Expected yield from 20 liters of wash with 10.5% ABV

[kyolic]

I know there are many factors to be considered when calculating the yield but I just need an approximate number.

Wash: 20 liters of 10.5% ABV apple wine
Distillation: first stripping run (collecting everything until it is down to 40% ABV) and then a spirit run -pot still-

Collecting the alcohol after cuts and diluting it to 40% ABV with water, how much spirit (in liters) should I expect? I usally get about 2.5 liters of brandy (40% ABV) this way. Is this an acceptable yield or should I be getting more? Thanks in advance.

[Expat]

I don't think you'd be expecting more than you're getting. Basic maths for what is possible to estimate.

On the stripping run 20L of 10.5% has a theoretical 2.1L of pure alcohol, of which you'll recover at about 80% for 1.68L, so you'd probably see around 4.2L of 40% low wines. Depending on the efficiency of your still probably a bit more than that in volume, at lower ABV.

For the spirit run, this is where your personal taste will dictate the outcome, everything depends on what cuts you keep.

1.68L total alcohol to start, 80% recovery, and guess you take the middle 50% as your final cut, would be 0.672L pure or 1.68L at 40%. So lower then what you're seeing.

Could be you're taking a larger cut, or that your still is more efficient.

[Pikey]

"abv" - Means ; "Alcohol by volume"

So 20 Litres @ 10.5% abv contains a little over 2 litres of pure alcohol (ie 100% abv)

So that works out at 2 x100/40 litres at 40% abv

Which in turn becomes 5 litres of 40 %

It would seem you are getting about half of what is in there !

[Snap @ Expat ! ]

[kyolic]

I am confused now. Expat says what I get is normal yet Pikey says I should get 5 liters which is double of I get.

[Expat]

Pikey has provided the maximum yield without any process loss or cuts, so as to set the outside boundary.

As said, If your keeping half that much you're doing well.

[kyolic]

Pikey has provided the maximum yield without any process loss or cuts, so as to set the outside boundary.

As said, If your keeping half that much you're doing well.

Thanks a lot mate. I feel relieved now.

[OtisT]

Kyolic, I’m gonna teach you to fish. Here is a link to my favorite Calcs page on HD. https://homedistiller.org/calcs/rad14701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow The calculator I want you to use is the “Distillate to Water Calculator“.

Use the calculator to put in your wash volume and ABV. To get to the end result, regardless of the number of runs you plan to do, simply plug in the final ABV you plan to proof things down to when all is said and done. If you are barrel aging that ABV may be 60%. If you are bottling, that ABV may be 40%.

Run the calc to see how much you will collect in theory, if proofed to that desired ABV. Last step is to multiply that volume by your cut %. I typically assume half of what I collect will make the cut, +/-10% ( 40-60% of what I collect will make the cut for barreling or bottling. The result will be how much you can expect to have when all is said and done.

So to use your numbers:
20L at 10.5% distilled to 40% = 5L
5L x 50% = 2.5 L

This all assumes you end your distillation process when the wash is nearly out of alcohol. (Don’t end too early). If you run until your output is between 20% ABV and 10% ABV, you are getting most of the alcohol out of it. Calculating all this stuff is one reason why I always end my runs at the same place.

Over time You will learn what percentage of what you collect makes your cut. Some folks take wider cuts, some folks take narrower cuts. Different spirits will have different cuts. Start by using 50% for rough estimating then refine your number from there based on your actual vs theoretical values.

Otis

[kyolic]

Thank you very much Otis. This calculator is really awesome.

[Royco]

Kyolic, I’m gonna teach you to fish. Here is a link to my favorite Calcs page on HD. https://homedistiller.org/calcs/rad14701" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow The calculator I want you to use is the “Distillate to Water Calculator“.

Use the calculator to put in your wash volume and ABV. To get to the end result, regardless of the number of runs you plan to do, simply plug in the final ABV you plan to proof things down to when all is said and done. If you are barrel aging that ABV may be 60%. If you are bottling, that ABV may be 40%.

Run the calc to see how much you will collect in theory, if proofed to that desired ABV. Last step is to multiply that volume by your cut %. I typically assume half of what I collect will make the cut, +/-10% ( 40-60% of what I collect will make the cut for barreling or bottling. The result will be how much you can expect to have when all is said and done.

So to use your numbers:
20L at 10.5% distilled to 40% = 5L
5L x 50% = 2.5 L

This all assumes you end your distillation process when the wash is nearly out of alcohol. (Don’t end too early). If you run until your output is between 20% ABV and 10% ABV, you are getting most of the alcohol out of it. Calculating all this stuff is one reason why I always end my runs at the same place.

Over time You will learn what percentage of what you collect makes your cut. Some folks take wider cuts, some folks take narrower cuts. Different spirits will have different cuts. Start by using 50% for rough estimating then refine your number from there based on your actual vs theoretical values.

Otis

Otis i can't open that calcs link? "Not found".
I am trying to find out how to calculate still efficiency and came across this link (I'm new here so I'm sure this is well known):

https://www.hillbillystills.com/distill ... -s/265.htm

Seems quite easy to use but asks for still efficiency. I've searched this forum and google but cant seem to find anything

[Corsaire]

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/htm/calc ... d14701.htm
This is the updated link.
You can always find this one and more under the calcs in the handy links box at rhe bottom of the page.

[Royco]

Oh that's better Corsaire. Great calculators

[JBs]

https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/htm/calc ... d14701.htm
This is the updated link.

Thanks Corsaire that’s spot on.