Next step

[American newbie]

Ok guys. So I started off with an air still. And a birdwatchers mash for the last few months (don't judge me) I have read and learned as much as I think I can. After many batches of this foul smelling pasta. I think I am ready to graduate to a better setup. I have learned though to ask the experts for guidance. Should I start changing my recipes or changing my setup? Right now I am patient and run a stripping run first of course. But my end product is good but worth putting a label on. If I upgrade my setup and loose the air still what route do you recommend? Please keep it simple. I am actually someone taking it slow and following all the advice given.

[Copperhead road]

Hi American newbie, a beer keg boiler and pot still will serve you well as an upgrade

[MooseMan]

Yes, a size upgrade would be the first thing I'd recommend.
A keg is an ideal size and very commonly used but you have other options for a boiler.

Then put together a simple pot still head with Tri clamp parts, and make a Liebig.

[Bradster68]

Air stills are nice. Great for starting out!. And experimenting with small batches., absolutely up your boiler size. You won't regret it

Edited.. personally, I wouldn't go anything smaller than 10 gallon

[Salt Must Flow]

A basic pot still is a good place to start.

How big of a boiler (how many gallons) is up to you. A 15.5 gal keg is good size and can usually be found locally for a very reasonable price.

What method of heating the still are you most interested in? Gas, 120V or 240V?

[shadylane]

Should I start changing my recipes or changing my setup? Right now I am patient and run a stripping run first of course. But my end product is good but worth putting a label on.

Keep working on the recipe and process while looking for the best deal or way to build a better rig.
Experience is best learned on the small scale, when you have that you will be ready for a bigger and better setup.
Long story short, there's more to be learned by many small attempts of varying successes than there is one big failure.

[Steve Broady]

I will tentatively agree that a somewhat larger still is probably high on the list of priorities. The bigger the batch, the easier it is to make small changes and learn, but of course it also means more time and space and expense.

The big questions are, how much space do you have? What’s your budget? What do you WANT to make? There are a lot of factors that go into deciding how to proceed.

[shadylane]

There are a lot of factors that go into deciding how to proceed.

Such as heat the source be it electric, natural gas or propane.
Next is access to running water and a drain.
But most important is how big and how often the still is going to be used.

[American newbie]

I have no space literally boys I live in a caravan, a nice caravan and I am a single bloke but space is an issue. Running water is a problem. Patience and learning is not. My heat source would be electric or propane and water is difficult usually brought in. One of the reasons for using an air still. As far as how often right now I run at least a gallon batch every night either a stripping run or a spirit run. I've gotten consistent results. I take 900 mills of stripping then out of a gallon trash the first 50 save the next 100 for my stripping jar keep 600 of hearts save 300 tails into the next stripping jar. I'm ready to advance some either with recipe or setup. But being comfortable with both id like some guidance.

[shadylane]

... Running water is a problem....My heat source would be electric or propane and water is difficult usually brought in. One of the reasons for using an air still.

Maybe build a bigger and better airstill.
Use finned tubing and a fan to make an aircooled condenser.

[Copperhead road]

You’re extremely limited with space in caravan, I could not imagine trying to run all my equipment at a van site.
Good luck with the air stilling, I think once you advance in the hobby the air stills will grow old quickly and you will be looking for more real estate and still upgrade.
Fermenters take up room as well.
At least your happy for now.

[OtisT]

+1 to Shadeylane’s advice to stay focused on recipes/fermenting. Stay focused on the ferment because that is where the art is. Long after you become an expert on your first, second and third stills, you’ll still be learning about fermenting, aging and polishing your spirits.

You can make good spirits on just about any still, but if your ferment is just so so, your spirits will be so so.

[American newbie]

I was really hoping that is the way the advice would go. Any advice on a good step up from the birdwatchers mash?

[Saltbush Bill]

You seem to be basing your cuts on amounts every time.
You'd be better off using multiple small jars and using taste and smell as a guide to cuts.

[Copperhead road]

I was really hoping that is the way the advice would go. Any advice on a good step up from the birdwatchers mash?

Check out the tried and true recipes here on forum mate.

[quadra]

This^ have a look at Ted's fast ferment vodka it should be an easy next step.

[OtisT]

Rum is really easy next step, and very flavorful.

Pick one of the tried & true recipes, read that thread to the end before you start, then follow those directions. Repeat until you get it right, then move on.