Hi, I have a lot of question here, I have a pot still, and reflux still, so here goes the question :
1. which is more efficient ?
should i go with reflux still without stripping run ?
or should I strip first with pot still for low wine, then run it on reflux still
or should I strip with continuous reflux still, run as hard as i can, turn off the reflux, and get what i can ?
PS : the word 'efficient' refers to heat, cooling water, and most important is it can get as much alcohol as it can from the wash (minimum alcohol drained)
2. if i run the reflux still with continuous mode, how much maximum %abv to run into feed so that it won't get into the reboiler and drained ?
3. any recommendation for good yeast ? right now I'm using Lallemands Instaferm Eagle yeast, any references how %abv the yeast can go ?
thx
A Lot of Question here
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rubber duck
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Re: A Lot of Question here
1. It depends on your boiler size. If it's a small boiler I would do striping runs on a pot still first.
2. The only reasons for a continual still in this hobby that I can think of is power efficiency, or space efficiency.
3. Any bakers yeast is just fine. Distillers yeast is ok also but their both neutral. Pushing a wash past 10% is just going to give you off tastes. Bakers yeast will go to 10% but if you want a cleaner wash just go 6-8%.
2. The only reasons for a continual still in this hobby that I can think of is power efficiency, or space efficiency.
3. Any bakers yeast is just fine. Distillers yeast is ok also but their both neutral. Pushing a wash past 10% is just going to give you off tastes. Bakers yeast will go to 10% but if you want a cleaner wash just go 6-8%.
Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen. John Steinbeck
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kiwistiller
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Re: A Lot of Question here
Just personally, I'd strip nice and fast, and then treat the low wines with sodium carbonate (or bicarbonate) to get rid of some of the heads.
Personally, I find strip then spirit run to be more time effective (with my 50l boiler). With treated low wines, I lose less to heads, spend less time in heads extraction, and only have to equalise the column once every 4/5 runs (the others are strip runs). Also, stripping runs are pretty hands off (aside from changing the containers), so I can busy myself about the shed doing things like cutting & blending previous runs, bottling, working on macerations, cleaning, putting on ferments, and other non distilling tasks.
As for your continuous still, that's out of my league. And you wouldn't be able to make cuts unless it's a two column setup.
Personally, I find strip then spirit run to be more time effective (with my 50l boiler). With treated low wines, I lose less to heads, spend less time in heads extraction, and only have to equalise the column once every 4/5 runs (the others are strip runs). Also, stripping runs are pretty hands off (aside from changing the containers), so I can busy myself about the shed doing things like cutting & blending previous runs, bottling, working on macerations, cleaning, putting on ferments, and other non distilling tasks.
As for your continuous still, that's out of my league. And you wouldn't be able to make cuts unless it's a two column setup.
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Mr.Spooky
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Re: A Lot of Question here
to answer your first question, it would help to know what kinda spirit your trying to achieve,
Mr.Spooky
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rad14701
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Re: A Lot of Question here
+1 on what rubber duck and kiwistiller said...