Beginners Rum Recipe Suggestions and Tips?

[BTR Kentucky]

Headed off in the morning to hunt some long beard gobblers. While out that way in amish land i am going to load back up on grains. I am sure they will have feed molasses and i have been chopping at the bit to try my hand at a batch. THe Amish normally have good grains, non gmo, at the best prices. I have been looking at the tried and true recipes. What would you all recommend for a first that will still be great quality?
Also, any other suggestions or tips for doing a rum?
I am normally just a bourbon and shine country boy, but i do have some spice rum up in my collection i enjoy mixed. Used to drink silver label rum, but now just a bourbon, shine, and will keep spice rum around too..

Thanks folks

[still_stirrin]

I did Pugi's because I had farm store molasses. Just make sure to use the yeast bomb and it'll kick off quick. My farm store molly was 82brix and has a huge flavor. I double distilled on the potstill and the molly taste was still too big. Running another distillation brought the flavor back to a tolerable level, but it was still full of flavor. Incidentally, I did not use any additional suger, white or brown...only the molly.

Here's a quick link: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 2#p7177681

There are other good recipes too: Hook rum, Harry's, and Bucaneer Bob's just to name a few.
ss

[BTR Kentucky]

Thanks SS! I have been looking at them but just was not sure which one to go after so i thought i would ask you all for advice. Thanks!

[nerdybrewer]

+1 for Buccaneer Bob's
Just be sure to save your backset and keep it in a bucket or something.
Research making a dunder pit.

[BTR Kentucky]

Will do. I have to research more or im guessing just use my well water on my first ferment with it since i will not have any backset left over from a rum wash. The dunder seemed like the same thing. shows i need to research more. I will figure it out. Thanks

[BTR Kentucky]

Same thing pretty much. It threw me at first with dunder and backstrap

[shadylane]

"""Beginners Rum Recipe Suggestions and Tips"""
Just my drunken $.02 worth.
If your not using mostly molasses or sugar cane juice.
Your rum ferment is basically a sugar wash.
Short on nutrients and long on sugar.
A yeast bomb will be needed.
And probably, crushed oyster shells for Ph control.

[BTR Kentucky]

I am wanting rum not a sugar was so molasses it is. thanks for your input. I had a few drinks not knowing how long this low wine and feints run would last, first timer. Had a few too many of my shine sours. On my coffee now, yea, light weight, i know. But this thing will not stop pumping it out. Just hope it is drinkable..Anyways, back on topic, going to grab molasses from the Amish after turkey hunting to start on a rum mash within the next week weeks

[nerdybrewer]

Very interested in how the Amish product turns out.
I get feed Molly from (you guessed it) the feed store, it's preservative free.
I like as much flavor as possible and it delivers.

[BTR Kentucky]

I used to have milk goats and got all my feed from them, plus for my chickens. They are a few hours from me but that is where my wife is from, her family lives close so we go visit often. They got the cheapest prices plus sell non gmo grains and i cannot find them at any feed stores around me and there are a ton. Lots of farming around where I live. I get non gmo cracked corn for 6.50 for 50lbs. I think oats where around 7$ I am getting low on corn so figured while i was out there tomorrow i would check on molasses. Lots of farmers use that on their hay feeding to their cattle. They normally have the best looking grains at the cheapest rates i can find around here, Western Ky.

[Windy City]

I use fancy molasses and dark brown sugar.
While following Pugi's steps of rum oils and Dunder pit in about 5 generations (they come quick) you end up quickly with some real nice product.

[BTR Kentucky]

Thanks.

[Windy City]

BTW.
I truly prefer fancy molasses to any of the feed grade or blackstrap molasses recipes I have tasted or distilled.
I like the smotheness of a less refined/more pure sugar (my preference). It will cost more initially but I believe will give you a better product in the end.

[BTR Kentucky]

I'll check it out to see where all and the cheapest place to get it. I will probably go with the cheapest until i learn how to do it. Normally with me, what can go wrong, does go wrong.

[realtree71]

Gordon's food service GFS is now carrying grade A fancy molasses by the gal. Here in Indy is about $14 per gal.

I make a lot of rum mostly use all molasses or 1 gal molasses and 7lbs raw sugar / evap cane juice.

Adding Dunder to the wash is a must. My recipe is similar to hooks and pugi. After a few runs keep eye on ph. Add some tomato paste to wash also.

I'll add a little lees to the wash also, not much a few 2-3 cups. I think there's some nutrient in there that are useful. I've been doing this for a while and aged is very good. I have cases about ten years old now.