Help with feints/tails

goodoldreb · Post by **goodoldreb** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:17 pm

Hi folks, what do I do with the cloudy feints/tails? Do I save them and accumilate enough to do another run? or pour them back in the next wash right before a run? As you with experience can probably tell,I'm new at this hobby so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks GOR.

knuklehead · Post by **knuklehead** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:29 pm

You can do either or. I have tried both and I prefer to save them up until I have an amount worth running again. Also depends on what you are making. I usually keep seperate heads and tails form neutral spirits as well as flavored spirits. Once I have a good amount I will run them all in my reflux and make neutral of all of it. Any tails form this second distillation I just toss out. If you want to salvage the last bit of a flavored spirit you may want to use the add it to the next run method.

possum · Post by **possum** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:58 pm

Opinoons vary on this topic and vary acording to what you are making.
For whiskey, (mine)heads from the spirit run are tossed away with foreshots.Tails from the spirit run I keep and redistill and add to the hearts.

Don't do this for neutral vodka, only do it when trying to keep lots of flavor in your flavored sprits.

I run a potstll, so you may decide to recycle the head and tail differently if using a reflux.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:29 pm

I've been doing a corn,barley & sugar sourmash. I have about 2.5 gal. of "good' distillant from the 1st,2nd,&3rd run and about a gal. of tails 80-100 proof avg. I've got the 4th batch working,which will probably be the last on this mash. I should have about .5 gal of tails left from this run. Should I pour this in the spirit run for flavor? (sorry if I 'm repeating my question)or just set it to the side with the rest of the tails.

possum · Post by **possum** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:20 am

I would use all of the tails in the spirit run. Are you running a potstill, reflux, or a "de-tuned" reflux?

I assume you want a flavorfull spirit.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:57 pm

I am using a pot still w/o a thumper, so when I get all the good distillant, I will run a spirit run. Should I run the tails seperate? And yes I want a flavorful spirit.

goodoldreb · Post by **goodoldreb** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:03 pm

Sorry,the previous post was me. I forgot to log in.

possum · Post by **possum** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:23 pm

Yes, all spirit should be run, and appropriate foreshots removed. I just do an overgenerous foreshot cut to take some heads out. Start collecting, and I check proof as I go. After the whishey is coming out at 50%abv,or 100proof, I start collectin in a tails container, and collect that untill there is little or no alcohol taste in the distillate.

I often use a saucepan, brick, small bowl with an upsidedown lid/condenser with ice to run the tails and aproxamately doubble thier proof. I add this "tail liquor" to the rest, or sometimes keep it to drink seperately.

goodoldreb · Post by **goodoldreb** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 6:52 pm

Thanks Possum. Are you talking about freezing the tails from the spirit run? If so I really don't mind tossing them out ,or I could put them in the freezer and try that.

possum · Post by **possum** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:55 am

No, not freezing, I just do a small batch distillation of them. I do this in a stock pot. My rig is 5 gallons, so for small amounts, I make something that resembles the solar still found in the boyscout fieldbook. There are variations in tony Ackland's (this site) titled ice -water still in the making stills section, stills that are not stills. This is fine for tails, as the foreshots and heads are already removed.I think it is handy for small amounts and re-distilling gin (easier to clean out thouroughly than my potstill). I use a metal upside down lid and a stovetop.