How About These Pot Still Options for Brandy?

[Bolverk]

Could I possibly set this up on a 30A 110v circuit and run it at it's rated 2600w and it would possibly work well? They claim the heating is very uniform...

I'm not sure if you're in the US or not, but a 30A 110v is not something I've ever seen, also doesn't make a whole lot of sense, if you're going to go through the cost and expenses of placing that kind of circuit you may as well do a standard 25 or 30A 220v and have the ability to run a 4500w or 5500w element.

[Tōtōchtin]

If you have enough funtickets I would buy a still now looking back. I agree that if you build one you will know it. The time it takes to build one you could be playing ,making mistakes and learning more. If I had 5000 funtickets to waste I would start with a boiler something like this and add on to want I want.
https://oakstills.com/products/jacketed ... ill-boiler

Since you got the funds, start with getting your shed permitted for 240vac. While you're doing that keep reading, and stealing from other designs. Then call Peter at oakstills to build you exactly what you want. Then after playing with it for a few years order what you really want and need. Unless you're a scavenger and work well with your hands, this is not a hobby for those with limited funds.
Tōtō

[zach]

Brandy can mean a lot of things. Everyone thinks cognac, but there are so much more once you go down the rabbit hole. Slivovitz, Kirsch, Grappa, Pisco, Pere and so on.

Most cognac producers do distill the lees, which requires a boiler design that doesn't scorch. Most of the other fruit brandies , include the pulp and the wine in the boiler for the stripping run for a more flavorful product.

All of these brandies are double distilled (except Pisco).

For the stripping run, methods to avoid scorching are direct external fire with an agitator or false bottom, a steam jacket, or steam injection. If you are going to run only cleared and pressed wine, then the internal electric is ok for the stripping run.

For the spirit run, the internal electric is likely the best choice for most. In my area electric is so expensive, propane is cheaper, even with a 50% heating efficiency. The other advantage of propane is I can run at 10 or 15 kw power input on the stripping run rather than 5.5 kw on electric, so it takes less time.

If you purchase an electric boiler now, you can always add a steam generator in the future which will allow solids in the boiler with steam injection.

[jonnys_spirit]

I agree that getting 240V @ 30A into your shed will be appreciated and even 240V @ 60A if you can swing it.

I run lots of grape based product because I make wine. I'll run straight wine for a pure grape based brandy and I'll also make Grappa. One thing i've found is that macerating pressed grape skins in low wines, hearts, feints and adding that liquid in for a spirit run is good for your flavor as well as putting grape skins in the vapor path like you might for a gin and using brandy or grappa low wines or even hearts as a base spirit. If you want to stretch it a little and use sugar for some runs the maceration and infusion can help...

I have a small 2.5 gallon alembic that I'll run hearts through sometimes on a 1.2kW hotplate with skins in the column for vapor infusion.

Cheers,
jonny

[shadylane]

I would start with a boiler something like this and add on to want I want.
https://oakstills.com/products/jacketed ... ill-boiler

Since you got the funds, start with getting your shed permitted for 240vac. While you're doing that keep reading, and stealing from other designs.
Tōtō

I really like that boiler
Kinda expensive but it's sexier than anything I could build.

[MotoJB]

Thanks for the continued input guys!

Another quesiton please -- can you use a jacketed stainless boiler (everything else being copper), and still make good brandy? Or would it be a mistake not getting a copper boiler?

[Salt Must Flow]

Thanks for the continued input guys!

Another quesiton please -- can you use a jacketed stainless boiler (everything else being copper), and still make good brandy? Or would it be a mistake not getting a copper boiler?

If I had to guess, I'd say most people have stainless boilers and do just fine. There are many ways to add copper either in the boiler and/or in the vapor path.

A jacketed boiler ensures scorching cannot occur. Steam stripping does also. Again, most people just use a basic boiler, heat over flame, an internal element or a hot plate (smaller stills).

[jonnys_spirit]

Thanks for the continued input guys!

Another quesiton please -- can you use a jacketed stainless boiler (everything else being copper), and still make good brandy? Or would it be a mistake not getting a copper boiler?

If you're in it for the long haul and not kicking tires, I'd suggest copper boiler and vapor path wherever possible. Jacketed with a mixer is even better and will provide more flexibility. Buy once, cry once

SS is completely satisfactory too and you can add copper bits to the boiler and vapor path if you want...

Cheers,
jonny

[Stircrazy]

I like still #1 myself. that will give you the most flavor from any of those setups, but it will not be quite as forgiving as the ones with more hight so you have to watch it a little closer

[adamf]

Once you purchase from a vendor, you rely on the vendor for support and/or replacment parts. If the vendor goes away, or is bought out, you would then rely on an unknown for parts and service. Guage the vendors in this thread not only on their products, but their ability to support you as enevitably you will need parts and service. Although you want to save time by buying a stand-alone solution, making your own aparatus with available parts or even combining stand-alone with home-made, over the long haul, is a wholesome plan. Patience is a major component in this art. Example: compare a white brandy to one that's aged for two-three years.