Blue booger

[Ramblinleo]

So, after a spirit run with a new recipe, I started to see these "blue boogers" appear in some of the later jars. My thought is that it's some oxide off of the copper. Any body who's dealt with this before; am I correct about what it is?, can this be filtered out?, If so, can I keep it for adding to the final spirit?, if not, is the entire run bad? Thanks for any help or advice anybody can offer. I'll try to add a photo as well.

[Yummyrum]

Yes it is common with grain based spirits when doing a stripping run .It shows up as you go deeper into tails .
Some folk prefer to filter them out . I don't worry about it .It won't come over into your spirit run .

[Ramblinleo]

It came out in the tails of my spirit run. Is distillate collected before that ok to proceed to tasting?

[shadylane]

So, after a spirit run with a new recipe, I started to see these "blue boogers" appear in some of the later jars. My thought is that it's some oxide off of the copper. Any body who's dealt with this before; am I correct about what it is?, can this be filtered out?, If so, can I keep it for adding to the final spirit?, if not, is the entire run bad? Thanks for any help or advice anybody can offer. I'll try to add a photo as well.

Blue buggers are common on stripping runs, but not so much on the tails of a spirit run.
Did you clean the still after the last strip to get rid of build up in the downhill side of the lyne arm and condenser?
To answer your question, don't mix anything that isn't perfectly clear into the hearts.

[Yummyrum]

It came out in the tails of my spirit run. Is distillate collected before that ok to proceed to tasting?

Oh yes sorry I missed that . Yeah , you wouldn't want to keep that anyway . Would be too far into tails and taste like crap anyway , however you should keep it as feints to add to your next Spirit run of similar spirit .

But the jars before would be fine .

[PalCabral]

It came out in the tails of my spirit run. Is distillate collected before that ok to proceed to tasting?

Just out of curiosity, were you running harder at the point in time when the blue "boogers" started appearing? When I am running spirit runs and start collecting feints I tend to increase the energy I put into the boiler. That would be a reason why they appeared late in the run.

[Ramblinleo]

Yes, I was, for the same reason you describe.

[PalCabral]

Yes, I was, for the same reason you describe.

Happened to me too. You've got a copper onion in your set up?

[Copperhead road]

You've got a copper onion in your set up?

That is the next thing on my wish list, the 6” to 4” whiskey helmets (onions) are pretty pricey….

[PalCabral]

You've got a copper onion in your set up?

That is the next thing on my wish list, the 6” to 4” whiskey helmets (onions) are pretty pricey….

They are not cheap, that’s for sure, Copper. Mine is 4” to 4”, 30cm x 30cm.

[Ramblinleo]

I don't. Would love to one day.

[Copperhead road]

You've got a copper onion in your set up?

That is the next thing on my wish list, the 6” to 4” whiskey helmets (onions) are pretty pricey….

They are not cheap, that’s for sure, Copper. Mine is 4” to 4”, 30cm x 30cm.

Pal, i’m not 100% sure of the rules about recommending brands, if it’s okay just post what crowd you bought yours off or alternatively send me a private message.
I’ve only heard you say good things about the quality of your copper onion.
I definitely % want to order one.

Hopefully they make a whiskey helmet 6” to 4“

[PalCabral]

Pal, i’m not 100% sure of the rules about recommending brands, if it’s okay just post what crowd you bought yours off or alternatively send me a private message.
I’ve only heard you say good things about the quality of your copper onion.
I definitely % want to order one.

Hopefully they make a whiskey helmet 6” to 4“

Maybe I am wrong but I see recommendations of sales channels and links/photos all the time, so I'm sure it is okey to share where you have bought things, Copper. Admins will correct me if I'm wrong, if so I apologize. I bought my onion at Oakstills. I asked specifically to not have an thermometer in the onion. Oakstills have very competitive prices, generally below what you find in Ali and definitely better prices than Amazon, from my experience, but better yet, they are serious, they have a professional customer service and they speak English. If they dont have what you need in the shop, contact Peter at the customer service, they can often make a special for you.

As I mentioned to Username in another thread, copper onions are for pot still running and perhaps best at spirit runs. I am still very torn whether to use it for stripping runs or not, as I have noticed that pushing the power up seems not to be the way to go with onions. If I am running smaller volumes, 25L, for stripping or the mash has sulphites, like my fruit mashes where I use campden powder to stop any wild yeast growth, I will use the onion in the stripping run and just accept that it will take a bit longer. For grain mashes I will typically run strippings without it.

Are you running mostly one and done's with the plated column or double pot still distillations, Copper?

[Copperhead road]

Pal, i’m not 100% sure of the rules about recommending brands, if it’s okay just post what crowd you bought yours off or alternatively send me a private message.
I’ve only heard you say good things about the quality of your copper onion.
I definitely % want to order one.

Hopefully they make a whiskey helmet 6” to 4“

Maybe I am wrong but I see recommendations of sales channels and links/photos all the time, so I'm sure it is okey to share where you have bought things, Copper. Admins will correct me if I'm wrong, if so I apologize. I bought my onion at Oakstills. I asked specifically to not have an thermometer in the onion. Oakstills have very competitive prices, generally below what you find in Ali and definitely better prices than Amazon, from my experience, but better yet, they are serious, they have a professional customer service and they speak English. If they dont have what you need in the shop, contact Peter at the customer service, they can often make a special for you.

As I mentioned to Username in another thread, copper onions are for pot still running and perhaps best at spirit runs. I am still very torn whether to use it for stripping runs or not, as I have noticed that pushing the power up seems not to be the way to go with onions. If I am running smaller volumes, 25L, for stripping or the mash has sulphites, like my fruit mashes where I use campden powder to stop any wild yeast growth, I will use the onion in the stripping run and just accept that it will take a bit longer. For grain mashes I will typically run strippings without it.

Are you running mostly one and done's with the plated column or double pot still distillations, Copper?
Thanx a lot Pal, I will contact Oakstills today, I intend to use the onion all the time no matter what I’m doing.

I had been speaking with some one from Stillsmith
https://www.stillsmiths.com.au/

[Copperhead road]

I don’t know what happened above but my text come out with yours Pal,

As for your question, I really do one and done with my 5 plated column. Even for neutral I will double distillation to get a better snowflake neutral.

I’m actually run my plated column as a giant pot still, I leave the RC on but no water to it. I do this for two reasons.,

# firstly for my back I like to collect at waste height

# secondly because I love running with the parrot

So I’d use my onion at all times.
I will contact Oakstill and have them fabricate my whiskey helmet, Stillsmith is too expensive.

https://www.stillsmiths.com.au/

Awhile ago, I was going to get them to make me a pot still, they’re .................... L boiler with witches hat and pot still came to 65K
I only wanted a 150 L boiler but 300L is the smallest baby boiler they make….

They would not supply a boiler that i could run on gas so i canned the operation.

Their equipment is all handmade in Tasmania and it’s gorgeous Work but it’s very pricey.

[Yummyrum]

Might want to reacquaint yourself with the rules Cooper . In particular , this one .

In our view 30 US gallons and under is considered hobby size. (Approx 25 Imperial gallons or 113.5 litres). Do not bring anything larger than this to our site. Legal distillers can talk about larger boilers in the Craft Distiller forums. #

[Copperhead road]

Might want to reacquaint yourself with the rules Cooper . In particular , this one .

In our view 30 US gallons and under is considered hobby size. (Approx 25 Imperial gallons or 113.5 litres). Do not bring anything larger than this to our site. Legal distillers can talk about larger boilers in the Craft Distiller forums. #

Yup fair enough Mr yummy

[Bee]

Generally, Blue Boogers indicate a pH problem and verdigris somewhere in the column, usually the PC. It's easier to clean if you can mechanically scrub it out like with a brush.