Is it possible to judge recipe from a stripping run

[Tōtōchtin]

I want to find rum recipes I like. I need to find the ratio of molasses, panela, and cane juice that I like in my rum. My question is can you do 3 stripping runs with different formulas and be able to pick out a winner of the 3. Then run all those in a spirit run. That way I wouldn't have to run 3 separate stripping and spirit runs to judge the quality.
Tōtō

[Wildcats]

Well I personally don't think I would be able to judge a spirit from the stripping run. I would know what it tastes and smells like smeared to hell and back. That's all I'd be able to tell. Maybe if I slowed down rite in middle of the of the hearts and pulled a sample. That would give me an idea of what the spirit is going to be like. Maybe just do a small ferment and test run. That's just my two cents. Hope you get it sorted. Have fun and stay safe.

[Bolverk]

In my experience no, the stripping run is too unrefined. If you are blending small portions from your heads and tails to your hearts, your final spirit will taste nothing like the stripping run.

This is why smaller recipe development stills are important to the pros, they will let you do a significantly smaller ferment and try out the recipe before committing to a huge batch.

You've talked about double retorts, any progress on it? Using them would make for a "one and done" run so you wouldn't/shouldn't need to do a second run... just one run that takes a little longer.

[Dougmatt]

There are several one and done’ers on HD and other forums for rum (I’m not one, but I do 1.5’s every now and then)…. I usually try my strips in the early hearts and get a good sense of if I like them or not myself so it’s feasible to at least get an impression, but your experience level will determine if you can estimate where it will eventually end up…..

I don’t think think will work well:

Maybe if I slowed down rite in middle of the of the hearts and pulled a sample. That would give me an idea of what the spirit is going to be like.

Because smearing will be happening all through your condenser etc and the carry over will be all through the still by this point.

If you really want to do this as several strips, then would suggest you start your strip run as you would a spirit run, pull through heads, once you are solidly in hearts, grab a couple hundred ml to play with, then crank up through the rest of the strip. This should give you a decent idea of how the hearts will be, and probably not cost too much in time, but just realize that it will clean up more once you do the true spirit run. Only you can decide if the time cost is worth it.

[Tōtōchtin]

In my experience no, the stripping run is too unrefined. If you are blending small portions from your heads and tails to your hearts, your final spirit will taste nothing like the stripping run.

This is why smaller recipe development stills are important to the pros, they will let you do a significantly smaller ferment and try out the recipe before committing to a huge batch.

You've talked about double retorts, any progress on it? Using them would make for a "one and done" run so you wouldn't/shouldn't need to do a second run... just one run that takes a little longer.

We got some bad news which took my heart out of putting my still together
Soldered up some elbows but just couldn't get into it. I am waiting on another 30 and 60 liter keg to arrive. I want to use steam, not positive a 30 liter boiler will be enough to run 3 units,even though one of the retorts will be able to have a heating element to keep the run going or at least to preheat. If the 60 will not be needed I'll use it to store low wines.
I've been following your thread, trying to use it to motivate me into finishing this project. I've got over a thousand funtickets in parts just laying around catching dust. I am looking for a 10l keg to use for recipe development and play with some gin.I saw one online for 60, costs more then the 60l keg.
Take care
T

[Dathhu]

After smelling the low wines of the last rum I made, (and I admit, a taste or two off the finger) I thought it was going to be absolutely arse... Weird, too bitter, all the nasty aspects of molasses.

But after a spirit run it gave me real hope. I think this might be my best rum yet. It's melding nicely with the oak, smoothing over the worst of the jank and should hopefully be something magical around Christmas. If not, next Christmas maybe

Admittedly, I'm chasing a dark, heavy rum. I'm using all molasses. I don't think a strip on that is ever going to taste good.

That, and I think my cuts are getting a little bit more dialed in where I want it each time...




So, to answer your original question:

No. Not with my limited training of taste, sorry. It's hard to judge how a final spirit run will taste from the strip, without cuts, without any aging.

[Bolverk]

We got some bad news which took my heart out of putting my still together
Soldered up some elbows but just couldn't get into it. I am waiting on another 30 and 60 liter keg to arrive. I want to use steam, not positive a 30 liter boiler will be enough to run 3 units,even though one of the retorts will be able to have a heating element to keep the run going or at least to preheat. If the 60 will not be needed I'll use it to store low wines.
I've been following your thread, trying to use it to motivate me into finishing this project. I've got over a thousand funtickets in parts just laying around catching dust. I am looking for a 10l keg to use for recipe development and play with some gin.I saw one online for 60, costs more then the 60l keg.
Take care
T

Sorry to hear that.

Weren't you talking about a reflux column as well? You could do a column with 2 plates for a "one and done" and that will get you right around where you would be with a strip/spirit or double retort. It won't be exactly the same but it'll get you in the neighborhood.

Yeah, my 10l keg new was as much as my 50l and 30l kegs used, but the proportions are correct for my future plans so I had to do it.

With a tall 30l keg you can do batches as small as 2-2.5g ( depending the abv of your wash) and still have plenty of liquid covering the element.

[Tōtōchtin]

I can get 20l tall kegs here haven't seen a 30. I also have the parts to do 4 plates. I designed those in for neutrals. But now it seems just packing a 4' column would be easier to run. I do plan on trying 2 plates for some rum and corn whiskeys. I am waiting on another 2" copper pipe so I can connect that from a 4', 3" riser to my thumper. Trying to mimic some of the Jamaican lyne arms I've seen. I have yet to receive the 2" sight glasses so I can finish my 4 sieve plates ,but I was just given a tracking number for the order. I was offered a new SS fuel tank that looked to be 2.5' x 2.5" x 4' that looked real easy to convert for 200 bucks. Need to get this put together first though.
Tōtō

[Bolverk]

20l talls are going to be harder because the small diameter you'll have to find a shorter element, but the concept is the same.

4" diameter column on that small of a charge might not work, sorry I don't have any experience with that.

[Tōtōchtin]

I have 3" pipe not 4" for my column/riser. I want to go 4' (also want to try 3' and 2') up on a 3" riser then 2" to my retort. Trying to mimic the lyne arms on some Jamaican stills. I want to see what the difference would be compared to going to the retort just after a sight glass mounted on top of my boiler.
T

[Bolverk]

Sorry misread that.

Like a tapered riser?
Can you post a pic of what your thinking?

There's a fella named Grim over on stilldragon forums that has some interesting posts on 0-1-2 theoretical plates, part of that is helmets, lyne arms, and thumpers... really interesting stuff. Sorry no links, they are kinda scattered about in different threads. Try searching for "theoretical" you should find them pretty quick.

[NZChris]

I have 3" pipe not 4" for my column/riser. I want to go 4' (also want to try 3' and 2') up on a 3" riser then 2" to my retort. Trying to mimic the lyne arms on some Jamaican stills. I want to see what the difference would be compared to going to the retort just after a sight glass mounted on top of my boiler.
T

Use triclamps at right angles to build a Lego still that is easy to configure for various styles of product. Design the lyne arms to be adjustable from rising to falling so that experimenting is easy.

[Tōtōchtin]

I have beaucoup tri-clamps, I need them to transform it from a pot,to vm,or flute plus two retort/thumpers.
Time is what I'm short of...
Tōtō

[Setsumi]

@TŌTŌ, have you run a strip yet? A spirit run? Use your fun tickets and start. You will soon learn what you like.... but they tell me rum takes time.

[greggn]

@TŌTŌ, have you run a strip yet? A spirit run? Use your fun tickets and start. You will soon learn what you like.... but they tell me rum takes time.

( crickets )

[shadylane]

My question is can you do 3 stripping runs with different formulas and be able to pick out a winner of the 3.

Actually, that's easier than you think.
1st Ya need a brother in law.
Do multiple small stripping runs and save a hearts cut from each.
After extended sampling
What's left over probably wasn't from the best recipe.