Odin's Easy Gin

[Expat]

Ran my batch through my pot still today. Separated out the first 250ml, collected a further 4 liters in 500ml increments. Going to give it some time to breath before I blend.

My initial observation of aroma is that's its less on the juniper and more on the citrus. Have others encountered this? Hoping it will balance out more with the suggested aging period

[heyhaychapman]

My first batch tasted too much of the citrus . I guessed that was because I had boiled a little piece of the peel along with the juniper and coriander. Next batch I took all the peel out after macerating it for 24 hours and boiled the rest of the ingredients. Perfect !

[Expat]

Appreciated for experiential. Vapor infusion is definitely something I'll try in future experiments; botanical basket module is already built.

Unfortunately boiling is off the table without using a botanical bag, due to uncovered elements in the keg boiler.

This round I'm adhering to Odin's recipe as closely as possible.

[still_stirrin]

...Separated out the first 250ml, collected a further 4 liters in 500ml increments....My initial observation of aroma is that's its less on the juniper and more on the citrus. Have others encountered this?..

Well, much if not all of the juniper oils come over early in the run...Odin says to cut out the first 10ml...not 250ml. So, if you'd add some of that 250ml back to your hearts, then the juniper will take a bigger role.

My first run at this recipe, I cut the first 50ml and I noticed that the juniper was less than I'd expected. And I also noted that it tended to "tip the scale" towards the botanicals/herbs & spices as a result. The citrus I had "steamed" in the vapor path, so it wasn't out of balance. The gin was just a touch to "dry" from what I'd wanted.

Adjusting the front cut back to 10ml brought the juniper back in balance. I did notice that when tempered back to 70 proof, I saw a light louche signaling that I had indeed captured much more of the juniper oils (as Odin had advised). I'm not troubled by this louche however, because the gin is oh-so-tasty!

The secret to Odin's recipe is that it is very precise in ingredients and process. Follow it...and you'll be very much rewarded.
ss

[Expat]

Hey Still. Appreciated for the input. Yup, that's 10ml scaling with the size of batch; so doing i'm effectively a 10x run, it would be 100 mls. Yes, I took off more that suggested but not so extremely different. I've saved the cut, so I can blend it back as suggested.

Louching in a gin context is oils coming out of solution, creating cloudiness, is that correct?

Appreciated for the help

[NZChris]

From Odin's original post....
'The only thing that does not need to be scaled up, is the first 10 mls cut. It can stay 10 mls up until 10 liters of 43% gin maceration. If you distill over 10 liters in one go, enlarge this first cut to 20 mls."

Louching in a gin context is oils coming out of solution, creating cloudiness, is that correct?

Yes.

[Expat]

I stand corrected, my bad I guess I'll be blending most of that cut back.

Appreciated!

[Expat]

Observation after airing, blending and proofing. This batch is definitely high on the citrus. This seems to be supported by what I saw I'm proofing, i.e. I couldn't get lower than 55% without louching. My guess is that the clementines which were subbed for the tangerine contain more oils. Either way it smells tasty, and I'm looking forward to making another batch and applying some lessons learned.

Looking forward to trying it again after the resting time. Christmas gin for me

[LBHD]

I made this recipe, and added 3 kaffir lime leaves cut up. I haven't re-distilled, but it smells amazing.

[S-Cackalacky]

I ran a batch this morning. It was 60 oz of URRV macerated for two weeks using Eastern Red Cedar berries (juniper), coriander, clementine peel, lemon and lime zest, and a pinch of lavender. I ran it in the thumper along with about a half gallon of water. The boiler was charged with plain water, so it was basically a direct steam distillation. I took off and discarded what I guessed to be about 10ml. Saved the rest to a 1/2 gallon jar and did occasional alcometer readings as I went. As I pulled the 1/2 gallon jar to do the readings, I ran into a 1/2 pint jar. When I put the larger jar back under the takeoff, I would check the smaller jar to get an idea of how far into the run I was. I was able to proof down what I collected to 45% ABV using this method. The last small jar I checked was about 20%. I ended up with near the same volume I started out with - maybe slightly less. It was tasting really good right off the still. I'll be letting it rest for 5 or 6 weeks before I do another tasting. I should have maybe two 750ml bottles all said and done.

[DrMalt]

I made this recipe, and added 3 kaffir lime leaves cut up. I haven't re-distilled, but it smells amazing.

Please do report back on any effect from the Kaffir Lime leaves. I would love to do the same.

Cheers,

[LBHD]

I made this recipe, and added 3 kaffir lime leaves cut up. I haven't re-distilled, but it smells amazing.

Please do report back on any effect from the Kaffir Lime leaves. I would love to do the same.

Cheers,

Kaffir leaves are pretty oily. I discarded the first 30 mL instead of 10 but still getting louching. Taste and aroma is awesome, if not a bit overpowered. I would maybe do 2 leaves instead of 3?

[DrMalt]

Kaffir leaves are pretty oily. I discarded the first 30 mL instead of 10 but still getting louching. Taste and aroma is awesome, if not a bit overpowered. I would maybe do 2 leaves instead of 3?

I am guessing you left them in the boil then? I may try a basket in the vapor path instead but post again after some aging, if it lasts.

[LBHD]

Kaffir leaves are pretty oily. I discarded the first 30 mL instead of 10 but still getting louching. Taste and aroma is awesome, if not a bit overpowered. I would maybe do 2 leaves instead of 3?

I am guessing you left them in the boil then? I may try a basket in the vapor path instead but post again after some aging, if it lasts.

Macerated for 1 wk, but strained out prior to boil. Its aged a couple days and is already improved Putting the rest away til xmas.

[Patching246]

Does anyone have any tips for measuring the micro amounts using the x = juniper, x/2 = coriander, x/10 = angelica, cassia, cinnamon, liquorice, bitter almonds, grains of paradise, cubeb berries x/100 = everything else formula? I'm using 60 grams of juniper - so 0.6g... is that like 'a pinch' or what :/ ?

[Odin]

Aim for a total amount of herbs per liter of like 30 grams. Total.

Odin.

[Patching246]

Thanks Odin, all macerated and smells a treat! I'm now gearing up to do the final run and have one last question.

I'm going to run it through my boka which is now full of SPP. I really don't want to empty that messy s*it out so am being lazy. I'm also going to have to charge my boiler at around 30%, maybe even slightly less to safely cover my element. In previous posts, you've said that should be fine, just run it slower.

I'm assuming I'll want to control the slowness with the heat as opposed to the take off valve, so as not to cause unnecessary reflux. Does that sound about right? Also, at what ABV does the gin start losing its flavours? I'm concerned that - even in 'hybrid mode' - my still might yield to high an ABV... in which case I'd rather shut down and empty the SPP.

Hope that all makes sense.

[Odin]

Normal power setting, discard first parts as per recipe, leave the SPP in place (as long as it is stainless - in case of copper: remove). Needle valve wide open and off you go.

Odin.

[Patching246]

Thanks man. All fingers crossed!

[Patching246]

One word....... wow! Just got through the run, all went very smoothly. Collected slightly deeper than the 400mls for the extra flavour and BOY did I get it. Love it! Got quite a bit of louching and perhaps a bit too floral from some of the additional botanicals I used, but it's already highly drinkable. Going to rest it until xmas and then add some neutral if I need to to balance it out/remove cloudiness.

Thanks Odin. Top top man.

[Odin]

Thanks. Add the neutral now, so things can mellow out over the next few weeks.

Odin.

[Devon]

Ok so here's an idiot question, I've got about 10 litres of 90-95% proof neutral spirit. Your recipe says 45% is it ok just to use water to bring the abv down to 45%?

[NZChris]

Leave it on a draughty window sill until it gets to 43%.

Yes, water is fine

[still_stirrin]

...I've got about 10 litres of 90-95% proof neutral spirit...

OK, I'm not going to call you an idiot, but with this question it's hard to disregard.

Is it %ABV....or proof? You've slurred your speech so badly I can't understand what you're saying.

Also, if you reread the recipe, I'm confident it says 43%.
ss

[Devon]

Sorry I'm getting confused with terminology. I come from making beer so I use abv and of course here it's more customary to use proof

[BaxtersDad]

Aim for a total amount of herbs per liter of like 30 grams. Total.

Odin.

Odin, I am on my stripping runs for batch #2, batch #1 seemed pretty good to me, but the botanicals seemed a little far forward or overpowering. I used the recommended quantities but they were put into the pot for the gin run. So my question is, do the quantities vary depending on whether the botanicals are infused then strained before the gin run, included with the spirits in the pot for the gin run, or put in the vapor path?

Thanks!

BD

[Patching246]

So about a week into my resting period and I thought I'd have a little taste. To my surprise, the flavour profile has changed... for the worse. It does't taste of tails or heads - but an odd smell that I haven't experienced appears to be taking over. The only descriptive word I can come up with is 'artificial' or 'pharmaceutical'. I'm wondering why it's only coming through now

*when I hold my nose, the flavour profile is not too far off perfect. It has just developed an odd smell that I can't quite identify. Going to leave it to air for a day or two and see if it dissipates at all. Any feedback on possible causes would be appreciated.

[rumBum2]

Aim for a total amount of herbs per liter of like 30 grams. Total.

Odin.

Odin, I am on my stripping runs for batch #2, batch #1 seemed pretty good to me, but the botanicals seemed a little far forward or overpowering. I used the recommended quantities but they were put into the pot for the gin run. So my question is, do the quantities vary depending on whether the botanicals are infused then strained before the gin run, included with the spirits in the pot for the gin run, or put in the vapor path?

Thanks!

BD

I was surprised with my results on my second batch of OEG.. i let it macerate for 12-13 days then strained/distilled and the gin "flavor" was less then the first batch that i macerated 12hrs. and distilled with botanicals in the pot.

[NZChris]

So about a week into my resting period and I thought I'd have a little taste. To my surprise, the flavour profile has changed... for the worse. It does't taste of tails or heads - but an odd smell that I haven't experienced appears to be taking over. The only descriptive word I can come up with is 'artificial' or 'pharmaceutical'. I'm wondering why it's only coming through now

*when I hold my nose, the flavour profile is not too far off perfect. It has just developed an odd smell that I can't quite identify. Going to leave it to air for a day or two and see if it dissipates at all. Any feedback on possible causes would be appreciated.

The answer might be in a previous post...

Collected slightly deeper than the 400mls for the extra flavour and BOY did I get it.

... or in something else you did different. Only you know what that is.

[raketemensch]

So about a week into my resting period and I thought I'd have a little taste. To my surprise, the flavour profile has changed... for the worse. It does't taste of tails or heads - but an odd smell that I haven't experienced appears to be taking over. The only descriptive word I can come up with is 'artificial' or 'pharmaceutical'. I'm wondering why it's only coming through now.

In my limited experience, they seem to go through stages. Give it time.