condensation in whiskey?!?!?!

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richardan

condensation in whiskey?!?!?!

Post by richardan »

hey guys i need HELP! :(

i m currently facing problems regarding the condensation of my whiskey.
what i did?

1. i did my sugar-based alcohol, of 80%. (no signs of condensation)
2. i dilute(to 40%) and add favouring to the alcohol
3. i kept it in a glass bottle, and there were condensation of dews(sweating of my whiskey?) at the bottle.

take a look at the pictures.
Image

Image

Image

anyway, is there any equipment to measure pH & Specific Gravity?
How does Specific Gravity affect the alcohol produced?
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Post by Rocky_Creek »

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The Chemist
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Post by The Chemist »

Was the bottle in a warm spot? :lol:

The pH can be measured with a meter, or with pH paper. Specific gravity is a property of the solution, just a "more precise" term for the density.
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golden pond
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Post by golden pond »

Maybe you have a real low proof? I age or flavor mine with charred oak in 1 gallon glass jars, atleast once a week I put the glass jars in a freezer for 24 hours. The frost melts off after they been out awhile but I have no condensation inside the jars at all. Its around 100 proof.
Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you're out of good whiskey!!!
richardan

Post by richardan »

The Chemist: i kept mine in a air-conditioned room, at about 25degrees C.

golden pond: so i have to keep mine in a freezer? i havent heard about it before? anyway whats the meaning of "proof"?
golden pond
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Post by golden pond »

richardan wrote:The Chemist: i kept mine in a air-conditioned room, at about 25degrees C.

golden pond: so i have to keep mine in a freezer? i havent heard about it before? anyway whats the meaning of "proof"?
No you don't need to put yours in the freezer, I do that to mine to help it take on the charred oak a little quicker. Proof is the alcohol content of your liquor, now it sounds like you do have a low proof with too much water.
Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you're out of good whiskey!!!
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Post by Grayson_Stewart »

richardan wrote: golden pond: so i have to keep mine in a freezer? i havent heard about it before? anyway whats the meaning of "proof"?
I'm confused as to how you can not know the definition of proof? While there are no stupid questions, that one is just jaw-dropping.
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golden pond
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Post by golden pond »

richardan wrote:The Chemist: i kept mine in a air-conditioned room, at about 25degrees C.

golden pond: so i have to keep mine in a freezer? i havent heard about it before? anyway whats the meaning of "proof"?
Well Richardan I guess you could put yours in the freezer, if it freezes or gets ice in it, you'll know for certain the proof is low :oops:
Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you're out of good whiskey!!!
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Post by possum »

Re: Proof ?

Maybee he is not a North American.
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richardan

Post by richardan »

what i did was that i added water to my alcohol(80%), till the meter shows 40% alcohol.
is there anything wrong with what i did?
any missing steps/ procudure?

anyway i aint a north american. :wink:
golden pond
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Post by golden pond »

richardan wrote:what i did was that i added water to my alcohol(80%), till the meter shows 40% alcohol.
is there anything wrong with what i did?
any missing steps/ procudure?

anyway i aint a north american. :wink:
Is your meter reading 80 and 40 ABV or 80-40 PROOF?? some have 2 scales on them. :oops:
Never follow good whiskey with water, unless you're out of good whiskey!!!
canadianmoonshiner
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Post by canadianmoonshiner »

If your "whiskey" came out of a pot still on the first run, I doubt it was 80% abv... more likely 80 Proof. You then diluted it to 40 Proof which might explain the condensations. It will certainly freeze... try it.
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knuklehead
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Post by knuklehead »

What exactly is the problem? So you have some condensation inside the bottle, what does that matter and what does it have to do with PH or SG?
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Post by Brett »

ermmm condensation,

as he says does it matter,,

taste it, if u like it finish the bottle,

if not put it in ur next wash n put it back through the still
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Post by AfricaUnite »

I wouldnt look to serve that at any contests but it'll get yer buzz on, too much water,, fix er up next time. Or just redstill that stuff if your really displeased with it.
knuklehead
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Post by knuklehead »

OK I am lost.
AfricaUnite wrote:I wouldnt look to serve that at any contests
. What does condensation have to do with the quality of the spirit? Alcohol evaporates easier then water so why
AfricaUnite wrote: too much water,, fix er up next time
? Someone please explain to me why this is such an issue. Liquids evaporate and if they cant escape out of the bottle they condense on the sides. This just nature so I don't understand the suggestions of
AfricaUnite wrote:Or just redstill that stuff
. Seams like more of a temperature issue then anything else.
... I say God bless you, I don't say bless you ... I am not the Lord, I can't do that ...
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Post by Watershed »

All it takes is for the bottom of the bottle to be warmer than the top. Happens in any sealed vessel of liquid regardless of alcohol content or source. I'm another one who doesn't see what the problem is here - happens all the time in my kitchen, with legit spirits too.
richardan

Post by richardan »

thanks guys!
i am doing some testing, are there any recommendations for equipments for the testing of pH and SG?

i know about the pH paper, but i hope to get something permanent.
canadianmoonshiner
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Post by canadianmoonshiner »

OK now I don't get where this is going. A real puzzle. That condensation does seem odd, especially at 25C. Looks like pure water the way it is beading on the glass. Was the bottle clean before you filled it? I understand that any liquid is constantly evaporating and will condense when it comes in contact with anything cooler, but I have never seen anything like this with alcohol that is supposedly 40% abv... Alcohol condensation should form 'legs' & want to run down the glass. You'd be lucky to notice it at all. Again... was the bottle clean before you filled it? How did you clean it? Is there an oily film on the glass? Can you see anything floating on the surface of the liquid? How did you flavor it?

You know what 40% alc smells & tastes like? If it smells & tastes good, drink it & move on. If it is bad, dump it & move on. We're talking about a single bottle right? Interesting problem & I hope we can learn something but I think your senses will tell you more than a photo can tell us.
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Post by Ricky »

if the alcohol was warm and you put it in a airconditioned room it is only natural for condensation to form on the sides of the bottle.
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