Distillation run off rate

Other discussions for folks new to the wonderful craft of home distilling.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
cornwhiskey
Novice
Posts: 69
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:59 am

Distillation run off rate

Post by cornwhiskey »

I just made my second run and had the stove set to a higher setting and my distillate was weaker than my first. My first distillation was a 6.5% corn whiskey and the beginning distillate was 76% ABV. My second distiallation (Wimeo's sugar wash) was a 10.8% ABV sugar wash and the beginning distillate was 68% ABV. So it seems as if running the stove higher caused me to get a lower ABV distillate.

Being as there is no exact answer on what setting you should run your stove at, what rate should your distillate come off in terms of ounces/milliters per minute?
WeeStiller
Bootlegger
Posts: 112
Joined: Sun Nov 14, 2010 4:00 am
Location: Somewhere in Western Europe

Re: Distillation run off rate

Post by WeeStiller »

Indeed the abv will be higher with a lower heat setting because you run over less water because there's less vapor pressure in your pipes. For a stripping run, I go as fast as I can and that produces an intermittent stream, sometimes down to a fast drip. On a spirit run I settle on a steady drip, 2 drips per second first. When getting to the hearts, I increase the heat a bit so I get a fast drip or a thin stream.
Smokehouse Shiner
Rumrunner
Posts: 525
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 4:26 pm
Location: Ozark Mountains

Re: Distillation run off rate

Post by Smokehouse Shiner »

WeeStiller wrote:Indeed the abv will be higher with a lower heat setting because you run over less water because there's less vapor pressure in your pipes. For a stripping run, I go as fast as I can and that produces an intermittent stream, sometimes down to a fast drip. On a spirit run I settle on a steady drip, 2 drips per second first. When getting to the hearts, I increase the heat a bit so I get a fast drip or a thin stream.
Indeed the abv will be higher with a lower heat setting because you run over less water because there's less vapor pressure in your pipes. For a stripping run, I go as fast as I can and that produces an intermittent stream, sometimes down to a fast drip. On a spirit run I settle on a steady drip, 2 drips per second first. When getting to the hearts, I increase the heat a bit so I get a fast drip or a thin stream.
Thats gonna make for a long ass run. :shock: I would suggest on a strip run as fast as you can push it through.Balls to the wall. Spirit run you want a stream the size of a toothpick or a pencil lead. If your running a potstill which I assume you are. Put away your stopwatch and fancy measuring cups and watch your output. You run a potstill by feel, not numbers. :wink:
This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which God intended a more divine means of consumption...
User avatar
LWTCS
Site Mod
Posts: 13009
Joined: Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: Treasure Coast

Re: Distillation run off rate

Post by LWTCS »

Smokehouse Shiner wrote:Thats gonna make for a long ass run. I would suggest on a strip run as fast as you can push it through.Balls to the wall. Spirit run you want a stream the size of a toothpick or a pencil lead. If your running a potstill which I assume you are. Put away your stopwatch and fancy measuring cups and watch your output. You run a potstill by feel, not numbers.
+1

I'd stick an ice pick in my ear if I had to collect drips. Then I'd put a gun in my mouth and blow the back of my head off. Then i'd mix up a wheel barrow full of concrete and fill my skull up with the concrete and toss myself off of the seven mile bridge. And with any luck,,I'd get hit by a boat and the prop would slice me to ribbons so the bottom feeders could gobble me up with little to no effort,,,,,at all.

But do try and take heads kinda slow and then even bump your input to collect hearts at a fat pencil lead........Flavor. Not to hard though, as you don't want to push tails up too early.....

Just takes some practice to find that spot that makes it how you like it.
Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
Post Reply