12 years ago I bought a book on distilling in anticipation of making my own hootch in Costa Rica. I read, highlighted, and bookmarked (dead tree version) it.
Along the way to now I met a crotchety old guy here who had a fractioning column still (5 gal keg, 2" columns with column top cross condenser and a shotgun condenser. his only recipe is a sugar wash for rocket fuel). In the couple dozens runs I've done with him, I have been the slow-cousin assistant. Our last couple of runs had to be abandoned for equipment problems and I began researching what the heck was going on (faulty thermometer at the column head but we didn't know that then.
As I researched the issue, I began to realize that he knew nothing about equilibrium (well highlighted in my old book) and that he was unwilling to experiment to reach it, or with beer stripping/pot still operations (for my hootch-making dreams). I also realized how little I knew and how much I wanted my own rig.
I'm almost ready to order one.
Thank you all for being here,
Chuck
My name is Chuck
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