Home Distiller

I have only seen sparks in a microwave oven from two things... my mom's china with a pure silver trim, and the foil butter wrappers. I cook with metal in my dishes sometimes (spoons, forks), and I have even cooked in stainless bowls. What does that do? Blocks the microwave energy, making it take a LOT longer to heat up.

If you are using glass only, with no foil, gold, or silver, you should never have a spark in your microwave...

Micro waving cd's is fun. When they are done the cd's have what looks like lightning patterns on them.

If you must employ software engineers, never let them get bored.


I may have to give this a shot... If nobody blows up in the next few weeks I will try it with my next batch of MitchyBourbon.

Cheers

Test started. Two 1 quarts very young whiskey of the still. Both filled for 3/4'th. One goes into the micro. For 2 minutes at 750 or 600 watts. Lid on. Cool. again. Three times. Other mason is emptied in the ultrasonic cleaner. Will get four runs. Two initial ones without bubbles, then two more with bubbles.

I guess I will let them cool after that.

Tasting is for later tonight.

Keep you all posted.

Odin.

my sweet feed after 3 runs through the microwave alan

Going to follow Odin's foot steps and start experimenting with ultra sonic cleaners. Just purchased this on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DSA50SE-SK2-FUL ... OC:US:3160" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

It's 3l which will allow me to do about a 1/2 gallon at a time.

I am surprised that no one so far has mentioned the micro with wine as the base. I have been doing that for years now (muscodine loves charred pecan!). In addition to sealing the jars it has a high enough temp to kill any remaining yeast and negates potassium sorbate. If using spirits what is wrong with simply sealing the top of the jar with plastic wrap to contain the vapors? Yes I know the talk of using such being bad for you but there are those who would say the use of microwave is as well in general! The biggest concern I would have is in being selective in the glass used, canning jars are intended for use in boiling water baths and should not break fromuse in the microwave.
Now, to expand the conversation with an idea I have been working on, and from my brewing roots not wine this time, what about the use of carbon dioxide pressuring up my Cornelius kegs in which I have my spirits and oak. The same principal as the microwave as far as "pushing" the spirit into the oak. I am going to force carbonate some specifically for bottling into longnecks. Cant wait to "pop a top" for one of my beer buddies to try!

To be safe Odin, I would leave the lids off when in nuker.

Ultrasonic treatment is best done with lid on. Micro treatment (the phase in the micro oven) with the lid off.

Doing last rounds as we speak.

Odin.

I have to admit I have enjoyed this method very verrryyy much, My UJSSM with med charred/toasted cube and vanilla bean..... O M G Ive fallen in love with this hobby over and over again multiple times now... Its amazing

What type of vanilla bean are you all using?

Okay a verdict on testing how product ages. Nuclear versus Ultrasonic. Difficult. Very close. But Nuclear wins out. Smoother product. Given the amount of energy thrown at it (750 watts vs 50 watts) ... makes sense. Two more reasons to choose Microwave ageing:
1. Everyone already has one;
2. You can extract wood flavours as well.

One big point against the microwave is the inherent safety questions. Another one is that more likker evaporates in the microwave process.

But ... given the fact I just made me some whiskey, so, how will I age it? In the microwave. No doubt about that.

Thanks FS,

Odin.

It's been suggested that a 125 proof or 62.5 abv product be used for this procedure... it was explained that at 62.5 the ethanol / H2O ratio is perfect for removing the best components from the chips, staves, chunks or dominoes.

I would love you hear more of your thoughts regarding this?

Give this a try and see if it improves the procedure and improves the character of the product for your personal taste profile.

Happy Stillin,

FS

I'd love to try this, but I just don't have the stomach for it. I'm a scary cat

BD, go ahead and try. As long as end warmth of the likker stays close to 50 degrees C, you will be fine.

FS, 62.5% is a common practice for ageing on wood. But with them JD chips you have more choices. 62.5% for more tanines and a more complex taste ... after som more ageing. 55 to 50% for a vanilla touch that's much quicker to be drank.

My take on it.

Odin.

Blind Drunk

I don't think you have anything to worry about try it at 125proof.... Odin just finished a test with it and there have been hundreds of distillers try in at this point with no issues to date.. One poster put 170+ abv in the micro and miss set the timer to 3 minutes and boiled a lot of product off with no issues....

I look forward to hearing about your results...

Happy Stillin,

FS

Odin,

I knew that people aged at various abv for tannins and vanilla's to develop this is the part of the work in progress (the nuclear ageing part) that we will need in the long run... as it progresses I will suggest a chart of some type for the results as they come in...

But when its all said and done tasting is an individual process and we should make what we like, and what our friends and family enjoy.

Happy Stillin

FS

As someone who worked in the insurance industry, I learned that to start a fire you need something that burns, oxygen and an ignition. Alcohol burns, oxygen is there, but fortunately no ignition. Don't smoke & microwave at the same time and you will be fine. On the other hand ... forgetting about it, boiling off product, that don't sound good. From a hazard point a view. Not just talking about losses in booz.

Odin.

I'm going to try the nuked whiskey. Thought you might get a kick out of :
http://amasci.com/weird/microexp.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

OHH NOOO MR BILL Heartcut, thank you for sharing the microwave blows crap up link... a few people are driving me somewhat about the fire thing but I am trying to be but occasionally a slips out and i again have to be

I think you will have fun if you give it a try. A few pointers

125 proof spirits for the process .... this is developing suggestion from a distillery .... so i will now suggest this as a starting point...

minus 10 pts abv if you want more vanilla flavor

up to plus 10pts abv if you want more oak, wood or more complex ageing flavors

taste it between cycles after the 2 or 3rd one to develop your spirits to your taste profile

when you get it where you like it .... get it off the chips, chunks, staves or dominoes.

Cut it to your drinking abv and filter the finished product.....

and ENJOY

IF you overdo it for some reason... to many chips to many cycles... just put it back in the boiler and redistill and try again or dilute it with unaged spirit to fit your taste profile.

I am working up a general instruction sheet and will post it by the weekend.

Happy Stillin,

FS

Well I am sold, the stuff I did 2 nights ago is amazing. Better than store bought that's for sure. Lots of flavours in there.

Did anyone pick up on my comment regarding plastic wrap over the jar during nuking? What about pressure as in kegging?

plastic wrap or a screw on plastic lid anything not metal... would work OH crap do we have plastic police here hope not.... would not make it tight during the heat cycle though I think heads do come off the product... of course none of my stuff would have any heads in it... give it a try

not guilty your honor i didn't use no stinkin plastic

Just took some local micro distillery white dog that I bought to support the small guy but in reality not as good as home made so I nuked it, will wait give it 2 more treatments and see what happens.

this thread makes me sad...

If its because you don't know how to use a microwave, I can write up a short instructable for you sir?

You can go fu(edited to be make a little nicer forum)ell.

This kind of garbage is beneath the dignity of HD.

just my 2 cents.

I'm done with this thread.

smellya later

Whoa new guys. Show and have a little respect. JD has been around helping guys like you before you were sipping your first beer.

JD from me, We still love ya! I personally like to encourage new and different thinking. Where would we be if Al Gore had not invented the internet? lol

This is my first thread here at HD. JYD I am sorry you feel that way... I actually brought the idea here to HD because I thought that the members here deserved to have the concept shared with them, for their personal use and enjoyment.

Whether you think about the concept, or use the concept makes no difference to me personally. As far as its use or future use no one knows, but i believe i did the correct thing in sharing the information with the good people who participate here.

Happy Stillin

FS

I did approve this post Kinda straddling the fence myself on this one..Figure we will learns something either way.Will be either try this or top the list on things Not to do. Time and member participation will tell the tale . you fokes play nice now .