Home Distiller

Howdy to all! I have been brewing beer for about 10 years now and have decided to start a new adventure, making good whiskey. I have a small pot still and have used it a total of 3 times. I could have used the stuff that I made for paint thinner! I am in the process of building a much bigger & better still. I also would like to make some decent licker to go with my new still but need a few issues clarified first. I have read so much on Tony's sight that my brain feels like it is going to explode, so I would like to get some of you folks input into the matter.

1) Does it make better whiskey if you use finings to get all (or at least most) out of yeast out of suspension before distilling, or does it matter a whit?

2) I have a fine 55lb bag of Marris Otter sitting right next to me. Now logic dictates that since it is a finer malt than domestic -USA (& much cheaper i should add), it would make better whiskey. Is this belief correct? I would really hate to spend the extra coin on grain when it doesn't make a difference.

3) Should I use a champangne yeast that's going to eat every sugar in sight leaving a very dry / thin wash? Or should I stick with old faithful US-56 dry yeast, which ferments out nicely & clean but still leaves a bit of body?

4) After mashing, is there any reason I should be boiling the wort, since no hops are going to be used and we are just going to distill it anyways so...??

5) What is the difference between scotch & whiskey? Yah I know I'm really showing my ignorance on that one but what the hell, rather be dumb for a minute than forever.

6) Should I use only 2-row malt or should also add crystal, vienna, & munich malts like I do in beer. Would it really make any difference? I would like to think it would.

Sorry for such a long post & tons of questions. I am just bound and determined to make some decent brew this go round. I don't like spending my valuable time only to produce swill! I want a product that I can be proud of this time.

Thanks all,
Joe B.

Yah, I want to make good whiskey but can't even remember to login in before i post. Not a good sign

well, I guess i have to ask what kind of whiskey you like?

so,

1) personal preference I think. I have seen that distilling on grain transfers more flavor to the distillate. Everybody has their own opinions tho... If I had a reflux column and wanted to make a whiskey in one run, I'd clear all the yeast. If I had a potstill I'd leave it all in there and do a stripping run and and a spirit run.

2) GIGO... It's really more about the flavor you want. Choose malt based on the style you want... Domestic 6 row is cheap and high in enzyme for american whiskey. Scotch is a whole other world... This is no different than making beer styles based on established recipes... What do you want to drink? Search here and on tonys site and follow all the links. You'll find recipes for everything.

3) there are lots of yeasts...

4) follow the procedure for the style you want.

5) peat, smoke, grain, malt percentage... huge answer... check out the links from homedistiller.org to scratch the surface.

6) recipes... follow 'em... Try your own ideas after a few batches. It takes a few tries to incorporate all the info out here and produce something good.

Be sure your still is safe and not a source of contamination. Make a good mash and you'll make a good distillate in no time.

I would really like to brew something along the lines of Jameson. I plan on using a keg and building a pot still. I have thought about building a reflux still but don't really see the point in it. I only have interest in rum, whiskey & scotch. I think that i'll just do like ya say and follow a couple of recipes first before I start doing my own thing. I would defantly have to say that one of the reasons my first couple of brews were so bad was due to both the equipment and recipe.

The still i am working on now will only have stainless & copper & will use a glass jug for a container. After reading some previous post I think that the tubing that I was collecting the rum in may have been contributing to the not so great flavor.

I just got finished reading "Making Pure Corn Whiskey" by Ian Smiley. I would highly recommend this book if you want a complete and scientific explanation of making whiskey. It gives great advice and theory on all aspects of fermentations, stills and their operation and recipes.

I have been thinking about getting that book. The only book on the subject of distilling I have is "The Bootleggers Bible". It is some what entertaining but not much else. I always love to read scientific explanitions of things. I've never been one to just accept things, say like my computer is just a magic black box that works some how. I want to know just what & how things make it work. I really need info on making the different cuts. Right now they just a magical black box to me.

I second 'Making Pure Corn Whiskey' I use it for reference all the time.

If you like jameson, learn how jameson is made. It's a Irish wiskey (as opposed to scotch or bourbon). That means the malt is kiln dried without any smoke and it's distilled 3 times in copper pot stills. Read all you can about the production of Irish wiskey. The Jameson website might be a good place to start. Good luck.

If you're in the British Isles, you could visit the Old distillery in Dublin and take the tour.

This link may help too

http://distillers.tastylime.net/library/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Junkyard Dawg - Thanks for the great link!

Thanks to all for the good advice. I just ordered 'Making Pure Corn Whiskey' and it should be at my door step in a few days. I can't wait!

Whoohooo! I just got my book yesterday. 'Making pure corn whiskey' is hands down the best book on distilling I have read so far. I can't thank yall enough for this recommendation, excellent book! I am sure that I will make some decent licker now that I have this book. I must say I can see why I made some bad tasting stuff before. Even if ya ain't gonna make whiskey, the whole section on making the cuts it worth the pricee of the book itself.

Thanx Junkyarddog for that link, it is full of excellent info and there are a number of books on line there.

http://distillers.tastylime.net/library ... 20Listings

must look for anybody ..