Methanol testing?

Billfro · Post by **Billfro** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:26 pm

I have read how toxic methanol is and that the foreshots are to be tossed because they contains methanol, aecetone, etc. I discarded the first 3 oz from my first pass through my pot still. I plan on double or triple distilling my batches and discarding the first 3 oz each time.

My concern is that methanol is toxic. I have checked online for tests for the presence of methanol, but can't find anything useful. I am asking the old hands what they do to ensure what they are making is safe to drink.

Thanks for all the advice,

Billfro

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 7:39 pm

Just continue doing what you are already doing. Though you probably don't need to throw out much on the second and third runs, as pretty well all of it would have been removed on the first run.

tracker0945 · Post by **tracker0945** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 12:52 am

If you are tossing your foreshots and keeping your heads for re-running, chances of consuming enough methanol to even taste would be zero.
Just think, distilleries which use continual distillation units do not toss any foreshots or heads, so you have unknowingly been drinking them all along.

duds2u · Post by **duds2u** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:15 am

Continuing on the same line, Scotch malt distillers throw nothing away, not even what we call foreshots. Figure that out!

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:22 am

Yeah, the only difference between us and the big boys is the fores removal and the hangover gained from drinking their spirits, I wonder if the two are related?

Post by **Usge** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:47 pm

The hangovers I get from the scotch I drink will make you feel like somebody stuck a tube up your nose and the Jolly Green Giant farted in it !! Ho, Ho, Ho.

As-Ol-Joe · Post by **As-Ol-Joe** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:49 pm

Daaamn, what a visual.

arkansas · Post by **arkansas** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:33 am

Never seen that one coming.

zymos · Post by **zymos** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 7:05 am

Of course you want to avoid drinking methanol, but wanted to point out 2 things:

Much of the association in people's minds between moonshine and methanol is due to denatured alcohol being passed of as beverage alcohol, in other words, having EXTRA methanol added.Sloppy distillation is minor compared to that.

Otherwise, that methanol came from fermentation, and is present in varying amounts in all other non-distilled fermented beverages that people commonly drink, yet most folks never think of that as a health issue.

Again, I'm all for keeping known poisons (except ethanol maybe...) out of your body, but it's good to keep things in perspective...

Billfro · Post by **Billfro** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:14 am

I appreciate everyone's comments. This is a great community.

Thanks to all,

Billfro

dog1976 · Post by **dog1976** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:00 am

duds2u wrote:Continuing on the same line, Scotch malt distillers throw nothing away, not even what we call foreshots. Figure that out!

Damn, and it takes them 12 years to make something that tastes like sxxx.