The best-made plans
Moderator: Site Moderator
-
- Novice
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:04 pm
The best-made plans
Hi folks from Australia,
I got a Turbo Still for xmas and I'd just made my 1st batch of wash. I had the sugar and the yeast bubbling away beautifully, then when all activity had stopped, waited a day then mixed in the stuff that clears the wash.
Suddenly (sounds like a suspense novel, eh?) we got a phone call to say our nephew's 1st baby had arrived early so we were in the car driving in about 2 hours and then away for 4 days - got back this morning.
Is it still safe to distill the wash d'ya think? There's a slight sour smell coming from the wash, but not an unpleasant smell and it smells like it did before I left. Because it's my first batch, I have nothing to compare it tooo though.
I got a Turbo Still for xmas and I'd just made my 1st batch of wash. I had the sugar and the yeast bubbling away beautifully, then when all activity had stopped, waited a day then mixed in the stuff that clears the wash.
Suddenly (sounds like a suspense novel, eh?) we got a phone call to say our nephew's 1st baby had arrived early so we were in the car driving in about 2 hours and then away for 4 days - got back this morning.
Is it still safe to distill the wash d'ya think? There's a slight sour smell coming from the wash, but not an unpleasant smell and it smells like it did before I left. Because it's my first batch, I have nothing to compare it tooo though.
Re: The best-made plans
I would say you are safe for at least a week after the wash has finished. Most folks here don't use a clearing agent, just let it settle in a colder area. You should check out the recipes in the Tried and True for your next batch 

-
- Novice
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:04 pm
Re: The best-made plans
Thanks Bushman, I'll let everyone know how it goes!
Re: The best-made plans
welcome, good luck with that first wash, may it be the first of many, and the start of great things! 

Re: The best-made plans
i often leave wash sitting for weeks before i still it... no drama's ever noticed.
i just keep them "airtight" but the c02 is supposed to just sit in there stopping O2 getting in.
they settle out very clear if left alone for a while
highly likely the clearing agent was gelatin or something food based and fairly harmless.
i say have a taste of the wash and then you can compare the next one, i always taste my Hydro samples
i just keep them "airtight" but the c02 is supposed to just sit in there stopping O2 getting in.
they settle out very clear if left alone for a while

highly likely the clearing agent was gelatin or something food based and fairly harmless.
i say have a taste of the wash and then you can compare the next one, i always taste my Hydro samples
-
- Novice
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2011 5:04 pm
Re: The best-made plans
I can feel the love! Many thanks for your reassurances. I'm happy to report (more than a BIT happy if you catch my drift) that it's been a tremendous success. Everything's gone as expected and your replies encouraged me to actually drink the stuff, in moderation of course. I've been sorta locked in to the proprietary doo-dads supplied with the kit in this round but I look forward to sharing knowledge with you all as time goes by (hmm .. great name for a song).
-
- Swill Maker
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:29 pm
- Location: Thou Ancient, Thou Free
Re: The best-made plans
If its a simple sugar wash you can store it for months if it's stored in an airtight vessel.
-
- Master of Distillation
- Posts: 3017
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:04 pm
- Location: Paradise? Western KY
Re: The best-made plans
your fine, I have wash in a closed container that is a month old.. No time to run it right now... It will be fine.. Let us know how it goes for ya.
Re: The best-made plans
Welcome to HD Max Frever...
All great advice from the guy's as usual...
So pull up a chair and hold on tight... Your in for the ride of your life on HD...
Good to have ya...

All great advice from the guy's as usual...
So pull up a chair and hold on tight... Your in for the ride of your life on HD...
Good to have ya...

♦♦ Samohon ♦♦
Beginners should visit The New Distillers Reading Lounge and the Safety and Related Issues among others...
Beginners should visit The New Distillers Reading Lounge and the Safety and Related Issues among others...
Re: The best-made plans
I'm a newbie building a keg still and was wondering if I made a 30 gallon wash, would I be able to run it in 3 seperate runs in 10 gallon batches and if the wash would still be good till I ran it all? Any advice for info would be appreciated. Thank you
Re: The best-made plans
That will be fine. I often do washes in two 30 gallon drums at a time. Generally I will only strip once a day. save up my striping runs until I have enough for two or three spirit runs.ly44889 wrote:I'm a newbie building a keg still and was wondering if I made a 30 gallon wash, would I be able to run it in 3 seperate runs in 10 gallon batches and if the wash would still be good till I ran it all? Any advice for info would be appreciated. Thank you
- rgreen2002
- Distiller
- Posts: 1309
- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 2:57 pm
- Location: Northeastern USA
Re: The best-made plans
+1freefall wrote:That will be fine. I often do washes in two 30 gallon drums at a time. Generally I will only strip once a day. save up my striping runs until I have enough for two or three spirit runs.ly44889 wrote:I'm a newbie building a keg still and was wondering if I made a 30 gallon wash, would I be able to run it in 3 seperate runs in 10 gallon batches and if the wash would still be good till I ran it all? Any advice for info would be appreciated. Thank you
I occasionally do 40-gallon mashes and have a 25 gallon still. I will run 2 separate runs. Sometimes I will do a 1.5 run (put the strip of the first run into the mash of the second run) and sometimes I strip both and then spirit. With my new 5 gallon still though... I may move to more 2 strips and spirit runs(maybe backset to dilute....Ohhh the possibilities!!)
HD Glossary - Open this
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers - start here
BEST WAY TO GET ANSWERS FROM HOME DISTILLER
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
A little spoon feeding *For New & Novice Distillers - start here
BEST WAY TO GET ANSWERS FROM HOME DISTILLER
"In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is."
Re: The best-made plans
Thank you all for the info. Alot of research to do and alot of learning. Excited to make some good spirits!! One thing I read but can't remember and can't seem to find it again, was about an abv being over or under a certain percentage for safety reasons. I can't remember the percentage or the process of reducing it. If someone could give me a quick rundown on the whole thing, I'd appreciate it.
- Truckinbutch
- Angel's Share
- Posts: 8107
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:49 pm
Re: The best-made plans
Dilute to less than 40% with water for a second or third run .
If you ain't the lead dog in the team , the scenery never changes . Ga Flatwoods made my avatar and I want to thank him for that .
Don't drink water , fish fornicate in it .
Don't drink water , fish fornicate in it .
Re: The best-made plans
Makes sense. Would there still be foreshots on a 2nd or 3rd run? Is there foreshots in every run no matter what? Sorry for asking dumb questions. I just wanna make sure that when I do make my 1st run, it's gonna be a goodin!
- MoonBreath
- Angel's Share
- Posts: 2238
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:34 pm
- Location: Horseshoe Bend, Ky.
Re: The best-made plans
Welcome to HD!
Ifn you haven't run that wash by now Max, I'd start over, as 7yrs is more than I've ever heard of.
Post more often and don't be a stranger.
Good luck and be safe.
Ifn you haven't run that wash by now Max, I'd start over, as 7yrs is more than I've ever heard of.
Post more often and don't be a stranger.
Good luck and be safe.

*Spend it all, Use it up, Wear it out*
Beware of sheet-sniffers and dime-droppers!
Beware of sheet-sniffers and dime-droppers!
Re: The best-made plans
Realized I was asking too many questions in the welcome center that can be answered with more and more and more reading. Apologies to all and thanks for the info.
- Truckinbutch
- Angel's Share
- Posts: 8107
- Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:49 pm
Re: The best-made plans
No apologies require as you done figured it out for your self . Stick with us and avail yourself of all the honest info available here .ly44889 wrote:Realized I was asking too many questions in the welcome center that can be answered with more and more and more reading. Apologies to all and thanks for the info.
If you ain't the lead dog in the team , the scenery never changes . Ga Flatwoods made my avatar and I want to thank him for that .
Don't drink water , fish fornicate in it .
Don't drink water , fish fornicate in it .