My first sugar wash run

[roxtar]

I ran my first sugar wash using a Vodka Pure Turbo yeast and thought I would post how things went. BTW, I wish I would have found this forum before using the Turbo yeast.

My setup was using a propane burner, keg shell as my boil pot, and a VM reflux.

Cleaning Runs: After building my still I initially thought a water run would clean it out significantly but there was no way that would have been enough. The first collections (~30 mL) using water came out greyish blue and very dark and very dirty. After that they began to get cleaner but still had a blueish tint to them and were slightly cloudy. They also smelled somewhat like cardboard which I think had to do with my cork gasket on the keg overhanging too much in the vapor and needed to be trimmed back. I never did get to a clear runoff with the water run.

Next I ran a mixture of 1 Gallon Vinegar / 1 Gallon Water. This also started off with a blueish tint but eventually cleared up. I also sprayed out the still with a hose after this run.

Next I bought a cheap bottle of vodka (1.75 L) mixed with 3.5 L water and ran it through. It ran through very clear and I saved the runnings (not sure if I want to mess with these although I think they should be fine).

Fermentation: Used a brew belt to keep the temperature up to above 80 F as the turbo yeast recommended. The fermentation went crazy for the first few days and I distilled after 6 days.

Wash (~6 Gallons): The wash was very cloudy (I didn't use a clearing agent) and smelled very sour. I used a carboy siphon to transfer the wash to the keg so the sediment at the bottom didn't transfer to the boil pot. Now for the distilling.

Distilling: Took about 30 minutes to heat up to 170 F. Then refluxed at 100% for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes adjusted my reflux and collection needle valves so I had a steady drip from my collection tube. Discarded the first 100 mL as fore shots. Collected the next 200 mL as heads, and collected 2.4 L at around 84% ABV measured using an alcometer. The temperature stayed pretty constant during this time at around 169.5. At this time it was after midnight and I'd thought I was nearing the end of my collection anyway so I opened up the collection valve more. The ABV dropped to 60 for the next 150 mL and then 50 for the final 150 mL. This was when I just shut the still down (sleepy time).

The distillate smelled slightly sour like a less potent version of the wash which is what I assume most people refer to when they talk about the turbo yeasts. It came off very clear so I don't think that a clearing agent is necessary.

Post-distilling: I plan on soaking in activated carbon for a day (I need some for the weekend). Then I'll cut down to 40% ABV using store bought distilled water.

Feel free to post critique and advice.

Question I had: I put 4 copper pot scrubbers in my column. If I increase the number of pot scrubbers in my column will that likely increase my ABV of my collections?

[toofless one]

definitely add more scrubbers. pure SS or pure Copper. it should add abv. be careful, some of the copper ones are just copper COATED. get the pure ones. the box should tell you if its copper coated or solid copper.

[rad14701]

Welcome to the forums, roxtar...

Sounds like you've been bitten by the turbo yeast greed routine... Scrap the turbo yeast and give one of the Tried and True recipes a try and you'll be surprised at how easy it can be to attain good results... Pushing for high %ABV wash is the crux of the problem...

Both my Gerber and All Bran recipes will ferment in as little as 3 days to 14%, using bakers yeast, and will produce clean spirits with a single reflux distillation run - without clearing agents or activated carbon... Prepare the wash, ferment, let the solids settle, rack into the boiler, distill making proper cuts, let air, blend, and optionally age on oak if you aren't after neutral spirits... Oh, and all ingredients can be sourced at the local grocery store rather than lining the pockets of the folks at the brew shops...

We love still porn if you have pictures of your rig...

Good luck...