A question about "heads" from Western Canada

[Dr Johnny]

Reading through info on this site as well as a few others, I am still a little confused. A friend just started a craft distillery in Canada , and has been throwing out the heads. I am just starting out with distilling and am eager to learn. I am currently an herbalist who makes their own tinctures and am very happy at having access to affordable 95% ABV to dilute and use in my processes of community medicine making. I am concerned about the safety of this head, reading about minute traces of methanol, and aldehyde s. This seems to be a matter of debate. This forum seems like the domain of experts to pose the question. If I am using these heads from an apple vodka or rum, is there a risk to health if I am taking 5ml doses of this tincture at a time? We tested the head at approx. 95% abv and it has a pleasant apple sweet smell. Does anybody know an answer to this question. Thank you, I look forward to working with my friend and learning about this process for home making purposes.

[ArkyJ]

I do believe that you have mistaken foreshots for heads.
Foreshots are not of much use to us. You can use it to lite a BBQ grill.
Use it as fuel for an alcohol stove.
Kill bugs.
Clean windows.
I guess I was wrong. It is usefull.
Your friend throws it away for a reason.
ArkyJ

[azeo]

Welcome! It does need a bit of clarification as to what your friend is classing as heads. The type of still and how it's used also plays a part in how "compressed" the desired and unwanted portions are. As Arky says, foreshots are out, because the unwanted compounds are somewhat concentrated in this fraction and the earlier part of the heads. If your friend is making well defined "cuts" (certain they would be with at least vodka and rum mentioned), you would want a portion of the fraction received just before the collection of the "hearts" or potable portion, especially if no further processing done on the collected spirit, either by carbon filtering, or re-distillation say.

Depending what the production levels are, and your needs for tintures etc, a small amount collected each time just before the hearts cut could well supply your needs, and the level of trace compounds should be neither here nor there. A larger amount collected sooner into the heads would have a corresponding increase in the unwanted nasties howeve.

If your friend is throwing away a reasonable amount of heads, (and "tails" too I presume), you could be doing yourselves both a favour if a reflux still was used to recycle the heads and tails into a pure "neutral", as these do contain a considerable amount of recoverable alcohol, especially if a pot still is being used. As well as good for botanicals, it could be a good source of strong spirit for all kinds of liquers, perhaps related to the source feedstock, or any available fruit, herbs etc!

As you've noticed, there is certainly plenty of aroma in the heads, this perhaps also has potential for recycling (tails also) into further "craft" main runs to increase yield, aromas or flavours, help maintain consistency/continuity etc. Or perhaps too as a source to develop lightly "arom'ered" vodkas, or very light brandies, schnapps etc. Vodka runs which should getting a high reflux anyway, should be able to cope with added "feints", rum might take more "distillers tweaking".

Eventually there is a point I've heard people reach where "recycling" heads and tails into runs has the opposite effect of that desired, as too many "off" flavours have accumulated. This can result in a larger quantity than "normal" collection of theads and tails which could be a candidiate for a careful neutral distillation, and possibly a good size yield too.

About 5ml at a time does not sound like anything dangerous, especially if it is truly sourced from "late" heads. There should be no need to consider foreshots or even "early" heads and all their associated extra contaminants.... and hopefully there are plenty of good heads available.

So there's a few ideas. You friend may already be doing some of this...and there may just be confusion as Arky says between foreshots and heads...Hope it helps a bit anyway

The forum has plenty of info, have a dig too around the the parent site. A good bit of reading (although it takes time), will help reduce the confusion, and help explain terms/expressions etc.

Others bound to chime in as well and add anything extra.... Good luck!

[Dr Johnny]

Thank you both, I will do a little more digging. The still they are using, is a 210 L per run still manufactured in Germany. This is the one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAavQPaYuWE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow This viseo shows their still..

Thanks again,

J

[rubber duck]

If your getting heads to make tinctures with it should be ok. I wouldn't drink a pint of it,(that would be a horrible hangover) but 5ml wont hurt you.