Best small still for Gin - Oakstills.com??

[Summon]

Hi all,

I am looking at the 8gallon potstill from Oakstills.com for gin making and am looking for feedback from experienced distillers. I understand that an exposed heating element may not be the best option as it can cook/burn botanicals? I read here that some use induction cook tops but some of the milk-can style boilers are concave on the bottom. Again anyone familiar with the Oakstill boiler?

Also you can't expose the heating element so I guess you have to stop the run early and discard the remaining maceration?

Are there better options for a Gin still in the 8 gallon range?

Thank You,
Summon

[NZChris]

A lot of folks around here don't use a single still type for making gin. If you want to make gins that require a very clean neutral, you will need to be able to use a reflux still head to make the neutral as well as a suitable pot still head for the style of gin, which may require a basket, or an offset basket if you want to use some of the fancier methods.

[Bushman]

That is a pretty expensive still for making gin. I like the advice you got from NZ on a column for making a neutral and then redistilling in a pot still after using one of the many recipes on the forum for maceration of the botanicals.

[Saltbush Bill]

As above you need more than one still to make gin.....or more correctly 2 different still heads.
A reflux still to producec the neutral base spirit .....then a pot still to distill the gin.
For the gin making part I use a standard electric boiler that comes with the T500 stills.
These boilers have an external element, I can run as little as 4 L of gin maceration in it complete with botanicals without scorching or any other problems.
If I didn't already own it, I would build a small dedicated boiler to sir on a small gas ring .
Do you really want to make 8 gal of gin at one time?
If you make a mistake while learning or experimenting , it's a big mistake to drink.
You might find this post of some use ........ viewtopic.php?t=91162

[MooseMan]

Hi all,

I am looking at the 8gallon potstill from Oakstills.com for gin making and am looking for feedback from experienced distillers. I understand that an exposed heating element may not be the best option as it can cook/burn botanicals? I read here that some use induction cook tops but some of the milk-can style boilers are concave on the bottom. Again anyone familiar with the Oakstill boiler?

Also you can't expose the heating element so I guess you have to stop the run early and discard the remaining maceration?

Are there better options for a Gin still in the 8 gallon range?

Thank You,
Summon

I'd strongly suggest you do more general reading here until you feel fully informed on what you will need.

If you are planning to buy GNS to make your gin, all you need is a still of a few litres capacity, which you can make yourself for a hundred or less.

If you want to make it from scratch, you have a fair bit more reading to do!

[Summon]

A lot of folks around here don't use a single still type for making gin. If you want to make gins that require a very clean neutral, you will need to be able to use a reflux still head to make the neutral as well as a suitable pot still head for the style of gin, which may require a basket, or an offset basket if you want to use some of the fancier methods.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the response. At this point I have no interest in making the neutral myself. I understand that may change and I see the oakstill as something that can grow with me. They have plate style reflux columns that can be added If I decide to go down the vodka/neutral rabbithole.

You have to start somewhere and I’m trying to stay practical with my distilling pursuits. If I was unleashed I would quit my job and dive headfirst into all things spirits while eating nothing but rice, peeled oranges and sleeping on the shop floor.

For me…… making a good gin from bought NGS is a clear obtainable goal.

I know that people ask a lot about distillation heads but my question is more on the boiler side.

If I could throw lots of money at it I would go with a jacketed pot with a boiler.

I guess my question is more this, for Gin, will direct contact with a heating element affect the taste when compared to indirect heat? And is there a small still in the 8 gallon range that offers indirect heat? (Without using gas burner)

[Summon]

That is a pretty expensive still for making gin. I like the advice you got from NZ on a column for making a neutral and then redistilling in a pot still after using one of the many recipes on the forum for maceration of the botanicals.

What kind of post still? Are you talking like a 1-3L alembic with alcohol burner?

What kind of burner should I be looking at for gin?

[Summon]

As above you need more than one still to make gin.....or more correctly 2 different still heads.
A reflux still to producec the neutral base spirit .....then a pot still to distill the gin.
For the gin making part I use a standard electric boiler that comes with the T500 stills.
These boilers have an external element, I can run as little as 4 L of gin maceration in it complete with botanicals without scorching or any other problems.
If I didn't already own it, I would build a small dedicated boiler to sir on a small gas ring .
Do you really want to make 8 gal of gin at one time?
If you make a mistake while learning or experimenting , it's a big mistake to drink.
You might find this post of some use ........ viewtopic.php?t=91162

Bill,
That’s very interesting! I didn’t realize the T500 1) could be used with pot still head 2) had imbedded heating coils.

I think the T500 deserves another look! I want to add a gin basket and pot still type head to whatever I get.

How do you like it? Would you recommend?

[still_stirrin]

Hi all,

I am looking at the 8gallon potstill from Oakstills.com for gin making and am looking for feedback from experienced distillers. I understand that an exposed heating element may not be the best option as it can cook/burn botanicals? I read here that some use induction cook tops but some of the milk-can style boilers are concave on the bottom. Again anyone familiar with the Oakstill boiler?

Also you can't expose the heating element so I guess you have to stop the run early and discard the remaining maceration?

Are there better options for a Gin still in the 8 gallon range?

Thank You,
Summon

Summon, I made a 16 quart (4 gallon) stock pot potstill for gins and other small batch potstill runs. It is very handy when I don’t have enough beer to charge my keg still. The stock pot potstill is heated with a modified hotplate (build hotlink in my signature) and is cooled with a small pond pump that is use in the kitchen sink.

Here’s a shortcut to the “show us your stuff” thread: viewtopic.php?p=7558515#p7558515 (the link is in my signature too. Incidentally, there are many, many great build ideas in that thread as well.

The “build cost” was not excessive (probably on par with those small off-the-shelf Chinese models) but it works great. I can make 2 liters of gin easy with this setup, which for me is good supply at a time. But, this countertop still is useful in many ways and complements the big still very well (a guy has got to have the “right tools for the job”, right?).

I’ve never been a fan of buying a still because I can build one better and have it tailored to my requirements. I guess for the commercial guys, or those who make a lot more at a time than I do, the store bought equipment does become more cost effective and justifiable. Still, I prefer to build over buy personally…it’s how we had to do it before all the commercial stillmakers flooded the market.
ss

[Tōtōchtin]

You could get a 10l boiler like this,throw on a Carter head, and you could be experimenting with your recipes.
Tōtō
If you don't like to build with your hands,Peter there at oak stills could build you what you want if you don't see it there on their site.

[Summon]

Hi all,

I am looking at the 8gallon potstill from Oakstills.com for gin making and am looking for feedback from experienced distillers. I understand that an exposed heating element may not be the best option as it can cook/burn botanicals? I read here that some use induction cook tops but some of the milk-can style boilers are concave on the bottom. Again anyone familiar with the Oakstill boiler?

Also you can't expose the heating element so I guess you have to stop the run early and discard the remaining maceration?

Are there better options for a Gin still in the 8 gallon range?

Thank You,
Summon

I'd strongly suggest you do more general reading here until you feel fully informed on what you will need.

If you are planning to buy GNS to make your gin, all you need is a still of a few litres capacity, which you can make yourself for a hundred or less.


If you want to make it from scratch, you have a fair bit more reading to do!

1) I don’t plan on making my NGS, I don’t know why everyone keeps bringing it up.

2) If I were to build a still, your suggesting I heat it with what? Propane?

[Summon]

You could get a 10l boiler like this,throw on a Carter head, and you could be experimenting with your recipes.
Tōtō
If you don't like to build with your hands,Peter there at oak stills could build you what you want if you don't see it there on their site.

You’re a beautiful man, thank you for the response. Would this be heated with induction?

[MooseMan]

1) I don’t plan on making my NGS, I don’t know why everyone keeps bringing it up.

2) If I were to build a still, your suggesting I heat it with what? Propane?

The tone of your response feels combative, but I'm going to put it down to interpretation and not react to it.

Spend some more time searching through the build threads, look at what others are making gin with on the hobby scale, and think about what you can do with what you have available to you, both in terms of funds, and skills.

[Saltbush Bill]

That’s very interesting! I didn’t realize the T500 1) could be used with pot still head 2) had imbedded heating coils.

I think the T500 deserves another look! I want to add a gin basket and pot still type head to whatever I get.

I see from your reply to another member that you don't intend making your own neutral.
In that case you have no need for a T500 reflux still.......there for you have no need for the boiler.
Might as well just build something out of a stainless cooking pot and run it on gas.

[NZChris]

I have read posts by newbies wanting help because their GNS was too headsy for making gin without being cleaned up first. If your GNS has a hint of nail varnish, you may encounter the same problem.

[howie]

if you intend to buy GNS, there is a couple of options, taking into consideration that you probably don't want to start experimenting with 8 gallons worth of gin.
several of us have small dedicated gin stills, ranging from copper, SS spools, glass etc.
personally i use a chemistry glassware, a 5L boiling flask & chemistry stand over an old camping stove.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/35426236644 ... BMtKaW591i
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/35426236193 ... BM5vyu6N1i
cost me about $200aud altogether.
another alternative is to buy an airstill, doesn't get any simpler.
i know making 4l sounds small, but i can experiment with several different recipes of 2-5L gins easily.
this photo is from a distillery i visited recently, showing some nifty little stills...(i know, plastic tubing lol)

[shadylane]

I don’t plan on making my NGS, I don’t know why everyone keeps bringing it up.

Ya need neutral or at least almost neutral spirits to make good Gin.

[Saltbush Bill]

People are bringing it up because some of then know that some of the things passed off as GNS can be less than ideal.
They know this from past experience..... something that you seem to have little of.
I've seen GNS in 44 gal drums that was as clean as the best I've seen........and I've seen stuff that i wouldn't give my worst enemy to make gin with.
How good is the stuff that you intend buying ?

[greggn]

this photo is from a distillery i visited recently, showing some nifty little stills...)

Did you get close to those boilers ? They appear to be copper pots but the area around the tri-clamp looks like epoxy.

[howie]

this photo is from a distillery i visited recently, showing some nifty little stills...)

Did you get close to those boilers ? They appear to be copper pots but the area around the tri-clamp looks like epoxy.

are you looking at the tri clamp seals?
i didn't get too close to them.

[Oatmeal]

Keep in mind when sizing a boiler for gin making that you can add up to 4 times the botanicals, and then dilute with neutral. Allows for a bigger batch in a smaller boiler...My gin still is just about a gallon.

[SouthwestAl]

Looks like it's mostly all been said, but on the basis that you are buying good quality GNS, then look for something smaller. I think you will have a lot more fun experimenting with smaller batches that you can run, and drink and/or give away to family & friends for feedback, than you will making a large batch.

I would get myself an ornamental copper alembic pot shipped from Portugal, with everything you need, and you will be knocking out 1 litre macerations in around 45 minutes to an hour, which is enough to make a 750ml bottle easily.