Pot vs Reflux

[YankeeShine]

What's the difference in flavor between triple distilling through a pot still or once through a reflux still? Can you run a reflux still and make exact cuts, and then blend to get the same tasting product you would from a pot still? If I'm understanding how things work correctly, either method takes the same amount of mass our of a wash, but the pot still smears the different elements while the reflux still takes them out separately. So doesn't it make sense that with blending the result of reflux distillation you can get a similar product to what you'd get from pot distillation? I have a 20 gallon stainless tank that I'm going to use as a boiler and I have a 2" pot still head with a Liebig arm from my last still. I'm thinking about using some 2" pipe I have to make a a boka but am more interested in making flavored spirits and I'm wondering if the reflux will actually save me time because I could run once and blend rather than 2 or three times through the pot to get the same results? Also, is a 2" boka compatible with a 20 gallon boiler?
Thanks

[beelah]

a 2'' should work fine, as you should never put in more that 15 gallons of wash in anyway....as for the reflux idea, having run both now, by far you get more flavour from the pot still, and you seem more interested in flavoured product..so go that route...if it is time you want to save, then go with a bigger diameter column...larger diameter...faster run...higher column...cleaner product.

But if you are wanting flavour, then why are you running it three times through your pot?...maybe you just need to run it slower and do better cuts.

And on the blending...that takes time to learn, and I am not so sure you will end up with what you are looking for...this is one hobby where there are no short cuts that end up with you getting better product...it takes time and patience and lots of trial and error before you start to get what you are looking for.

[the fojizzle]

Hi,
I don't know if this is the best post to ask this but I am running a boka and everytime I try and reflux product comes out of my thermometer port. I am afraid this will run down and catch fire. How have you veterans done it to stop this from happening? I have been toying with closing the port up to help prevent this or is it okay? I do have a large vent hole at the top of my column but since the thermometer port is between the slant plates, it wants to come out thru there when the needle cable is closed. Any help would be great. New to this, only 2 runs so far, all in pot still mode but when I close that valve and the temp goes up that happens.
Thanks

[beelah]

a couple of things you can do...depending on how big of a post you have, some folks have put a cork in the port, with a hole to fit the thermometer in it... maybe your port need to be repositioned so you amore acute angle and also make it longer to get above the fluid level of the slant plate....what I use on my boka is a flour and water paste...actually more like a dough consistency and just wrap a big wad of it around the end of the port and thermometer...always sealed up good for me...and don't be worried about blocking the port up if the top of the column is open to atmosphere.

[the fojizzle]

Thanks! That's a great idea. I will try that!