Greetings and new to the game

[Belial]

Hi all,

i am new to the game. i have done two runs with turbo yeast. After reading the forums I will not be using turbo yeast again. Although I have made 2 batches of very drinkable product. I have built and using a internal reflux still from a design i found on the internet. It has a large boiler easily holding a 27 litre wash. Forgive my terminology sometimes as still learning what all the abbreviations and terminology are. I have been careful in heads and tails although the post on using a reflux still will help in being better at the start. My product still has a sweet aroma. Is this the yeast and sugar used? I would like to add a picture of the still but yet to learn how. I would appreciate your feedback on attaining the best neutral spirit I can. Do I need to carbon wash? Out of a turbo yeast I only get 2.5 to 3.0 L of ethanol before the temperature cannot be stabilised when the tails kick in. I do not have the sharp smells usually associated with tails but it is still not odorless, but the slight sweetness as said before. The Ethanol produced has an alcohol content of 88% to 90%. I will post again with the exact details of my next run after using the technique of 30minutes full reflux to catch the foreshots and heads.

[Belial]

moonshine-still.com/page22.htm

This page shows my still. Maybe that will help. It is exact to this design.

Regards,

Belial.

[Uncle Jesse]

Alcohol is sweet. It has a nice bouquet and is sweet to the taste.

[Belial]

Many thanks.
I have been brewing beer and storing and drinking from kegs for many many years and decided recently to try my hand at this. I am excited at having produced 2 runs and checking everything to my knowledge thus far. Sometimes too critical and have been expecting to achieve an odorless result. Although there is much to learn.
After reading about Turbo yeast I cannot wait to try the alternatives and by the sounds may get a better yield and product. Maybe get different flavours in the spirit.
If I am careful in not collecting the foreshots and cutting off at the right time for the tails...would a carbon wash improve the product at all? Or would I be wasting my time in relation to the still used.

[BW Redneck]

From what I hear, carbon is a W.O.M.B.A.T.- Waste Of Money, Brains And Time. It's a real bitch to filter out, and if proper cuts are taken and your still is designed correctly, then it won't need it.

You say that you have an IR still? This design is not exactly the best design out there. The bottom cooling tube robs boiler power and disturbs the equilibrium in the column. Move it closer to the top, making sure that it is perpendicular to the one already put in (so that the tubes form an X when viewed from the top).

[tracker0945]

Soaking on carbon or running the diluted spirit through a carbon filter as well as aerating (either by bubbling with a small air pump or regularly shaking the storage vessel) and leaving the top open can all help towards improving some of the off tastes associated with running turbo's or taking wrong cuts but - better slower running washes will produce a cleaner product which if run slowly and cut correctly will need none of the above treatments.
Cheers and keep going, it will only get better.

[HookLine]

What BW and Tracker said.

[Ricky]

carbon filtering is a great thing for covering up mistakes. it took me a while to figure this out. if you make the proper cuts carbon is not needed. if you dont carbon helps a lot. i have gotten to the point that i only make vodka by request. a potstill and whiskey is so much more enjoyable for me. i have heard that with the right wash good vodka can be made in a potstill. i will soon know. keep practicing and you will get it. Good Luck!

[Belial]

You guys are fair dinkum. I appreciate the advice. Can't wait for the next run on friday.