then put fresh citrus in the riser.

Odin has done his home work with this recipe. It is very good and easy to produce. One key thing he says is to let the gin stabilize for a few weeks. That is spot on. It gets much better after a month or two. I love this gin "on the rocks" with a sqeeze of fresh lime. Man...that's a drink.
ss

[NZChris]

I found Odins numbers for cuts spot on for the mascerate and boil technique. I just finished my 1 litre sample bottle and now I am back for a 4 litre run.

Any one compared the 12 hour soak and all into the boiler method v's the 2 week mascerate then boil?

I've never done two weeks and wouldn't bother as I doubt there is much to be gained. Have you tasted the leftover bill after a run? There's not much flavor left in mine. I macerate everything overnight, then move peels to the basket. It is an Easy Gin method, and I like that, so I only complicate it by growing and processing what botanicals I can and experimenting with different botanicals, (e.g. I often use mango peel now).

[heyhaychapman]

I've never done two weeks and wouldn't bother as I doubt there is much to be gained. Have you tasted the leftover bill after a run? There's not much flavor left in mine. I macerate everything overnight, then move peels to the basket. It is an Easy Gin method, and I like that, so I only complicate it by growing and processing what botanicals I can and experimenting with different botanicals, (e.g. I often use mango peel now).

Mango ! Woo hoo that sounds tasty ! I put a kawakawa (pepper) leaf in mine just to see how that flies.
Just checking on my understanding ...when you say you "move peels to the basket" you mean after mascerating you put the peel in a basket below the column and everything else juniper etc) goes back in the boiler for the spirit run?
I dont have a basket just yet so I'll just leave a little peel in the boiler and throw away most after mascerating it.

[NZChris]

I macerate everything overnight in the boiler, (a saucepan), at whatever ABV my base spirit is.

In the morning I remove peels and put them in the basket, (the steamer that came with the saucepan from the charity shop), then water is added to dilute to 43%.

Without the basket, I would just leave everything in the boiler and run it.

Use Odin's collection recommendations for the first few runs and you'll be be fine.

[heyhaychapman]

Just done my second 4 litre batch.
After a month of rest at 43% its developed a white suspended gloop all through the jar. No sign of the problem when I made my cuts. Diluted it with distilled water. Ran and cut as per Odins instructions. Still tastes good so I'll just filter it out.
I'm pretty sure its not Sea Monkeys What do you reckon? (tails its gotta be tails)

[still_stirrin]

....I'm pretty sure its not Sea Monkeys. What do you reckon? (tails its gotta be tails)

Juniper oils. They come early in the run. If you want to reduce them, make your first cut just a little later.

But a coffee filter or paper towel should pull the white stuff out.
ss

[buflowing]

On one batch (and only one), I've had sea monkeys hatch after about 3 to 4 weeks of sitting. I chill filtered them out. Taste improved.

edit: i tried coffee filtering them first and they grew back, then I chill filtered. Been fine since. Hasn't happened to any other batches. Will have to review what went into this recipe.

[heyhaychapman]

On one batch (and only one), I've had sea monkeys hatch after about 3 to 4 weeks of sitting. I chill filtered them out. Taste improved.

Yeh you need to do that or their tiny crowns get stuck in your teeth. And what is chill filtering?

[buflowing]

reduce the temperature to force the monkeys out of solution, then filter

[NZChris]

If you don't like the haze, blend it with neutral till it disappears.

[buflowing]

If you don't like the haze, blend it with neutral till it disappears.

I know the haze. This isn't haze.

[NZChris]

You must have some weird shit in your bill to get what's being described here

[buflowing]

Just what i posted. At least I'm pretty sure....sometimes i do shit and forget to write it down.

[NZChris]

Dirty still? Puked? Proofed way below 45%? Just sounds weird. I've done of lot OEG style runs and never seen anything like what is being described.

[buflowing]

No; no; and 44%. Sure it's odd, that's why heyhay called em sea monkeys. It occurred after 3 to 4 weeks of aging and on only one of a dozen or so batches. I'll get a photo if it ever happens again.

[raketemensch]

I can understand Froot Loops. I can even almost understand Cheezits. But brine shrimp is a whole area of weird that I can't get behind.

[casper the Irish]

I don't want to wander off thread here but Odin has alluded to tweaks he has used: decoctions and ultrasonics. My first attempt at this infusion on my bokakob was poor, of course. Next tried infusion plus basket in vapour path. I am now ready with 100l high wines @43% to try again. I have rebuilt my boka as a ccvm to remove copper on the cooling side.
I seem to have acquired an ultrasonic bath, too. It is 40kHz

I will fractionate these wines before infusion, then 3rd run the infusion on pot still mode.

Can I ask Odin for an outline of herb bill and infusion times if I use the ultrasonic bath?
How do I make the decoctions?

Would it be soak 12g/l juniper in 43%
blasted 5' four times Infused 1day then filter (blasted in lieu of infuse 2weeks then filter/ infuse 1 day without filter)
then Spirit run to 90-95% (I collect in small jars)
Air 1 day
Dilute and blast 5' four times at 35°C
Store a month in big jars with head space
Blend and bottle

Forgive my memory but I was up late on stripping runs.

[Odin]

Your LM will suit you just fine.

It is the heating that can cause issues.

Direct electric heating may scorche botanicals.

So ... put them botanicals in a hops boiling bag.

US treatment? Only after you are done distilling.

Odin.

[Patching246]

Like someone else I need to cover my element. Of course I could just make enough hearts to do it properly but I don't want that much gin! Odin has already said that diluting it down would be okay, but would make it a bit softer. My question is, if I macerate at a much higher ABV (say... 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 etc...) when I then dilute down to 30-43% for pot run, might I retain the profile that I would have lost if I'd just diluted? Does anyone have any experience/advice doing this?

Thanks

[still_stirrin]

....My question is, if I macerate at a much higher ABV (say... 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 etc...) when I then dilute down to 30-43% for pot run, might I retain the profile that I would have lost if I'd just diluted?...

My recommendation is to follow the tried & true process if you want the same predictable results.

Macerating the botanicals at a higher proof will extract the essence(s) at different rates. Odin's recipe has been proven over and over by many members here as well as other sites. If you read around the web, you'll see this to be the case.

Don't mess with success.
ss

[Patching246]

I guess the only way for people with heating elements to do this then is to keep saving the backwash below the element until there is enough for a full batch. Going to end up with a lotta gin.

[still_stirrin]

I guess the only way for people with heating elements to do this then is to keep saving the backwash below the element until there is enough for a full batch. Going to end up with a lotta gin.

What I do most of my distilling in is a 1/2 barrel keg boiler with a 2" copper potstill head (for stripping), or a combination LM/VM head on a 30" 2" column (for reflux). That's what I use to make the neutral for the gin (sweet hearts).

But for the botanical run, I made a little 16 quart boiler from a stock pot with a 1-1/2" potstill head. This boiler is heated by a modified Cadco hotplate (triac control circuit added). So I do put the botanicals in the boiler without fear of scorch on the heat element. I made this small still specifically for gins and triple distilled vodkas.

My thought was to build/use the right tool for the job (without compromise). My gin batches are typically 2 to 4 liters, which yields 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 liters of gin at a time...perfect for my consumption (and gifting).

If you've only got a boiler with an internal element, Odin has suggested using a boiling bag suspended in the boiler above the elements (in the liquid). Just make sure it won't contact your elements or you'll have a mess.

There also has been discussion threads talking about stainless steel element protectors to keep grains, pulp and other solids from scorching on the elements. You might refer to those discussions too.

Personally, I like using the smaller boiler because of the smaller volume...I don't have to make so much gin at one time. But you'll have to adapt your processes to your equipment....OR...adapt your equipment to your processes.
ss

[S-Cackalacky]

I was planning on putting the macerated hearts in the thumper and charging the electric boiler with plain water - steamer style. Has anyone tried this?

[Patching246]

a stock pot with a 1-1/2" potstill head. This boiler is heated by a modified Cadco hotplate (triac control circuit added). .
ss

Could you post a picture of this? Sounds ideal.

[raketemensch]

I was planning on putting the macerated hearts in the thumper and charging the electric boiler with plain water - steamer style. Has anyone tried this?

This may sound insane, and possibly sacrilegious, but I have to wonder how that would taste with sugar water... Sweet steam passing through macerated hearts...

[Patching246]

Okay I have a plan for a pot still underway for my final botanical run. I only have one shot at getting this right to hit my xmas presents for all and I've been told by wife that I'm aiming for bombay sapphire. I have most of the ingredients; that is juniper berries, coriander seeds, cubeb berries, grains of paradise, cassia bark, angelica root, bitter almond, and orris root powder.

I know that Odin's recipe is about making a no nonsense, easy gin, but I was wondering if anyone had applied his methodology to these ingredients and if so what quantities they used. I'll be going to 24 hour maceration and then distilling with botanicals in the kettle.

Thanks

[Odin]

Patch,

From the parent site:

The total amount of botanicals used is about 20-35 grams/litre. If we take the dominant botanical juniper as 'x', the proportions of the botanicals used is:
x = juniper
x/2 = coriander
x/10 = angelica, cassia, cinnamon, liquorice, bitter almonds, grains of paradise, cubeb berries
x/100 = bitter & sweet orange peel, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, cardamon, nutmeg, savory, calamus, chamomile.
If we use x = 20g then x/2 = 10g, x/10 = 2g, x/100 = 0.2g (200mg)

If you go for boiler infused, you will end up with two things:
1. Something that blows Bombay out of the water;
2. Cloudy spirit.

My advice: dilute to 45% only. And add some 45% neutral base to get rid of any louching problems you may encounter.

Regards, Odin.

[NZChris]

I use the same method for any gin and am happy with the results.

See the proportions recommended here http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 11&t=48221

[Odin]

Yeah, same proportions as the parent site. Thanks for sharing NZ! How come I missed that thread?

Regards, Odin.