Home Distiller

Anyone else read this book? I havent read the whole thing, but I Have read enough...... First off I found this quote interesting: " Pot stills are too rudementary in design and do not afford sufficient sepperation of the mash compounds to make a good quality whiskey. For this reason, they are never recommended for the production of beverage alcohol anymore" What the hell does that mean????

I am a novice at mashing grain, and I did find his portion on mashing grain and making washes to be informational.
He talks about sour mash, and adding backset, adding all the backset from the run... Not just a gallon or 2. It will bring the ph down as low as 3 or so. This may cause a slow ferment but thats ok, as it will add alot of character. And when Doing a UJSM style wash, it is very important to get the ph down, around the 4.5-5 mark to get any conversion of the corn starches.
Interesting.

He recommends using the LM reflux still that he has instrucitons to build in the book from a water heater. Yes, the whole 12 gal electric water heater. He teaches you how to modify it and fit it with a LM collumn. There are step by step instrucitons on how to still yer corn mash with this water heater and reflux still. Being as how I have a nice LM reflux, I am going to try stilling some whiskey with it, hell if it works like he says, should be good right? He has tips on using head temps for making cuts (which I find bogus) but hell, its worth a try. He talks about making neutral, and running yer still during the hearts run for 36+ hours UNATTENDED! Now when I get into my hearts run when making neutral, yes I will walk away for a bit, and come back and check every so often. He says, set it and forget it, go to bed/work or whatever, and come back about the time you calculate yer hearts run to be over... NO F****ing way! Im gonna keep reading, and I will post other things I find, Others that have read the book, (or anyone for that matter) feel free to comment on this.

MK

What the hell does that mean????

What that means, is that no matter how much hype he gets over the internet, over publication of his 'book', he really don't know nearly as much as people give him credit for.

H.

Thats scary. Most people are gonna read this book for guidence. They wont know the difference, and make one more statistic against the move for legal home distilling.

Okay...it's confession time.
On the week of our outing to the south, I ordered the Ian Smiley book and even paid an extra 2.00 for quick shipping...sigh
Im thinking: "Cool! I finally get to read this book that everyone talks about. I bet he's sharper than a 1000 dollar whore and twice the pleasure!"

So Im by the pool, wishing for some of my whiskey and then I get to the part about the water heater...and the only thing I can think is " Thats the best he can come up with? " WTF...

So Im not the only one who thought this book was a total letdown? Im not bashing him. His writing is okay and he seems technical, but there really wasnt that much to it. It was liking watching a made-for-tv movie of this site...except with more primitive technology.

Yeah....That water heater was pretty ghetto.... All The hype, I guess made it a worse let down.

that was one of the first books I read on making whiskey ... Yep pretty disapionted... There are some good tips in there but I must agree when I saw the part about the water heater.... I thought damn...
Oh well... then I found this forum and learned all the good stuff.

I think most folks silently write the purchase off as being ripped of by yet another huckster... I have downloaded copies of many books on moonshine, and distillation in general, amongst other subjects, that I would NEVER pay good money for because there's less than five minutes of good reading to be gleaned from any one of them...

I've commented about the water heater concept more than once here in these forums... They just aren't safe with high temperature high proof alcohol, not to mention the height issue...

The only time water heater jobs 'might' make sense, is those euro or AU models that have a copper boiler. The glass lined steel jobs we have in the states, is NOT ideal for use as a still (I think CA uses the same type water heater).

another very large problem, is that you only get a 3/4" port to attach your head to.

Now, in defense of similey, look at it this way. Using a keg for a boiler is NOT legal, 99% of the time. Possession of a keg, other than to drink the original beer from, is not legal. This is one of the things that even on these forums, the mods have sweated a little over. We have even changed the rules to make it clear, that we do NOT condone theft.

H.

I understand the deal about using kegs. A copper boiler in a water heater? Boy, that would be cool... But he makes no mention of what the boiler is constructed of, nor does he caution his readers of what to stay away from... like a plastic tank water heater ( I know my home heater here has one) He makes little mention at all about the safety aspect of using plastics. He does tell you to only store high proof alcohol in glass. I could see many a novice steered completely wrong by this "professional guide"
I would expect this kind of rubbish from the shmucks on youtube....... You know the guys im talking about.

Here here,
I'm the the "proud" owner of 4 or 5 books that collectively contain about a tenth of the knowledge you folks have provided me with.

Thanks for being here.

I've read parts of this book, and I wonder about a few things:

With this water heater, and just the two small holes, it seems like it would be difficult to clean. Is that an issue?

What about his concept of using the fractionating still to make whiskey? MK, did you try it?

Is the 1.25 inch column kind of small?

Jeeezzz !!!

Pleeez don't ask mulekicker a question about this book.

aww go ahead ask him ask him.... I think this book could miss guide allot of novice distillers. But as mulekicker....

Ahhh!! Here I go again....... Come on Wolfie, I dont bitch that much do I?

As far as do I think everyone should read the book? Yes, so you know how NOT to do it... Rubber Duck has purchased the book after the controversy it has caused and he has told me he is also less than impressed. Im not surprised.

As far as using a reflux to run whiskey, See my post on "Reflux or pot, that is the question" It talks about my whiskey run with my LM reflux. I have to say it worked quite well. But my still isnt made from a fucking water heater.

Be interested to here Duck's take.

Being forthright is not an easy thing to supress.

you tell em mulekicker I love it...LOLOLOLL LMFAO

Nahh mulekicker. You aint that bad. Just like yankin a chain. Think you got good insight on the process.

I just started "the Practical Distiller" published in 1806 or some time around there. I enjoyed the preface and intro when you think of the context that this book was written in. One of my favorite lines so far has been (an I paraphrase) . . . 'its been 20 years now that we've had liquor here in the states'. Gotta luv it.

LWTCS wrote:Be interested to here Duck's take.

Being forthright is not an easy thing to supress.

I just got the book, I'm going to read it cover to cover before I voice a public opinion. I'll be sure to chime in when I'm through with it.


RD

It was one of the first books I purchased when I started about a year ago. Even as a beginner I knew enough to just flat outright skip reading on how to build a hot water still. Nuts I thought. However, the man does know for the most part what he is talking about. I still refer to the book occasionally, but most of my information now comes from this forum. I have found that the best source of information of all is to go on the appropriate sub forum, and ASK after, of course, doing a forum search.

Bert

MuleKicker wrote:I have to say it worked quite well. But my still isnt made from a fucking water heater.

i f#*%ing love this place.


When I started out, all I had was these Smiley/Nixon-Stone books and checking out the stilldrinkin site. Anyone with half a brain will see through the h2o heater bs; and anyone who's brain is bigger than their dick will see through the stilldrinkin stills draped in white trash skanks.
It's frustrating I know but have a little faith in people boys.

lacedspirits wrote: . . . . and anyone who's brain is bigger than their dick will see through the stilldrinkin stills draped in white trash skanks.
It's frustrating I know but have a little faith in people boys.

W O W I bought a still from stilldrinkin.com
Not really sure what that says 'bout my brain . . . or my dick

But I aint got no Hot Water Heater still

WW I guess your going to have to change your name to horse cuzz I figure you to be a pretty smart guy.

WalkingWolf wrote:W O W I bought a still from stilldrinkin.com
Not really sure what that says 'bout my brain . . . or my dick

Don't take offense, WW. I was just trying to make a point and throw in a li'l quick wit. Your posts are some of my favorites.

I never considered myself a smart man so I don't know what I'm inferring about my own dick... I think I ended up insulting myself...shit...
ls

rubber duck wrote:WW I guess your going to have to change your name to horse cuzz I figure you to be a pretty smart guy.

Maybe we call him "Limping Horse"

lacedspirits wrote: Don't take offense, WW. I was just trying to make a point and throw in a li'l quick wit. Your posts are some of my favorites.

I never considered myself a smart man so I don't know what I'm inferring about my own dick... I think I ended up insulting myself...shit...
ls

O hell no. No offense taken (you don't know me very well yet) Aint never said it was a good purchase just said I bought one. Had to completely rebuild the sum'bitch fore I could use it. Keep at it lacedspirits. I love good-natured banter tween us; part of making of the fun.

good stilling
Limpin Horse

So the only problems are :
- the water heater
- not running the still unattended
?
That's quite inflammatory talk for 2 small issues. Perhaps someone could name a better book on the topic ?

manu de hanoi wrote:So the only problems are :
- the water heater
- not running the still unattended
?
That's quite inflammatory talk for 2 small issues. Perhaps someone could name a better book on the topic ?

I think those could be big issues...... especially coming from a "professional"

Nothing wrong with water heaters, here's the water heater that I am currently turning into a stripping still

That looks like stainless, is it? The ony waters heaters I have every see around here finally just rust out.... I know there not stainless.. Looks good man.

Looks like it depends here ya at as to whats a water heater. Glass lined pieces of junk where I live in my opinion.