Hello from the land of Scotch (and the Scots)

[Crow River]

I have been reading this forum for quite a while, thought I may as well register.

Have made my own wine for a number of years, and started using an air still a couple of years ago to produce various fruit "brandies", including "calvados" and slivovitz. Also a few moonshine type spirits. Recently purchased a reflux still, not used to make alcohol yet, just a water run to check for leaks. As soon as I have a birdwatcher's wash ready for the sacrificial run, I will start in earnest.

Mainly I see distilling as an extension of my home brewing, but I've really got into it over the past year or so, and like to experiment making spirits from seasonal fruit. Also the government imposed minimum unit alcohol pricing a few years back, so there's added incentive to make better spirits as well as wine and beer at home.

Probably won't post much, there's so much valuable information here already I doubt I would add much knowledge. But it's good to feel like a small part of the community here.

[Reefer1]

Welcome to the club CR.
Lots of us came down the same journey, yes loads of help here, feel free to post on your distilling journey no judgement here, just info opinions and help.
Out of interest which still did you go for ??.

[MooseMan]

Welcome Crow River.

Don't feel that you can't add value just because there are so many experienced distillers here already.

The more people involved in a discussion, the more we learn.

Enjoy the forum

Moose

[8Ball]

Welcome aboard, CR!

[Bradster68]

Welcome to the club

[Crow River]

Welcome to the club CR.
Lots of us came down the same journey, yes loads of help here, feel free to post on your distilling journey no judgement here, just info opinions and help.
Out of interest which still did you go for ??.

That's gracious of you. I might contribute if I think it would be useful. I've got so much to learn yet.

As for the still, just a Chinese stainless steel effort. I very nearly went for a Polish made still with a tall copper column, but as I'm still basically working in the kitchen at home I needed something that would fit under the cooker extraction hood.

Mainly I went for a new still due to the capacity restrictions of an air still. Fine for very small batches, but after a few stripping runs for 20-30 litre washes, I realised I needed something with a bigger pot. My new purchase has a 22 litre pot, so I should hopefully manage maybe 15 litres at a time safely without it puking. The column is relatively short, but features a dephlegmator and there is a separate Liebig condenser. I suppose if I wanted to run it as a pot still I can just not cool the dephlegmator. I can see that a larger pot will save a bit on energy costs as well as being more time efficient.

Birdwatcher's wash should be ready in a week, I'll do a vinegar run first then the alcohol should get rid of any residual contaminants. Then I have rhubarb moonshine, bramble "brandy", and eventually another batch of "calvados" to run through.

In the longer term I'll try making neutrals and vodka, something I can't really do properly with the air still. Also perhaps the spirits will be a bit cleaner with a water cooled condenser.

[Crow River]

Welcome Crow River.

Don't feel that you can't add value just because there are so many experienced distillers here already.

The more people involved in a discussion, the more we learn.

Enjoy the forum

Moose

Very kind of you to say so. I always have plenty of opinions ( ) but as a relative newbie I shall refrain from commenting on topics I know little about...

[Crow River]

Welcome aboard, CR!

Thanks!

[Crow River]

Welcome to the club

Cheers!