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Ive been reading and reading and reading and lately been obsessed with UJSSM all 150+pages. The problem is the more that I read instead of getting answer it just seems to be so much info bouncing all over the place i think that im over thinking and confusing myself. My 5gal Pot still is built and worked terrific did 1 run after cleaning runs and learned quite a bit modified a few things (changed lyne arm added some copper unions) and have it right where I want it. I have mash that has been bubbling away and is just about ready to distill so I'm going to take what I learned the first time and try to do a better run this time (after more cleaning runs again) this time im going to do a double distill and just want to make sure i'm going to do it right. Here is my plan please tell me if I'm understanding the info overload that I have taken in correctly.

1) Distill and collect all of my wash (foreshot, heads, hearts, and tails)
2) add all that I have collected back to the backset in the still
3) distill again
4) discard 200ml foreshot
5) collect rest in pint jars to make cuts
6) keep heads
7) after adding 7 lbs sugar to 1 1/4 gallons of hot backset let cool to 90deg then add back to fermenter with 3 3/4gal water
let ferment for 3-4 days do it all over again

I'm not sure if I should post this here of under the UJSSM post so going to post it in both sections. Any help, advice or confirmation of my plan would be greatly appreciated.

Please don't post the same questions in multiple places. Ee just had someone post almost this same question 4 times in multiple threads just yesterday.

Double distilling.
Distill the wash. Would ne called a stripping run or first run. Collect all but the foreshots. These would be called low wines. Use the backset (stuff left in the boiler) to start the second generation of wash. Dilute the distillate collected to 40% ABV or under with water. And put this back into the still and run it again. would be called a spirit run or second run. You may need to do more then one first run and combine the low wines for a spirit run. Depending on how your still is set up. Usually 3 strip runs will give you enough low wines for a full boiler charge for a spirit run.

Sorry bout double posting but was looking for a an experienced person to ask and also was about UJSSM so kinda fit both plus figured that with now 157 pages i might not get answered but I'm not about to post the same thing 4 different times. I wish there was a clear conclusion at the end of a thread it seems that there is bits and pieces of info all over the place and many times the thread goes off into several different directions and would be nice if after a discussion on a particular subject that it would just be summed up. What your saying is about what I was planning but I dont remember the UJSSM reciepe calling for a spirit run. Also says to not dispose of foreshots and to add everything back.

Your first distillation run will be a "sweet" run since you will not have any backset to use for sour mashing. I recommend using the spirits you collect in your first run as feints for the next run. Yes, all of them. Your second run will produce your first batch of sour mash, which will be good, but in truth the flavour and consistency will not start to reach their peak until the third or fourth run in my experience.

Every time I find an answer to 1 question it seems like I run into something that contradicts that answer so as for us that are new this can be very confusing. So now I dont know if i should be saving up and doing a spirit run as you mentioned or if I should just double distill and be done also dont know if I should dispose of foreshot at you mention and is common practice or if i should follow the UJSSM recipe and add it back into backset and then dispose of after 2nd distill.

Kinda scared to ask questions to be honest as I have seen so many ripped to shreds by what seem to be more experienced members that are just annoyed by what are stupid questions to them but I'd be willing to bet were confusing to them as well when they first started. In all fairness though many deserved the ripping as their arrogant responses and refusal to listen would push just about anyone's limits.

You are just making it harder for yourself. Over thinking it.

What you should be seeing is. There are so many ways to skin this cat. And that you shoukd experiment to find which way works best for you. I could tell you exactly how I do it. Then tell you not to do it any other way. And when you do it. You end up with something you don't like. Or it just won't work for you. I can think of a dozen ways to do a UJSSM. All will give a little different outcome. And or different process to fit different equipment needs. Are any of them the wrong way. No not really. They mite not give you what you are looking for. But they mite work for Joe lunchbox.

It's all a mix of exact science and magic. But until you try for yourself. You won't figure out what's what.

So pick a direction and try it. If it doesn't work or you just feel the need. Try it a different way the next time. Until you find the best way for you.

Yes sometimes you see new members hammered. But usually the answer is right on the end of their nose. And you just gota slap it off so they can see it. Like when my wife is running around the house throwing a fit because she can't find her glasses. And they are on her face. Slap hello!

There is no stupid question. But don't get upset if someone tells you the question you asked is stupid. Or they hammer you. Take it as the old man slapping you on the back of the head. And move on.

And if you word the question as if you actually tried to find the answer. Most will point you in the right direction.

The must read new distiller reading lounge. Has most if not all the answers to the most frequent asked questions. If it cant be found there the parent site will have something. But it takes time for it to soak in. So reading it multiple times helps tremendously.

As far as recipes. Take the discussions as ideas of different ways to do it. And figure out which one sounds best for you. And go for it.