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So i was thinking about infusing botanicals and things into my runs on my new pot still. A gin basket came to mind but the fores and heads would take most the flavor. So i started to think about bypass systems and it started to get way over complicated, at this point i thought about dunder talkin about shootin the thumper. I dont want to opwn an active thumper to add stuff or stop the run mid stream so i came up with somthing else. Three ball valves inline with 6" in between and a cap at the end 6" piece atached to my thumper fill port with stuff inbetween each section.. With this i can add flavors to the spirit anytime i want durring the run without exposing vapor or shutting down. Any thoughts on this? Pros cons?

Hmmm ....... Interesting proposition . Lot of complicated plumbing that will have to get up to temperature to achieve the result you are after . ? Will that put you behind the curve on a run ? I'd be more inclined to kill the fire briefly after fores and early heads came off and then shoot the thumper with additives . Less than 15 minutes for all vapor activity to stop > Shoot the thumper and relight the fire > 5-7 minutes and you are back in business .
Just wild ass guess . I've never tried this .

Sounds complicated. Maybe I just don't get what you mean.

I would have thought one valve would be enough, two at the most.

Why do you not finish a spirit run, and do a third run with the botanicals? That's the way jenever is made.

My gin is stronge as ever after fores and heads have been through. You could always up your botanical count if you off it stronge for hearts. yours is a good idea and should work if I'm understanding you right, fill port, valve, tube, valve, tube?, fill the top tube with the valve closed, open the valve realising botanicals into tube between valves, open second valve realising botanicals into boiler?. Only problem I see is botanicals getting stuck or caught in valve mechanism. I think Myles did something similar . Good luck mate, don't forget pictures!!.

hstuurman wrote:Why do you not finish a spirit run, and do a third run with the botanicals? That's the way jenever is made.

That's my suggestion as well. First make a base drink, doing cuts, then do a botanicals run.

Odin.

I dont see it as complicated at all. Just a couple valves in a row to dump shit into the thumper. I was thinking more of a rum than gin with vanilla and other rummy things. As for the spirit run thats allot of hearts into the boiler that would come out to light tasting.thanks for the comments. Of course myles did something like this what hasnt he done. I just havnt seen a thread of his about it. I dont think the stuff would get stuck but just in case i should have whatever im shooting the thump with in liquidesk form.

I make my jenever different form Odin, take a small amout (2 ltr) of alcohol, and use a small still with a botanical basket, this way you create a strong essence, which you can mix with the greater bulk (for jenever 10 ml/ltr). The same can been done with rum I think.

Another great reason to do it is because having your very own airlock just like in space is very cool.
It doesn't always have to be about anything other than just playing.
I've actually given this idea a thought but came up with a tippable cup/lid idea inside the thumper. Now I just need to get a thumper.

A tippable cup ? How would you tip it? If its on a swing arm how are you gonna seal it? Any way the rum that just stopped bubbling is gonna be very light so i want to do single runs to preserve the most flavor.

pfshine wrote: If its on a swing arm how are you gonna seal it?

with a rubber grommet of course!!!! hahaha, I kill me. NO!! Not Rubber.
actually I have no idea, was just a wacky idea running thru my skull to be able to do something the most difficult way possible. I'm like that.

The whole shooting the thumper conversation has gotten me thinking up some crazy thoughts that I will never follow thru with. Add those t the gazillion other ideas up there..... SQUIRREL!!!!!!!

A diverter valve to allow vapour to go directly to condensor and bypass thump.
Once Fores and heads through switch to thumper.

Though your thumper will not be up to temp at this time so it may not work? (newb here)

Maybe a hotplate of some sort to get thumper warm?

Dunno just ideas running through my head.
Again newb so prob missed something obvious.


And Yes I know my Paint(less) skills are bad lol

Planethax -

What about running the diverted vapor pipe THROUGH the thumper. I'd heat the thumper to correct temps and it would be ready when you switched to thumper mode. Need only one valve that way.

'Course there may be a risk of some backwash going to the thumper, but that shouldn't be too bad.

I'm thinking have a length of pipe coming vertically from your thumper or boiler with a butterfly valve underneath to allow the botanicals etc. to drop down. Just have to turn it. Have the top of the pipe have a screw top or something so you could easily add the things and clean it

MadMasher wrote:I'm thinking have a length of pipe coming vertically from your thumper or boiler with a butterfly valve underneath to allow the botanicals etc. to drop down. Just have to turn it. Have the top of the pipe have a screw top or something so you could easily add the things and clean it

didn't someone do something like this already?? I seem to remember seeing it in the last few months.

That is what i was thinking. I just couldnt spit it out. Where the triclamp is vertically add a piece of 3/4 then a ball valve another piece of pipe another ball valve a couple more times with a cap on the end not soldered.

So ... you will be "thumping" botanicals? Is that the idea? If so, why not put them in the boler liquids. Lower abv means more taste concentration ...

Odin.

If you only intend to do one shot, one valve should be enough, have a cap if it makes you feel better or safer or it gets hot. If you wanted to do measured dosing through the run, two valves spaced to give your desired volume would be good, but I can't think of a reason to do it .... yet. With two valves, no cap would be needed unless you're running your still pissed or want to keep the flies out.

What I don't know, is what happens when you shoot cold high, or low proof into a boiler or thumper. There is probably an immediate expansion or contraction of the vapor. It might be safer not to have it vapor locked when shooting, in which case, a single valve and no cap would be the way to go.

I really think the best way is just to do another run as odin suggested, this sorta thing is his forte.

Jamaican rum makers have control over the contents of their double thumpers, so it's not that weird an idea. Having a method of adjusting molasses, low wines, botanicals, etc., during a run and being able to sense the difference almost straight away at the spout sounds good to me.

So here it is i made it a few days ago. I still need to do all the cleaning on it and polish it up. We will see how she works tonight on my many rum runs.

I like it. Kinda like a space airlock thingy as someone previously mentioned.

What are you looking at shootin in on rum, Molasses??

For sure keep us posted on your findings.

Im gonna try vanilla beans first then other spiced rum stuff. Then who knows what. I am open to suggestions.

Hmm I don't know could be completely wrong here but I would think a high flavor liquid would be your best shot at getting carry over in the distillate at noticible levels. I would probably try something like a vanilla extract if the vanilla beans dont carry over enough flavor, or coconut, hell maybe even pineapple extract, or shoot in some almond extract and make amaretto rum. In theory sounds like you are going to be sippin some fine stuff.

Well we will see here in about 20 minutes. The cleaning runs done about to start reall runs.

It works like a charm couldn't be any better. The flavor change is immediate i couldnt ask for more. The vanilla skins give a bit of bitterness but that can be solved by scraping the guts out and putting it in a liquid solution.

Nice!! Yet a norther reason for me to build a thumper.