Home Distiller

Stayed up late last night getting chewed by the skeets and watching the thin stream as it filled 10 wine bottles. We have now officially made a distilled spirit, after so much thought discussion planning. a million questions answered on that first run, and just as many posed. this run was of 10 gallons of cider that had been left on its lees since fall and turned mighty punky. Our still, a simple pot (18"x2" column with an easy flange/triclover connection to a 15 gal ss keg,topped w/ a 90degree elbow, then a 45degree elbow, reducing to 1", running a little ways, and eventually down to a 3/4" coil condenser in a 5 gal bucket) was built with the intention of creating a full flavour spirit. in the case of this first run, it is full flavoured all right, which means pretty much undrinkable. As i tasted the run constantly with a plastic spoon I realize how very far I have to go in the art of making cuts, i have no hydrometer and probably wont be getting one. the whole thing tasted pretty much the same to me- an intense concentration of the bad tastes of the original cider. so now we get to experiment with botanicals in the column, redistilling, carbon filtering, and whatever else we can come up with. and more importantly, start the next batch to bubbling.
This site has already been a huge help and now doubt will continue to be, thanks to everyone for their generosity. ours is a wood-fired, spring-cooled, seat of the pants backwoods operation, we can use all the help we can get

Welcome to HD! Wood fired spring cooled? Man I wish I knew somebody that had a setup like that. Would love to learn how to run it. I would imagine it takes a lot of tender loving care!

Sorry to hear it didn't turn out better SS. Welcome to the forum and good luck on the next wash

Welcome to HD. Dont let the results get you down. On a really bad run sometimes I clean it up by redistilling, sometimes ill filter through carbon. I have found a combination of carbon filtering, airing for 24hr, and oaking will turn my worst into something not half bad.

Welcome and glad ya made it!!! First off, lets ditch that plastic spoon, that might be one reason why it all tasted like sheaat!!! I'll try to find ya that ol post about making cuts....
Here ya go... its an oldy but a goody from tater... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=13305

Welcome aboard.

Really plastic spoon?

Dilute what you got out to under 40%. And run it again. Single pot still run product isn't for everyone. There are many ways to skin this cat.

Why do you say you will never buy any hydrometers? They may not be needed. But they can help tremendous for learning.

You didn't say any thing about airing it out or making cuts? These are things you should study up on.

Carbon filtering is not needed. And really should only be used as a last ditch effort on neutral spirits. Not flavored spirits.

Lets take this by the numbers:

Wood Fired , Spring cooled How cool are you guys!!

Stayed up late last night getting chewed by the skeets DEET
and watching the thin stream as it filled 10 wine bottles. Did you keep them in order? After 48 hours of airing out with a coffee filter on top the profile will change a bunch
We have now officially made a distilled spirit, after so much thought discussion planning. a million questions answered on that first run, and just as many posed. this run was of 10 gallons of cider that had been left on its lees since fall and turned mighty punky. Start over again with a good wash Try the Sweet Feed or UJSM
Our still, a simple pot (18"x2" column with an easy flange/triclover connection to a 15 gal ss keg,topped w/ a 90degree elbow, then a 45degree elbow, reducing to 1", running a little ways, and eventually down to a 3/4" coil condenser in a 5 gal bucket) was built with the intention of creating a full flavour spirit.Sounds like a great place to start in the case of this first run, it is full flavoured all right, which means pretty much undrinkable.Learning to make proper cuts, airing out, and a good wash to start with will solve this As i tasted the run constantly with a plastic spoonNo place in this hobby for plastics I realize how very far I have to go in the art of making cuts, i have no hydrometer and probably wont be getting one.DO yourself a favor and spend the 10 bucks You'll thank yourself later the whole thing tasted pretty much the same to me- an intense concentration of the bad tastes of the original ciderAsked and answered ( It's the wash). so now we get to experiment with botanicals in the column, redistilling, carbon filtering, and whatever else we can come up with. and more importantly, start the next batch to bubbling.
This site has already been a huge help and now doubt will continue to be, thanks to everyone for their generosity. ours is a wood-fired, spring-cooled, seat of the pants backwoods operation, we can use all the help we can getRead Read READ spend some time understanding the art and you will be amazed at what you can produce

Good Luck Play Safe and get some DEET

Coyote

It will get better, you can even run it with another wash to help improve flavor. Coyote had some great suggestions for you....
But I can't believe we are getting that picky that you can't even taste it with a plastic spoon especially if that is all that might be available at the time. Normally with high abv alcohol we do not promote the use of any plastic touching the alcohol but a small taste come-on guys?

Bushman I can't help but agree with you BUT DAMN IT MAN rules are rules!!

IF we start choosing which rules to follow next thing you know SOMEBODY
will start making illegal HOOCH and DRINKIN" IT

besides metal spoons are 2 for a buck at the dollar store

Coyote

Hats off to ya for your first run. My first was so bad it smelled like nail polish remover. (That is when I discovered what "smearing" is.. )

There are tons of threads here about the danger of plastics, so leave it out. I don't keep a spoon around, I just use my finger to take a taste.... but not the one with the paper cut.

I used to use my fingers to taste but the taste changed with the fingers , wonder where they been, lol.
Sounds like you got a good start but if ya got a bad wash there ain't much way to overcome that taste .try running it again might clean up or it could concentrate the taste BUT the experience is priceless. Happy stillin and welcome .