Heads & Tails

Peachey · Post by **Peachey** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 3:21 am

Ok. I've read a bit about people keeping the tails (and even the heads) and putting them in their next run.

Is this recommended?
How do they improve the next run?

Personally, I never collect the tails and shut down my reflux still after spirit drops below 70%, as for the heads, I toss the first 50mls.

Post by **Tater** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:28 am

Keeping the tails or backins and rerunning in next run or saving till ya get enough to do another run will get ya more booze. I quit catchin at 80 proof for drinkin but save tails and run down to 20 or so proof. This gives me 1/2 to 3/4 gallons of 30 to 40 proof tails each run. Easy to see how that adds up.Its really no differnt then double running a low abv wash.

Post by **golden pond** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 5:53 am

There's no reason to throw away your low proof singles because there's still usable alcohol in them. By adding them each time to your next run, they will help boost your proof and volume. I quit saving the drinking product at 75-80 proof and quit saving singles at 40 proof.

possum · Post by **possum** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:25 am

Not to be picky Peachy, but I offer a small correction.

Heads

The 50ml that you throw out is known as foreshots. The heads is the next stuff to come out of your (?reflux?) still. the heads have a significant portion of ethyl acitate, and have among other tastes and flavors,a sweet taste that some people like and some don't. Ethyl Acitate also increases hangover effects. The heads have lots of ethanol as well. That is why they are often collected seperately, and then later recycled. I hope this helps you decide what to do with them.

Tails

When making neutral spirit, tails are usefull because of the alcohol in them. They can have some odd odor. They can be saved and added to a clean up run of all heads and tails, or added into the next wash when you run it.

When making whiskey, tails are the main source of distinctive flavor.
With my potstill, I collect tails as far down as practical. After re-distilling a batch of all-tails, the result is a trip into BIG FLAVOR COUNTRY. The grain profile comes across extra in re-distilled tails. This can be blended into the heart run, and aged on wood, or kept seperate and aged for a very flavorfull drink. Of course, the flavors that are produced are dependant on what kind of mash/wash is made in the begining.

Don Ventura · Post by **Don Ventura** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:33 am

I <3 Possum. He's Cool. No Really.

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DAMN THREAD JACKERS!!!

Peachey · Post by **Peachey** » Thu Mar 02, 2006 2:38 pm

Thanx Possum. My misunderstanding of heads may explain for the smell in my spirit.

How much heads would you be likely to get out of a 25L wash?

I might just keep them seperate and chuck them in the next run with the tails.

stoker · Post by **stoker** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:12 am

just don't pour your foreshots in.

possum · Post by **possum** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:21 am

I don't use a reflux, so my seperation is different than yours.

Linw sugests a heads amount of 1.5 liters, but linw is using a 15.5 gallon boiler ( I think) and that is almost 3x your size, so aproxamately 1/2 liter.

Like stoker said, re-cycle them if you want, but dispose of the foreshots first.

For my 5 gallon pot still, I throw out the first 150ml-300ml this gets rid of the foreshots, and some heads. I don't recycle , but I dont have a collumn to help seperate the methanol out as easily.