Gin from wash / mash

[JM1010]

I understand that it is preferable to start from a pure spirit base and then add your botanical to your second distill run but I wondered if anyone had success in adding the botanicals ( minus the orange peels) directy into the mash and do a first run with the botanicals in the pot. Clearly it’s not the preferred route but I wonder if it yeilds an “ok” product when time is tight:)

[OtisT]

From my experience I believe that the process you are asking about will not turn out well. You really need to have a very clean spirit, already cut, to start with before adding botanicals and making gin. Most of the folks I know who make gin process their spirit twice before a gin run. First a strip and then a good fractioning run that is cut very clean.

One big issue with your idea is that many of the desirable oils from botanicals come across very early in a run, in the first few jars. If your spirit is not already clean and it requires a cut, you will be cutting out the best of your oils along with the worst of the spirit.

Otis

[still_stirrin]

Note - this thread was originated in the Mashing & Fermentation forum: https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtop ... =3&t=84230

It is always best to post a thread in the “correct” forum and avoid double or triple threads that are basically the same.
ss

[Demy]

Agree with Odin. Maybe I would get a very slight aroma but most would be lost.

[JM1010]

Thanks Otis for explaining clearly why it doesn't make sense. I did not realize that a good chunk of the botanical flavour would be removed with the head / foreshots. Learn something every day!