My first run

[Housemoney]

I alluded to it in my welcome post.

Got my first “still” 2nd hand, and it was one of the 5 gallon Chinese stills from Amazon. Armed with the knowledge I had obtained from watching Master Distillers and watching YouTube videos, I did the cleaning run. Figured out how to use adjust the little condenser after it overflowed a couple of times.

I was ready to make whiskey, because that’s what I drink. Got the brew bags and an all in one whiskey kit from an online seller.

Started after work one night, and I was drinking. If you can imagine a half drunk guy trying to sparge grains in the kitchen when he had never done it before, you can predict how bad it went. I think half of my mash ended up on my kitchen floor.

Ran what I had, but had no knowledge on airing, aging. It was drinkable, but not good.

It got me hooked and I’m on gen 5 of UJSSM with a keg still.

[Saltbush Bill]

That is a funny but not unfamiliar story......I don t think you are or will be the last to enter the hobby in a similar fashion.
What I like most about your post is that you have already found that taking advice and ideas from Youtube and TV shows is the wrong way to learn about this hobby.
You've found a a good reliable source of information now so all should be good

[Wildcats]

Congratulations on your first run. Never a good idea to try to do a run while drunk. Safety first.

[Housemoney]

Congratulations on your first run. Never a good idea to try to do a run while drunk. Safety first.

That’s why I start running in the morning now.

[Housemoney]

Just bought a 15 gallon barrel! This may be a problem.

[Yummyrum]

Just bought a 15 gallon barrel! This may be a problem.

It sure will be . Send it to me

[subbrew]

Just bought a 15 gallon barrel! This may be a problem.

The only problem I see is hauling around all the grain you will need to mash to fill it. 80 # of grain gets me about 2.25 to 2.5 gallons of aging alcohol so if you want a bit extra for top up that would be mashing 450 to 500# of grain. You have a few long days ahead of you. But if 4 years or so you will have a lot to show for it.

[Housemoney]

I’m going to do SCD’s crow bourbon in 20 gallon mashers using his easy large mash method. Very informative thread.

[Deplorable]

Just bought a 15 gallon barrel! This may be a problem.

The only problem I see is hauling around all the grain you will need to mash to fill it. 80 # of grain gets me about 2.25 to 2.5 gallons of aging alcohol so if you want a bit extra for top up that would be mashing 450 to 500# of grain. You have a few long days ahead of you. But if 4 years or so you will have a lot to show for it.

I think he bought a 15 gallon HDPE barrel for a fermenter.

[sadie33]

congrats on the first run!! It does seem wrong to be stillin' and not drinkin', but the two def. don't mix!!

[subbrew]

I think he bought a 15 gallon HDPE barrel for a fermenter.

And here I was inspired by such dedication and taking on the challenge. The 15 gallon Gibbs can be his next challenge.