pot still / thumper?

[motorhead]

Hi All,
Brand new to the forum. I've been reading all i can about distilling on the forum and in some books i've bought. I'm interested in distilling only whiskey currently and have been looking at some different pot still designs to build. In everyone else's opinion is it worthwhile to use a thumper with a pot still or will it strip to much flavor from the whiskey? I like the idea of using the thumper for a stronger product but dont want to lose the flavor of a pot still. Opinions?

[punkin]

Although there's a couplea guys here that own a thumper, you'll find it's a pretty widely held consensus here that it's as good or better to do a bunch of stripping runs and combine them together for a final spirit run.

This'll get your abv up from 60- 65% average from single runs to 75-80% for your second run. Either way you have to water it back down anyway (or i do anyway).

The higher percentage and cleaner wash does make it much more obvious where your cuts should take place though a thumper may serve the same purpose.

There is also some more variables you can play around with (if that's your thing) with a thumper by varying what you start with in there....water, wash, heads, ect

Seems to be a personal preference thing, if your heating fuels a major cost, or your time is very limited, maybe a thumper would be a saving?

[As-Ol-Joe]

What punkin said.

Single run and you gt all the flavor and you still have to cut it. ~60%

[Usge]

From what others have noted here..I think some of that depends on what you run in your thumper. General rule of thumb, make the thumper about 45-50% the size of your pot and fill it 1/2 full with "low-wines". If I recall correctly, (somebody correct this if it's not correct), the thumper sustains a "longer" run at higher abv...as opposed to just increasing reflux. This in turn keeps more of the flavor profile from the low-wines than would be the case if you refluxed extreme variances 94% - 55% and blended it together —completely different flavor profiles. That's my basic understanding of it from reading posts from those round here who know about such things.

There are all sorts of ways/designs to increase reflux....even on traditional potstills. Take a look at whisky stills from Scotland, with long, tall necks, wasp waist pots, bulbous onion additions and varation in neck/lyne arm design (some angle up, some down, etc.,). Some people here use various hybrids, etc., of reflux columns, etc., to do single runs at higher abv of things like UJSM and prefer the flavor profile of single runs to 2nd distillation—it tastes different. Whether or not thats better or not is entirely subjective and up to whatever you prefer.

The starting abv of your mash/wash would also be a factor as to probable single runs. Sugar based washes that easily get 10-13% abv out of wash is a different proposition to single distill...than say....a 3-5% all grain cooked mash. There are a few people here who run and/or understand thumpers and their reflux and other parameters. Personally, much as I'd be tempted to play around with one, I don't have the space for it. But, you might try doing a search here on the subject because as I recall, some of those people have posted a lot of info about it. (including links to some pictures and even movies of a glass thumper in action).

[Tater]

Hi All,
Brand new to the forum. I've been reading all i can about distilling on the forum and in some books i've bought. I'm interested in distilling only whiskey currently and have been looking at some different pot still designs to build. In everyone else's opinion is it worthwhile to use a thumper with a pot still or will it strip to much flavor from the whiskey? I like the idea of using the thumper for a stronger product but dont want to lose the flavor of a pot still. Opinions?

A thumper isnt going to raise proof all that much .It however can be used to enhance flavor of a wash.

[motorhead]

Thats the answer i'm looking for, so far everything I've read on this site about Thumpers has been about increasing purity, not so much about enhancing taste. So I can increase flavor in whiskey through the use of a thumper? Would i just use my wash in the thumper or should i use the tails from the last batch or a mix? OR can I use something completely diferent (an essence?)to add a flavor to a whiskey that wasnt present to start with? If thats the case it opens up lots of possibilities.....

[punkin]

Thats the answer i'm looking for, so far everything I've read on this site about Thumpers has been about increasing purity, not so much about enhancing taste. So I can increase flavor in whiskey through the use of a thumper? Would i just use my wash in the thumper or should i use the tails from the last batch or a mix? OR can I use something completely diferent (an essence?)to add a flavor to a whiskey that wasnt present to start with? If thats the case it opens up lots of possibilities.....

Have you actually got some whiskey that's lacking flavour?

Or is it all maybes?


Try a pot still (when you build it) with a simple wash like UJSM (any grain) and then see if it's not enough flavour for you. I think you're worried about something that's not gunna hapen.

[motorhead]

that is entirely possible. Could be that there's absolutely no need for a thumper and the whiskey a pot still makes has more than enough flavor. This is at this point all "maybe's". I'm a tinkerer by nature and am building my first still. I trying to get a grasp on what everything does and why it does it and the thumper was not well explained in any of the material i found. I mean, how it worked was explained, but real insight on what it can give or take away was not. Anyway you've all answered my question, thanks. This is a great forum. There is an absolute wealth of info here

[Jameson Beam]

that is entirely possible. Could be that there's absolutely no need for a thumper and the whiskey a pot still makes has more than enough flavor. This is at this point all "maybe's". I'm a tinkerer by nature and am building my first still. I trying to get a grasp on what everything does and why it does it and the thumper was not well explained in any of the material i found. I mean, how it worked was explained, but real insight on what it can give or take away was not. Anyway you've all answered my question, thanks. This is a great forum. There is an absolute wealth of info here

One thing you will find with a thumper is that it creates back pressure on you still head. So unless your still is totally airtight - your going to get some vapor leakage. I have found them not that useful - other then for adding additional flavors as some have already said. More of a pain in the butt then anything else. Just do a double run if necessary.

Vino es Veritas,
Jim.