Home Distiller

I run a pot for bourbon, rum and soon to be single malt and have a question regarding the changes from heads, hearts and tails. Typically I run a heavy load of wash for say rum, about 20 gallons which strips down to about 12 gallons of low wines. Haven't averaged the abv on my strip but came out with about 7-1/2 gallons of 70% after cuts to age.

My question is, my heads on this run came to about 4-1/2 quarts, hearts about 5 gallons then at about 60% tails came rather quickly going from 60% to 35% in about 3 quarts. Is this typical for a pot still? I'm curious if this is normal or do I need to tweak the way I run my still. I start off with a pretty heavy stream not separating the foreshot as I know I'll just use the first three quarts for cleaning solvent anyway so why toss what will be used. When I get the first quart to quart and a half I tone the stream down rather this and run this until my still tells me to turn up the heat (usually at about 65%) I try to maintain this output through occasional adjustment until I find 40% coming across. Usually I collect down to 30% and shut it down. I'll hold on to the tails and use them in my cuts. They never taste or smell off but seem just watered down. My 30 gal wash for rum after good cuts seems to yield about 5-1/2 gallons of 70% proofed down to age by barrel.

Typical for a pot still?

The one thing I would suggest. Slow down the fores and heads takeoff to your normal takeoff speed. By taking it off faster you will ne pushing good hearts through also. Smearing the cuts a bit. Are you making your cuts right off the still or sitting them air out before you make them?

As far as numbers of how much you get being typical. I'm in the mindset that there is no typical. And you get what you get. It all depends the still, how you run it, the wash, where the moon is. If you read this thread you will see why I say this.
How much will I get from my still?
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 46&t=30266

I aired this out for a couple days. Its getting chilly out though and the distillate was on the cooler side. It tough removing volatiles at 50*F... Still, the smell and taste were both very smooth during cuts and before proofing. This was a basic rum and will be aged for a 8 months or so (over winter through to summer) in a used oak barrel with interim sampling.

Taking the example from your reply: With the example above. "10 gal @ 10% will get you approx 1 gallon of drink after cuts, and diluting to drinking strength."
@ 60 gal. of wash say 9-10% give or take due to un-fermentables I end up with 4 or so gallons of decent drink @ 70%, proof it down to 65% for aging to make 5-1/2 gallons. Anyway with all said and done, its barreled and will be put away for occasional sampling or the kids can fight over it. Whichever comes first.

I'm sure AG to fill a barrel will test my endurance....