316 stainless carbon filter

[PipeWelder316]

Whats going on yall, I just wanted to show off my latest toy. I have been playing around with making neutrals here lately and was reading about how grey goose carbon filters their vodka. I did some reading and found where carbon filtering can polish an otherwise good spirit. I know and understand that you cant just run some rot gut cheep stuff through some carbon and out comes high end stuff. I have also read around here where people say you don't need a carbon filter just run it a few times through your still and your good. I just seem to think that carbon filtering has to add something, otherwise the big guys wouldn't use it. My process is to pot still a couple neutral washes, run that with water topped up and under 40% and use my VM with 2' of raschig rings and 2' copper mesh in my stainless still.
Then cut that down to 50% or 100 proof and run it through activated carbon for a nice polish. What do yall think about this?

[acfixer69]

It sound's like it is working for you and that's all that really matters right. I don't believe anyone said carbon filtering was bad for you. Most are addressing turbo styles and the need to filter to make it drinkable. For a neutral what the hell if it helps you use it. I know for sure there are easier ways to a neutral.

[fizzix]

I use a stainless/carbon filter system too for my neutrals.
My reflux still will garner anywhere from 90-95% depending how well I run it, and that gets passed through the carbon filter to rid any remaining flavors.
My taste buds have been dulled over the years, but a friend with a sensitive vodka palate can taste the difference and that's good enough for me.
Odin's gin from the carbon stuff has been getting rave reviews here at fizzix Central.

[PipeWelder316]

Awesome fizzix, I see there is nothing to slow down the flow on your carbon filter, I watched the video at mile high and I understand there is a screen to hold back the carbon medium. On mine I added a 1/4" ball valve as to slow down the filtration.

[fizzix]

I just realized I didn't show another length of 2" pipe that I add to the section shown above. I rubber band coffee filters at the bottom output.
The filters and sheer mass of charcoal slows output to a very slow and manageable speed.

[jonnys_spirit]

How and how often do you guys clean your activated carbon? Do you filter low wines too or just the new make?

Cheers,
J

[fizzix]

How and how often do you guys clean your activated carbon? Do you filter low wines too or just the new make?

Not low wines for me. Only spirit run product.
I wait until I have about 3 gallons, and it's run and done for that batch of carbon.
A proper cleaning of used carbon is just a pain in the ass and not worth it to me.
Notice I said proper. That requires boiling and clearing and boiling some more and clearing and then re-baking.
Activated carbon is cheap enough that I just get new for next time.
And 3 gallons of filtered neutral goes a long way in my household so it's not even an issue.

BTW- I activate it with hot distilled water (handy since we have stills!) so as not to pollute the carbon from the get go.