Running various unknown stripping runs....

[welly]

I think this is more of a should I rather than could I question.

I've been collecting jars of various sugar washes (usually using brown/raw cane sugar) which haven't been quite enough to run on their own in my still. I'm probably up to quantity although clever clogs here failed to label some of the jars. So basically they could be anything - but I'm assuming they're probably stripping runs from molasses or cane sugar runs.

Obviously I "could" run them - what's the worst that could happen? - but should I? Probably looking for validation more than anything!

Does anyone else run a bit of mixed bag collection of spirits and what kind of result do you get?

Cheers!

[zed255]

Run it. Sounds like it could be a light rum.

I'm sitting on a mix of whiskey and brandy feints with some rum low wines. Should be interesting when I get to it.

[still_stirrin]

Would you rather look at the collection of jars labeled “???”, or a collection jar labeled as “low wines”?

Run them. At least you’ll remove 60-70% of the water from them.
ss

[jonnys_spirit]

if it's a mix of sugars and molasses I guess it'll be a rum. If there's some grains worked into it you might think of it as a rumski...

Run it!

Cheers,
j

[Wildcats]

Run it. Might be the best you ever had.

[welly]

Run it. Might be the best you ever had.

And the best I'll never be able to repeat!

I'm going to run it this weekend.

[welly]

Would you rather look at the collection of jars labeled “???”, or a collection jar labeled as “low wines”?

Run them. At least you’ll remove 60-70% of the water from them.
ss

You're not wrong! What's the worst that can happen.. it could end up being tasty.

[greggn]

So basically they could be anything -

Could they be the output of cleaning runs ?

[welly]

So basically they could be anything -

Could they be the output of cleaning runs ?

Definitely not that. I always just chuck my cleaning runs. But had to think about that one!

[MooseMan]

I think this is more of a should I rather than could I question.

I've been collecting jars of various sugar washes (usually using brown/raw cane sugar) which haven't been quite enough to run on their own in my still. I'm probably up to quantity although clever clogs here failed to label some of the jars. So basically they could be anything - but I'm assuming they're probably stripping runs from molasses or cane sugar runs.

Obviously I "could" run them - what's the worst that could happen? - but should I? Probably looking for validation more than anything!

Does anyone else run a bit of mixed bag collection of spirits and what kind of result do you get?

Cheers!

I run a bit of a mix of stripped stuff as I'm always experimenting with something, but through a reflux setup so it all comes out clean.

If you only have the option of running it through a pot setup, why not?!
Worst thing that can happen is you don't like it, so water it back down and run again and it will be cleaner?

[NZChris]

If you have room in the still, add some fresh rum wash.

[welly]

If you have room in the still, add some fresh rum wash.

Yeah, I can definitely make room and it'll probably help ensure the elements are covered. Might add a litre or two of the rum wash I've got on the go now. Good tip, thanks!

[welly]

Just further to this, would you run it as it is - mix all the different spirits together and just do a spirit run from it or do another stripping run with them all combined? I've also got about 2 litres of feints from a rum batch which I could throw in. That with some fresh rum wash would probably give me about 15L into the still.

[googe]

how much volume is in all the mixed jars?, what abv is it?

[welly]

how much volume is in all the mixed jars?, what abv is it?

Alright, so got the following:

3L at 43.4%
2L (or a little bit under) at 28.2%
2L (or a little bit under) at 42.7%
5L (or a little bit under) at 53.4%
2.5L feints jar at 43.1%

So about 14.5L in total - give or take (more take) 500ml. I've not mixed them yet. Apart from the feints jars, these are the results of stripping runs (I don't remember why one of them has a much lower ABV - I suspect this was the end of the run). The feints is from a different batch, I'm pretty sure. I think the others are probably the result of one or possibly two different alcohols that I ran through the still. One a molasses wash, the other a brown/cane sugar wash.

[Boda Getta]

I would mix all of the jars AND mix the feints in, dilute if needed and run it, depending the size of your still you could have enough for 2-3 spirit runs. I think there is a good chance you will surprised how good it will turn out. Some of my best whiskey runs have been feint runs.

[welly]

I would mix all of the jars AND mix the feints in, dilute if needed and run it, depending the size of your still you could have enough for 2-3 spirit runs. I think there is a good chance you will surprised how good it will turn out. Some of my best whiskey runs have been feint runs.

Cheers BG! I shall do this. Will have to find a container big enough to mix them all in but that's easily solved. I'll take a ABV reading and then dilute with spring water to 40% if it's above that, add a litre or so of fresh rum wash then run it all as a spirit run.

[NormandieStill]

I would try and use the fresh wash to dilute it. Try and keep those flavours concentrated.

[welly]

I would try and use the fresh wash to dilute it. Try and keep those flavours concentrated.

Ok, I can do that instead. We've got pretty good water around here. Cheers!

[NZChris]

Don’t use water if you want flavor. That’s a trick best used for making neutral.

[welly]

Oh sorry, read fresh wash as water. Right, gotcha. Dilute with the rum wash not water

[NZChris]

BTW, 40% isn't a Low Wines ABV to be aimed for for a rum spirit run, as it's far too high. I aim for around 24-27% to get me a heart cut close enough to barrel strength that I seldom have to add water before aging.

[welly]

Yeah, I don't think I ran them long enough. They've been sat around for a little while and have since done some reading. Next batch will be better, I'm still in my early years of this hobby I feel like progress is being made each batch!

Cheers Chris, appreciate the advice!

[welly]

If you have room in the still, add some fresh rum wash.

Just wanted to check - when you say "fresh rum wash" are you talking about before fermentation? Obviously diluting with 6-7% fermented wash will dilute these jars of spirit but not as much as an unfermented wash. Is it possible to dilute with some of the fermented wash or better to make up a new batch and use some of that before pitching the yeast?

Thanks!

[LordL]

If you have room in the still, add some fresh rum wash.

Just wanted to check - when you say "fresh rum wash" are you talking about before fermentation? Obviously diluting with 6-7% fermented wash will dilute these jars of spirit but not as much as an unfermented wash. Is it possible to dilute with some of the fermented wash or better to make up a new batch and use some of that before pitching the yeast?

Thanks!

A fully fermented wash would be preferred!

[Wildcats]

Well if you had time to run it over the weekend... How did it turn out?

[welly]

If you have room in the still, add some fresh rum wash.

Just wanted to check - when you say "fresh rum wash" are you talking about before fermentation? Obviously diluting with 6-7% fermented wash will dilute these jars of spirit but not as much as an unfermented wash. Is it possible to dilute with some of the fermented wash or better to make up a new batch and use some of that before pitching the yeast?

Thanks!

A fully fermented wash would be preferred!

Makes sense now I think about it!

[welly]

Well if you had time to run it over the weekend... How did it turn out?

Not yet! My rum wash is still bubbling away so will see how we go this weekend!

[NZChris]

Putting unfermented wash in the boiler with Low Wines sounds like a really bad idea.

At the end of a series of ferments, I hold some wash back to use for the spirit run and/or reprocessing the feints.

[welly]

So I ran this collection of stripping runs last night - I ended up adding about 3L of wash from my Buccaneer Bob's wash that I'll be doing a stripping run this weekend (or possibly tonight). The distillates together ended up a bit over 60% which makes me think my measurements above were incorrect. Anyway, 3L of wash brought them down to low 30s % so ran that and have ended up with around 4-6L hearts (I'll know tomorrow when I start blending). I ran it to just below 50% as time was pressing on and it was getting late.

Had a bit of a puke to start with - the still was a little fuller than I'd have liked, probably around 18L in a 20L still and luckily I had a sight glass between the boiler and the condenser otherwise I'd not have caught it. So the heads were a bit off colour (yellow) but by the time I'd got to hearts, it was crystal clear. A bit of a learning experience, all useful stuff to refer back to! I actually have some anti-foam and why I didn't add a couple of capfuls I don't know.. was probably rushing a bit in my eagerness to get cracking!

I might re-run the still today and see if I can get some additional spirit which I may/may not use or perhaps I'll just leave it as it is and just use the hearts. I'm still only 4 batches in so I'm not precious about keeping everything.

Tasting the spirit as it came off the still, I thought it tasted excellent. I'm sure it'll be the best rum I've ever made that I'll never be able to recreate. Also came to the conclusion that the parrot is not that useful. I guess it's another tool but definitely not something to be relied on and only a guide.

Also discovered I think I'm taking too small cuts for the volume I'm running through the still. I started off taking 150ml cuts and found you just need far too many jars and it's probably a bit too "granular" so I'm going to go with 250ml to start with and 500ml as I get to the hearts. Maybe even bigger.

Anyway, another school day.. as useful as reading about this stuff is (and it is!), you certainly learn more in the doing or at least you get those "Ah ha!" moments in the doing. Will be looking forward to blending the cuts and I think I might even have enough spirit to finally fill my BadMo barrel.