First Run !

[backwoodsbrewer94]

Okay, I made my reflux still, i have a beer keg as a pot. now i was told that you have to throw out the whole first batch. is this true ? and i was looking for recipe, the sweet feed mash seems to be an easy one, is this a good one to start with ?
i cant wait to start !!!!

[WalkingWolf]

You sure didn't us much to base a decision (besides the fact that you didn't bother to give us and introduction in the Welcome Center -- but I'll just ignore the rudeness of that )

If you haven't done a proper cleaning of a recently built still then yes, at a minimum, you need to discard the alcohol attained from the first run as it will have all of the residue from building the still.

[backwoodsbrewer94]

Im new here give me a break haha ill check out the welcome center, and is there another way to clean it other than throwing out the first run ? or is that the best way ?

[WalkingWolf]

Im new here give me a break haha

I did -- Welcome to HD

Cleaning a new still

Advice- For newbies, by a newbie

[backwoodsbrewer94]

I made the introduction post like you asked

[Prairiepiss]

No get over it. You need to do the proper cleaning runs. Vinegar and water. Then the sacrificial alcohol run. It's the best way to do it. Go get some cheap wine or $3 bottles of vodka. And use it for the cleaning run.

[mtdew_mn]

First, run it with water and vinegar to clean it, and to check for leaks.

Then for the sacrificial alcohol run, use whatever you have that is cheap. You could use a sugar wash or some cheap wine. You don't need to run 15 gallons or anything.. a gallon or two is fine.

It is not recommended to drink that first run.. its for cleaning and sanitizing.

[Bushman]

No get over it. You need to do the proper cleaning runs. Vinegar and water. Then the sacrificial alcohol run. It's the best way to do it. Go get some cheap wine or $3 bottles of vodka. And use it for the cleaning run.

$3.00 bottles of vodka? We pay more in taxes on each bottle in Washington than that!

[MitchyBourbon]

Whenever you build a new still you need to clean it out good so that what comes out of it is safe to drink. The minimum is a vinegar run followed by a sacrificial alcohol run. You should also use the sacrificial alcohol run to get a feel for how your new still works. Use this opportunity to see how your still responds when you run it fast and slow. Taste (small tastes) and smell what comes out. Your not just cleaning your still you are getting to know your still. So slow down and smell the rose.

[dakotasnake]

trust these guys on a good cleaning, you'll have alot of flux in your tubing, its not good for you and it taste very bad.

[Braz]

No get over it. You need to do the proper cleaning runs. Vinegar and water. Then the sacrificial alcohol run. It's the best way to do it. Go get some cheap wine or $3 bottles of vodka. And use it for the cleaning run.

$3.00 bottles of vodka? We pay more in taxes on each bottle in Washington than that!

Hell, my homemade costs more than that.

[backwoodsbrewer94]

I have about 2 gallons of old wine ill use. and then ill make a run and get rid of it.