Hi from New zealand

[Iota]

Hey,
I have just read though what I'm supposed to read before posting.. Lots of useful info in here and lots more reading to do.
I recently bought a 10L copper still.. Its called an alembic column still. I had never used a still before or seen one in use but I did a bunch of reading and got into it.

I had some barley at home and tried that for my first batch... even though i knew it wasn't malted and I didn't know what would happen. It was whole barley too. I couldn't be bothered trying to toast it in my oven first so I just heated the water, let it cool a bit, added the barley and held the temp steady for the required time before sitting the pots in a cold bath to try to cool them quickly and pouring it into ferment buckets. I added yeast and also some sugar as I expected I probably hadn't done the best job of getting the sugars out of the whole unmalted barley I had cooked. What silly fun the whole thing was and a couple of weeks later I put it though the still and a drinkable version of spirits came out. I then heard most people just use sugar and yeast so I've done that a few times now. I'd like to experiment with everything. Corn, fruit, sugarcane, whatever I can find. I'm definitely running out of storage space and looking for larger vessels. Hopeing to find some wooden barrels and in the mean time considering metal kegs and hot water cylinders..my house is currently filling up with glass bottles and 5L carboys.

I've only made spirits so far but apparently I can make essential oils and hydrosol with this alembic column still too. Oh and botanical infusions like gin or whatever I may invent. I'm pretty keen to get the glassware to make essential oils but I think it will take a while for that to get to the top of my (things to spend money on) priority list.

As I said, I'm an absolute beginner.
So far I've watched the temperature and collected the first cut while keeping the still between 64 and 78 degrees. Volumes vary, I've been going by taste. I thought this was methanol and I set it aside in a big glass jar thinking maybe I'll find a use for it. I was going to offer it to a few people who who recently got methanol burners and I thought it could be used for cleaning and who knows what. Now I've read it's acetone also so maybe it's useful for people who wear nailpolish.

I've kept hearts from 78degrees and collected it until 30%abv then collected tails to 10%abv and added the tails to the next stripping run.

I've diluted to 40%abv and added some instant flavours or let it sit awhile with wood chip (and I experimented with adding vanilla pods, cinnamon quills, and dates in with the wood chips too).

I've also made a bunch of different medicinal tinctures with herbs from my garden, oh and I tried to make an elderflower liqueur that ended up tasting so bad I think ill just add it to the next still run.

I eventually saved up enough 40% to actually get around to doing a "spirit run" late night. Up until now been drinking stripping runs... I joined last night while the still was on wanting to ask questions but found I needed to read lots of things on here beforehand so I just went ahead and did whatever I did and I'm sure it will only be better next time.
I collected so many little jars to make cuts as a learning experiment and will leave covered with paper towel for couple of days to let volitile vapours escape. Then dilute each to 40% taste and play around making a blend.

It's all just learning and playing (safely) at this point.

Anyway that's my story so far, I'll make some time to read more stuff on here and hopefully earn my right to ask the technical questions I have. I don't really have anyone else to ask.

Thanks for having me
Iota

[Demy]

welcome!

[NZChris]

Welcome to the forum.

I see you have a fair bit of leaning to do.

If the Elderflower was made from flowers, hang onto some of it for if you might want to have a go at a Hendrick's style gin.

[MihiT]

Cool mate, that's what this hobby is about, learning, experimenting. Welcome along.