First try at rum

[GilesCorey]

Just made my first batch of rum.
4kg blackstrap molasses
1kg raw sugar
2 pkts ec1118c
1tsp citric acid.
made up to 25ltrs

The SG started at 1090 which is higher than I was expecting. The wash is very dark in colour so is the other stuff in the wash affecting the hydrometer reading?

Other than that I pitched the yeast at 32C and I had the airlock bubling within an hour or so. 3 days later and its still going strong.

My plan is to put it through the pot still twice.

[old_red_eye]

I also started a rum wash, I guessed at some of the amounts because
I could not find an exact recipe.

5 kg Crosby's Fancy Molassas ($9.99 cdn)
3 kg Lantia brilliant yellow sugar
2 oranges
22 liters water
15 gm EC1118 yeast

The starting SG was really too high at 1.110, next time I will cut back.
But I also wonder if the molassas causes an incorrect (high) SG reading.

It is working fine and after 5 days the SG is 1.060.

[wineo]

Well,I started a rum a few days ago too,my first one. I did mine a little diferent.I used 14 pounds of light brown sugar,4 pounds of dark brown sugar,1 cup of molassis,and I used the black label turbo yeast.The wash is about 27 Liters.This is my first try at a rum,and I didnt want it to be too heavy.I will let you all know how it turns out.
wineo

[Big J]

The wash is very dark in colour so is the other stuff in the wash affecting the hydrometer reading?

Yes, it is. The hydrometer won't give you an accurate potential alcohol reading if you use molasses. But it is useful for calculating the difference in o.g. and f.g. and thereby knowing your % alcohol.

You can calculate your actual potential alcohol this way: Blackstrap is approx 50% sugar. So you have 2 kgs of sugar from the molasses and 1 from the sugar for 3 total. Use the calculator here: http://homedistiller.org/sugar/wash-sugar/sg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow 3kgs of sugar made up to 25 liters gives you an s.g. of 1.046 or 7.1% potential alcohol.

Cheers,
J

[possum]

Blackstrap has alot of fine suspended particles, that will eventually settle out if (1) it is suffently dilluted, and (2) you are extremely patient at a cool temp.

[GilesCorey]

Thanks for the good info guys. The sg is now 1020 and the wash tastes bloody awful but has not a hint of sweetness.

I will leave it a few days to settle then run it twice through the pot still.

This distilling lark is such an adventure.........

[hornedrhodent]

I got a stuck wash using molasses wash dunder - it was so sour I reckoned the Ph was too low, so I took half the wash and added bicarb soda till it stopped fizzing then put the treated half back with the rest and it worked a treat.

[GilesCorey]

I ran my rum wash through the pot still this morning. Yeild was 2 litres of 62%. Definite rum smell and pretty smooth taste. I will add a little molasses to it to give it some colour and a bit of sweetness.

Thanks for the advice.