Yukon Jack

[YukonJack]

Hello, just wanted to introduce myself to everyone on the site. I have spent a lot of time over the last nine months reading on this site and anything I can get my hands on to understand more about this great hobby. I hail from the great Lonestar state. Let me tell you a little about my story.

My wife and I enjoy many different kinds of liquor and with the rising costs, I decided to do some research on home distillation, figuring I could do it at home, cheaper. I have brewed home brew beer with a good friend several times and have a good grasp on the fermentation process using whole grains. Anyhow, they more I began to read, the more interesting distilling became and the more I wanted to try it. So I spent most of the Summer of 2010 research stills and where to purchase one, as I am not a welder! I finally settled on a website that offered a complete package including fermenter, still, and filter stand. I was promised all sorts of support, meaning they would walk me through my first few batches to make sure I knew what I was doing. They even gave me access to their online “member support” which has conversion tables, recipes, timers, etc. It sounded like the perfect deal. Well it wasn’t!!!! I was told it would take 2 weeks to construct my still, but in the mean time I should read as much as possible to understand the science behind the distillation methods. I read what their site offered and what is posted on the parent site here, homedistiller. 2 weeks came and went, then 4. I called to check and was told they were a little backed up. Regardless, 8 weeks later I finally received my still in the mail. I felt like the kid on a “Christmas Story” getting my Red Rider BB gun. This was awesome and I could wait to get a wash going. We were in the process of moving, so I didn’t fully unpack everything until a few days later. When I did, I realized that I had not received my fermenter, no big deal I called that wonderful website back and was told they would resend it, but to was my still and do a few cleansing runs while I was waiting. I never received that fermenter and have tried to call them multiple times since. The guy is a crook and has been mentioned on this site before, which I learned a little too late. Well we got busy with the Holidays and then my wife lost her father suddenly and my plans for this hobby had to take a few months break. I have also been busy working on our yard and unpacking.

During this time I have continued to read on this site and have been making plans in the back of my mind. I have also been searching online to find a reputable supplier to purchase a 15 gallon, food grade container to use as a fermenter only (I have been reading your posts) and finally located one that was economical. It should arrive any day and I look forward to starting a wash soon. I am trying to decide what I should start with first and am looking for suggestions. I know many of you suggest shying away from the use of turbo yeast, but wonder if I should use it the first couple of times I do a wash. Any thoughts?

I know that I am a complete beginner, but can promise I am a fast learner. I will probably be doing a lot of searching through topics soon, but will have additional questions. I hope to become a productive member of this site eventually. I would like to take a moment now to thank those that will offer advice to me, it is greatly appreciated.

Lastly, I should let you know that I am running a converted 15.5 gallon keg still. For heat it uses 2 hot water heater elements, with one that is adjustable, the other that is to get you up to heat. It is a tilt reflux column still, that has double bangers ( a technology that supposedly “lets you triple distill”, I see how it could work after reading this site, but am skeptical of the guy I bought from) This is a CM still. I hope that it works well and I can begin my journey into the amazing hobby.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to meeting many of you through the different forums.

[blind drunk]

Hey, welcome Yukon Jack.

I know many of you suggest shying away from the use of turbo yeast, but wonder if I should use it the first couple of times I do a wash. Any thoughts?

What do you want to make? There are some really good recipes over at the Tried and True section. Have a look and see what grabs your interest. Good luck with your new hobby.

[Braz]

Welcome Jack,

Sorry to hear your tale of woe with the still crook, but you are not the first. I am not familiar with the still you have so I won't comment on it. You will probably want to build another one someday anyway. Welding ability is not required and soldering is pretty easy to pick up. You are probably going to want to build a pot still head for your boiler anyway for stripping runs and in case you want to experiment with fruit or grain based liquors. Which you will.

Don't bother with the turbo yeasts. Check the "Tried & True" section for some simple wash recipes that use regular bakers yeast from the grocery store. Wino's Plain Old Sugar Wash is dead easy, Rad's "Gerber" and "All-Bran" recipes are easy, fast fermenters that make a good end product. My regular go-to vodka recipe is a variation of All-Bran and when properly stilled makes vodka that is better than anything on the store shelves regardless of price.

Have fun and be safe.

[DarkCornerMtnMan]

Although most pros on here shy away from turbo yeast, that is the one thing
this novice mastered fairly quickly. I actually got my still off e-bay from a 100% feedback
rated person and was very happy with his product. I bought my fermentors and guages
and etc. from my local micro-brewery and home-brew supply house. I am having trouble
fermenting grain washes as I haven't mastered ph, acid, and some of the other things
you need to know to get regular yeast, ale yeast, or wine yeast to ferment all the way.
But turbo yeast and sugar, I can about do with my eyes closed. I think the key to turbo
is just don't use so dang much. I use 22 grams of turbo yeast with 4lbs sugar in 2 gallons
of spring water. I melt the sugar with the water at 90F. I scoop a cup of sugar water into
my measuring cup and add a cup of spring water in measuring cup. I add the yeast and put
in refrig until it cools to 75f. The sugar water is also at 75f and I add the 2 cups of yeast/sugar
concoction to the sugar water. I gently mixed them together and my hydrometer reads about
1.090 In a couple of days I add 4 more lbs of sugar water (2 more gallons)to the bubbling
fermentor. I start it on monday and by Sunday it reads 1.000 or less and comes in around 14-15%
alcohol. I get 1.5 qts of ageable heads & 1.5 qts of delicious hearts. ONLY USE 22GRAMS OF TURBO YEAST!!!!!

[Samohon]

Welcome to the jungle YJ, glad to av ya...

[YukonJack]

Blind Drunk thanks for the post. Probably want to make a vodka first. I have one recipe, but it is turbo!!! What do you think on this one? I'll also check over at Tried and True.

This is for a 15 gallon batch.


INGREDIENTS:
2ea Turbo Yeast.
30 #LBS Pure Cain Sugar
Balance out to 15 Gallons with water.

How to do it.
• Mix 10 #lbs of cane sugar in a 20QT pot with 13QT of water, water temp should be from 85-95 degrees. Make sure you mix thoroughly until all sugar crystals are completely dissolved. Pore into a 15 gallon fomenter.

• Repeat until all 40 # LBS of Pure Cane Sugar is used. Fill the 15 gallon ferment vessel with water 85-95 degrees. Leave 2” of head space (Free Space) on top of your fomenter.

• Pitch your 2 packs of yeast (poor on top of fomenter).

• Place lid on fomenter and set bubbler system.

• Let ferment for 4 to 7 days until completely stops bubbling. When bubbling slows rotate fomenter with circular motion (wider circular motion at top). The get mash spinning inside the fomenter for 1 min. Let stand (bubbles hard for a min or less). Repeat this process until completely stops bubbling.

• Put wash in boiler, seal and distill. The Slower the distillation rate the finer quality vodka is produced (with a Turbo Stomper Still). Collect Middle Run ONLY. Discard Heads. Save Tails for next time you load your boiler and redistill.

• Coconut Carbon filter your Vodka 2 to 4 times. Depending on taste.

• Cut with Distilled Water ONLY! Do not cut below 40% ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

[YukonJack]

Braz,
So not pics of my still yet, but this is one from the website I ordered from. Gives you a good idea. Let me know what you think.

[YukonJack]

DarkCornerMtnMan thanks for the advice and recipe. I might use this one for my first wash this weekend!!! I'll be seeing you around on the forum. If I have some questions on your wash, I'll drop you a line. Thanks

[YukonJack]

Samohon thanks for saying hi, talk with you soon.

[rad14701]

YukonJack, I see several issues with your intended course of action...

First, you don't run turbo washes through a pot still, they must be run through a reflux column for the neutral spirits a turbo wash is intended for...

Second, even if you were running a turbo wash you would want to keep the potential %ABV of the wash in the 14% maximum range in order to reduce the possibility of off tastes and smells... That's 2 pounds of sugar per gallon of wash - maximum... Even a reflux column won't produce clean neutral spirits from a high gravity turbo wash which is why fining/clearing agents and activated carbon filtering are required... Avoid the greed mentality that afflicts so many novice distillers... You want quality spirits, not quantity spirits... You can't have both even with the added expense and labor of the additional steps referred to above...

Slow down... Do ample research... When you make multiple repeated posts in a topic, as you have here, it proves your impatience and lack of premeditated thought before posting... This is not a hobby well suited for those wanting instant gratitude...

Also, get rid of the glass thumper jar if your rig has one... That's a dangerous concept that should be avoided... Same goes for the plastic carbon filter housing if you have one like the one in the picture...

Take a step back, take a deep breath, and focus... You'll be glad you did in the long run...

[Chiller]

Gotta agree with Rad there - don't take it personally though, he's only trying to help Also, you seem a little stuck on the turbos... I managed to avoid them and I strongly advise against them - I do vaguely remember the gratitude I thought I may have from a turbo ferment, but when it comes out the end of your still, it won't be anything like a cheap baker's yeast can make - one bottle of awesome UJSSM is worth a million off-tasting turbo vodkas. Oh, and welcome!

- Chiller

[YukonJack]

Please see this post if you are reading my welcome message. I need help detemining if this rig is safe and I would like all of the responses possible. Thanks

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 15&t=21183