iStill NextGen

[Odin]

We were at Schouten's this morning and installed the still and did a cleaning and training run.

Yesterday we shipped another still to an existing customer who's gin is a great commercial success. If you are interested to see more (of the shipping), here it is:

https://istillblog.wordpress.com/2017/0 ... roduction/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Just later this afternoon my crew finished building up another two stills. One will go to the USA, the other one to Belgium. I'll do the testing myself tomorrow and they should leave the iStill Factory the day after.

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Building a 5000 liter / 1300 gallon iStill ...

Regards, Odin.

[madspeed]

wow, coolness!

[Odin]

Glad you like it, Mad!

I am currently in Scotland. Past few days I have build up a gin and rum distillery in Dundee. Today, traveling north, I visited Katie & Neil, who are starting up in the Speyside area. Just a few hours ago, I arrived at Dornoch Caslte, in the Scottish highlands, where they use two iStills 2000 NextGen to make both gin and single malt whisky. The gin is actually also single malt. Amazing stuff. And I get to work with Philip and Simon tomorrow on further developing both the gin and whisky making procedures.

Here's a short video:

https://www.facebook.com/odiniStill/vid ... 7383603662" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Do you want to see more about us setting up the Dornoch Distillery? Please click on the following link: https://istillblog.wordpress.com/2017/0 ... tillery-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

[dieselduo]

Outstanding !

[Odin]

While I am driving back from Scotland, work in Woerden continuous. We have a new 3 day workshop planned for the end of March. Open for registration now, via the website. Andwe are building another series of iStills 5000 NextGen.

Here's a picture of Bob (7 feet tall) standing next to one of the boilers.

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Heavy lifting!

Odin.

[bship]

Do you want to see more about us setting up the Dornoch Distillery? Please click on the following link: https://istillblog.wordpress.com/2017/0 ... tillery-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

Love that fourth pic. The old and new all together.

[Odin]

Can you guess on what machine they make the single malt and on which one they make the gin?

Regards, Odin.

[bship]

Ok, I will take a shot.... The new rig does the gin....

[Odin]

Thanks! Always nice to see someo others post in what's otherwise pretty much a monoloque.

Yeah, they make the gin in there. But also the single malt. In fact, they make everything with the iStill.

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Some info on direct boiler cooling for mashing and fermenting:

https://istillblog.wordpress.com/2017/0 ... t-cooling/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

[Fart Vader]

Thanks! Always nice to see someo others post in what's otherwise pretty much a monoloque.

It might seem like a monologue, but it's really because everyone watching is so mesmerized that words simply can't express our amazement at what you are accomplishing.

Looks to me like business is really picking up. Hat's off to you Odin.


P.S keep the posts coming, I never miss one.

[Odin]

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. And thanks for the kudos as well!

Yeah, business is good. I originally designed my new factory to be able to push out almost anything. Up to 50.000 liters of boiler capacity per week. The assembly hall on the other hand has a more "realistic" proportion and was designed to do four stills per week. That's becoming a bottle neck. Right now we are building up not four, but 7 units at the same time, with five more coming in next week ...

But it's fun. Wouldn't have thought to make my hobby into a living, and living my life as if a dream. And it all started with my wife telling me: "If you think you know so much about it, and if you spend like 40 hours a week on those so-called forums ... maybe you should find a way to make it your profession." Before that ... it was hobby (distilling) at the one side of my life and on the other, separated by a big, tall wall, my work (change management). That remark of her tore down the wall and started this mess.

Second "distillers" life changer was my pneumonia from last year. As a (very) high energy kind of guy, working 100 hours a week at the speed of light ... that put me with my feet back on the ground. Today, I hire more staff, delegate more to my management team, and ask myself with every little thing that comes my way: is this fun? Because that's what wealth is about: to be able to do what you love to do.

Okay, enough philosophy for one night. I am going to light up another cigar and maybe take a glass of white dog. Skip the maybe. Speak to y'all soon.

Regards, Odin.

[The Baker]

Thanks! Always nice to see someo others post in what's otherwise pretty much a monoloque.

It might seem like a monologue, but it's really because everyone watching is so mesmerized that words simply can't express our amazement at what you are accomplishing.

Looks to me like business is really picking up. Hat's off to you Odin.


P.S keep the posts coming, I never miss one.

Me too.
Geoff

[Odin]

Thanks Baker!

Tomorrow we'll have people arriving from all over the world for our new 3-day workshop on distilling (and mashing and fermenting). From Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, the UK, Ireland, USA and Italy. I may forget a country. Together with my trainer Nick we'll dive into our theories on distilling, designing your distillery, and designing your own drinks. We'll start with theory and a strip/whiskey run on Friday. On Saturday we'll dive into and make vodka and two varieties of gin. On Sunday its all going to be about making taste rich product and we'll be making rum that day. Dinner Friday evening, Some pro distillers present Sunday afternoon to answer practical questions.

Regards, Odin.

[Odin]

Big meets small. iStill 5000 NextGen next to an iStill 100 NextGen boiler ...

Regards, Odin.

[OtisT]

Sweet looking stills Odin. Thanks for sharing.

[Odin]

Thanks Otis!

We are organizing a new 3-day workshop in Utah in early May.

https://istillblog.wordpress.com/2017/0 ... g-in-utah/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regards, Odin.

[BDF]

Love the optimism and positivity in this thread....and all the pics.

I'm kinda curious about how you described direct cooling though, what exactly is 'direct' about it, is it actually injecting cold water into the mash/wash?

[Odin]

Thanks. It has been a while, but time has not been spend idle. Worked on growing my company, designed a few new nice technologies, learned how to delegate, and am working doing all I can to get in better shape.

Here's a picture of an iStill 2000 together with the new Extractor that I designed like a bit under half a year ago.

Regards, Odin.

[zapata]

Lookin good and exciting as always Odin. Keep that fire burning

[The Baker]

Missed you, Odin.

Geoff

[Odin]

Love the optimism and positivity in this thread....and all the pics.

I'm kinda curious about how you described direct cooling though, what exactly is 'direct' about it, is it actually injecting cold water into the mash/wash?

Most use a double jacket to cool. That's indirect cooling. What I mean is a heat exchanger in the mash. Direct cooling for better results at lower costs (both material and cooling agent).

Ill try to put up a picture next week.

Odin.

[Odin]

Flying to Madison tomorrow. Well, actually to Detroit first, where I'll spend the night in a hotel close to the airport. Wednesday early in the morning I fly to Madison. For a class on distilling and extracting for some 20 distillers. So ... tomorrow evening in Detroit. Anyone in the neighborhood for a drink, just let me know.

Regards, Odin.

[DownTider]

Hi I am new here been doing lots of reading to see what still would suit my needs!

Wow Odin I take my hat of to you Sir you turned your hobby and passion into a very successful business well done
If it's anything like your Gin recipe (and I not distilled it yet hence no still just blended heated and bottled) I am sure it as great! It sure looks it With all your deliveries going out the door
So my research here was after seeing A T500 on YouTube from it I wanted to join your club of outlaws

So far and I will not purchase anything for an other 6-8 weeks so more research to be done and in my sights
Is the mile hi 4" 4 stack sight chambers with a extender! And the Sill Dragon 4" dash with pro caps both look amazing
And give good results
But I really want what every other guy here wants is the Istill 50 when is it going to happen

You do know it will sell more then the T500 and you be making the world a much safer and better place with much better product

Bring it on please you know you can do it

[fizzix]

Ditto DownTider.
I really admire your work, Odin.
This site and its people never cease to amaze me.

[Odin]

Thanks for the kudos. Much appreciated. If you like the work we do, please know we'll keep up the good work. Beefing up production with another 50% and aiming to produce 300 distilleries in 2018. Sizes of 500, 2000, and 5000 liter. And a really nice 100 liter unit for product development and smal batch gin production purposes. All using the same automation and technology, among which a new robot with a 2.500 step resolution. That's 2.500 decisions between reflux and product take-out. From 0:100 and 100:0 for perfect control over ABV and purity. Integrated mashing, fermenting and distilling as well, if that's the goal. A new bullet proof insulation was another innovation we did a lot of work on. As well as the new Extractor technology for amazing extracts and essences. Heck, we now even use it for mashing and for filtering.

Please check out our new website and let me know what you think about it. It has a great new design center that allows you to "build" your own iStills online. http://www.iStill.eu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. There is also a little booklet I wrote that you can download. On taste rich distilling. Should have been the first book of many, but I am quite busy! Who knows ... this year?

Regards, Odin.

[Fraser]

Hi Odin!

Your work is amazing. When I can afford your equipment in my shop I'll definitely be contacting you. Keep up the great work.

Justin