Introducing my MICRO-MINI
Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2024 5:27 pm
After many years of debating on the matter and many years of holding off due to cost and all the other mandatory things in life, I finally decided to do the thing that I said I wanted to do nearly 20 years ago. That simple, "huh, it'd be fun to make my own scotch some day" really stuck in the back of my mind.
I have researched it many times over the years and have even had opportunities to borrow some stainless equipment - but I knew it wasn't what I really wanted and wouldn't give me the satisfaction nor answer the question gnawing at the back of my mind all these years... "Can I do that?"
Getting older, watching certain tv shows just to fester the idea granule fermenting deep in my brain, knowing I'm looking at 10 years of aging to do it "right", minimally - I'm sort of running out of time on this rock to have but 1 shot at getting it right. The dark comedy of the whole thing; IT WOULD BE terribly hilarious to fill a quarter cask, wait 10 years and have it be truly awful.
I would sit and use 3D modeling software to model a still and then I would put each piece, dimension specific onto a flat plane so I knew I could get the right size copper sheeting. Knowing I have no tools and no experience and really not much ability. I'm a firm believer in the concept of doing it right the first time and buy it once, buy it for life. I LIKE QUALITY. I didn't really trust myself to build this apparatus and end up with what I know I truly wanted. I wanted this to be something to last generations; to be thought of as more than a still, but rather, a survival tool.
So, this past spring, I finally reached out to a builder and sent them some 3D models, really just feeling it out. After a bit of back and forth and ironing out all the details...
Please know. Before you see this:
Others have tried to talk me out of this idea. The builder tried to get me to change my mind and to do something different. Nearly declined to do the build altogether at one point in the discussion. (Was never hostile, mind you. I just had something in mind and couldn't be talked out of it.)
This past week, my idea was brought into existence. I'm in the pursuit of a simple life goal and on the way to knocking something off the bucket list!!!
- 2 gallon main boiler with 4" tri-clamp for bootlegger cap with 1" lyne arm, reduces to 1/2". thermometer port and pressure relief valve in cap. - 2x .5 gallon thumpers with 2" tri-clamp fruit port. thermometer port. - 1 gallon condenser with 3/4" water house attachments. ~8' 3/8" worm. Full tri-clamps at all attachemnts. 18 gauge / 32oz sheeting
I have read these forums for years even though I was not yet a member. I've read about various builders and the risks. I read the blacklisted and avoided. I read about various buyers remorse posts and have read the opposite side of the coin as well. Here's to hoping this apparatus is everything I've been dreaming of!!!
-MicroMini
I have researched it many times over the years and have even had opportunities to borrow some stainless equipment - but I knew it wasn't what I really wanted and wouldn't give me the satisfaction nor answer the question gnawing at the back of my mind all these years... "Can I do that?"
Getting older, watching certain tv shows just to fester the idea granule fermenting deep in my brain, knowing I'm looking at 10 years of aging to do it "right", minimally - I'm sort of running out of time on this rock to have but 1 shot at getting it right. The dark comedy of the whole thing; IT WOULD BE terribly hilarious to fill a quarter cask, wait 10 years and have it be truly awful.
I would sit and use 3D modeling software to model a still and then I would put each piece, dimension specific onto a flat plane so I knew I could get the right size copper sheeting. Knowing I have no tools and no experience and really not much ability. I'm a firm believer in the concept of doing it right the first time and buy it once, buy it for life. I LIKE QUALITY. I didn't really trust myself to build this apparatus and end up with what I know I truly wanted. I wanted this to be something to last generations; to be thought of as more than a still, but rather, a survival tool.
So, this past spring, I finally reached out to a builder and sent them some 3D models, really just feeling it out. After a bit of back and forth and ironing out all the details...
Please know. Before you see this:
Others have tried to talk me out of this idea. The builder tried to get me to change my mind and to do something different. Nearly declined to do the build altogether at one point in the discussion. (Was never hostile, mind you. I just had something in mind and couldn't be talked out of it.)
This past week, my idea was brought into existence. I'm in the pursuit of a simple life goal and on the way to knocking something off the bucket list!!!
- 2 gallon main boiler with 4" tri-clamp for bootlegger cap with 1" lyne arm, reduces to 1/2". thermometer port and pressure relief valve in cap. - 2x .5 gallon thumpers with 2" tri-clamp fruit port. thermometer port. - 1 gallon condenser with 3/4" water house attachments. ~8' 3/8" worm. Full tri-clamps at all attachemnts. 18 gauge / 32oz sheeting
I have read these forums for years even though I was not yet a member. I've read about various builders and the risks. I read the blacklisted and avoided. I read about various buyers remorse posts and have read the opposite side of the coin as well. Here's to hoping this apparatus is everything I've been dreaming of!!!
-MicroMini