Southern Indiana spirits newbie!

[Indianamoonshine]

I've been like a kid at Christmas time and today was Christmas Day. My Turbo 500 reflux still from Mile Hi came today along with another box of goodies. I've spent the past eight or nine weeks reading posts almost every night and it's amazing the information on this site. I'm learning with the Turbo 500, but my plans are to get into a more traditional still in the future but for now it's Turbo time! As unpopular as this might be, I'm using the triple distilled Turbo yeast and carbon which is pretty much following the instructions from Still Spirits for my still. I'm wanting to create a very neutral spirit and then add my own essences .... again this is my first experience. I've been reading a lot on pot stills the past few weeks and see a pot still in my future but first it's time to learn on the Turbo. Its awesome to have this website for reference and I would like to thank each one of you on this site for teaching me about yeast, heat, plastic, bottles, water, mason jars, carbon, and a host of other topics. My next wash will be ... Birdwatchers. Yes, we're soon making spirits in Southern Indiana!

[Odin]

Welcome aboard, Indiana! And good luck on your distillings!

Odin.

[rad14701]

Greetings, Indianamoonshine...

Sounds like you're about ready to get started on this roller-coaster ride... Take your time and ask questions if you can't find the answers you are looking for... Work your way through the turbo washes for cleaning runs as well as getting the feel for your new equipment... Then you can move on to some of the Tried and True recipes once you are comfortable...

Good luck...

[Indianamoonshine]

Thanks .... newbies like myself owe the people on this site a ton of gratitude for their input. Would you stick with the easy turbos a couple times before venturing out to harder recipes?

[banter_king]

First of all welcome. I can't comment on the turbos but from another new stiller with limited knowledge, i have had a really easy time with simple bakers yeast and a tried and true recipe. I figured with as many people on here that had success as there are i shouldn't try to change things up till i knew what i was doing. With being said, my UJSM is so tasty i might stick with it for a while and just venture out for fun.

[rad14701]

Would you stick with the easy turbos a couple times before venturing out to harder recipes?

I wouldn't use them at all, but that's just me... Don't be going out and buying more once you use up what you've got... We have some fairly fool-proof recipes for novices in the Tried and True forum...

[Odin]

+1 for Rad! I started on Turbo's and even like them, but somehow starting to not only self distill, but also to make your own mashes adds to the total experience. Now, if distilling is new to you and you want to get some experience at that and you have got turboyeast, why not give it a try? And when you think distilling is going fine and/or turbo is finished, why not switch to making your own wash? Are you up to the challenge, does it feel like you want to take another step, I think that might be a way to approach it. And if you feel you want to try making your own base wine/beer: Rad made two that are extremely easy and work well. Gerber for making a neutral and Allbran for making a first time whiskey smell/taste alike. I did try Albran and was impressed (more importantly: my friends were!). I did not try Gerber yet, but will start that in a week or so. And if you do go for Turbo, use the 14% recipe, please, not the 20%. The latter will give you more off flavours you do not want on your neutral!

May the force be with you!

Odin.

[rtalbigr]

Would you stick with the easy turbos a couple times before venturing out to harder recipes?

I wouldn't use them at all, but that's just me... Don't be going out and buying more once you use up what you've got... We have some fairly fool-proof recipes for novices in the Tried and True forum...

I really wish I had this forum when I started stillin. I just kinda fumbled around trying to figure things out.

Like Rad said, use your turbos ta learn with and then move to a yeast more suited to what you want to drink. A lot use bread yeast and I use Crasby&Baker's DADY with good success on all my AG's.

Again, as Rad suggested the Tried & True recipes have been designed to be easy and are a great way to start learning this hobby.

Big R

[Indianamoonshine]

Thanks again for the advice. Yes, I want to eventually branch out with different washes and try a different still. This hobbie is like prison ..... I'm a little scared and excited all at the same time! lol I'll use what I have bought and what they gave me "free" and then with that experience I should be ready for something else.