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Howdy all.
Just wanted to say "hi" and ask a few basis questions as I continue reading and learning.
First things first. I had my first taste of "shine" two years ago while on christmas vacation. We made an overnight stay in Gatliburg, Tennessee. I went in and checked out the Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery, and to my delight, they were giving out samples at 9:30 in the morning. YUMMY( especially the apple pie). So for the last two years I've been thinking on trying some distilling and decided it's time to start doing some research. Upon finding this site, I find myself overwhelmed with information!!

So now I'm looking for a little direction on what to research. I don't want to ask to many questions without doing my homework, just a couple to get me started in the right direction to making a little shine.
1. Still type? Will a basic pot still and condenser be the way to go?
2. Pot size? Thinking no more than a gallon of finished product at a time. Would a five gallon pot be sufficient?

Thanks for any help

Hey Crittergitter,
Newb to Newb I changed what still i wanted to make 3 times before i settled on my build. The more you read the more you change your mind in the beginning. I started with a reg pot still idea moved to a still with thumper, went to a column witha offset coil, than finall settled on a reflux column, Boka, with an interchangeable column 40" packed and a 24" with minimal packing to allow versatility. Still in the middle of the build have most of the hard parts done just need to finish the take off and acquire the tank. Also have a 20" cooler that attaches to the take off.

Good luck

Welcome CG:

Get a keg, and build a pot still, you can add a Boka head later, and you can add a thumper later. You will be able to make neutrals, whiskeys, or rums, all with the same boiler, just change out the top.

No worries mate! Now get a wash started, and get going!

Bull.

Thanks for the info.

Bull Rider wrote:Welcome CG:

Get a keg, and build a pot still, you can add a Boka head later, and you can add a thumper later. You will be able to make neutrals, whiskeys, or rums, all with the same boiler, just change out the top.

No worries mate! Now get a wash started, and get going!

Bull.

I think it will be awhile before the wash is started!

I'll give you my estimate. 5 gallon still will hold 4 gallons of wash need some room in the pot. 4 gallons wash equals 15 ish liters. A wash that has a 5-6% ABV (Alcohal By Volume) content you will get about 1 liter of 90% abv if running it tight. You will get more if you are going for a 70-80% abv with flavor.
This is were the still comes in pot stills run lower abv on the 1st run but have more flavor. reflux stills can run better ABV 1st run but strip the flavor out closer to a vodka.

I think i got it right I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Bull Rider wrote:Welcome CG:

Get a keg, and build a pot still, you can add a Boka head later, and you can add a thumper later. You will be able to make neutrals, whiskeys, or rums, all with the same boiler, just change out the top.

No worries mate! Now get a wash started, and get going!

Bull.

+1, if you go this route use a tri-clamp and ferrule don't cut the keg and the transfer from pot still to reflux using the same boiler is easy.

welcome to the forum

Welcome Mee-shee-gan
Do you know my cusine Danny?

Hey another Michigander here, go simple pot still if flavor spirit( whiskey or rum) is your taste, or something along the way of boka for neutral ("vodka") is your taste.good luck and enjoy the start of winter tomorrow. I do a 15.5 gal keg keg with a 10/11 gal wash of 8%-9% gives close to what you are looking for pot stillin double runs. I run a plated column now but did it all on samohons pot head first.

LWTCS wrote:Welcome Mee-shee-gan
Do you know my cusine Danny?

Where is your cousin, Danny, from?

bentstick wrote:Hey another Michigander here, go simple pot still if flavor spirit( whiskey or rum) is your taste, or something along the way of boka for neutral ("vodka") is your taste.good luck and enjoy the start of winter tomorrow. I do a 15.5 gal keg keg with a 10/11 gal wash of 8%-9% gives close to what you are looking for pot stillin double runs. I run a plated column now but did it all on samohons pot head first.

Thanks for the info bentstick. What part of the state you in? Where did you get your keg?

Lower North East, Ordered one off ebay awhile back, and a friend gave me one he had for awhile.

bentstick wrote:Lower North East, Ordered one off ebay awhile back, and a friend gave me one he had for awhile.

Quite a distance between us.