Help putting it all together please

[Salty Dawg]

After spending a month or so gleaning information from all corners of the interwebs, and a fair amount of time reading/lurking here, One could find themselves a little overwhelmed by the vast wealth of information/advice/how-to's etc. So, how does one break it all down to a specific direction.

Here is the hypothetical:

Still type - 8gal stainless dual purpose tower. Similar in nature to, say, one a person might by from Mile Hi.

Goal - Make delicious beverages where flavor is the goal as opposed to simply shooting for the highest proof.

The wandering off point - From vast amounts of reading (eyes have bled more than once) it seems that a majority of focus seems to be on ferment/distill efficiency in obtaining a high proof as opposed to taste. On more than once occasion the discussion around types of ingredients not having an effect on taste is brought up and only concerned about the ferment able sugars. I have a hard time thinking that this is the case, otherwise why use anything besides just sugar?

So, scenario -

If one was to aim for a good tasting drink where the flavors carried over, I am thinking that it would go something like this:

Ferment the desired mash
Run the described still as a pot still with perhaps a small amount of packing to assist with "cleaning" up the run, but not really shooting for the full reflux
Aim for making the cuts to maximize the hearts to retain for drinking and not worry about the rest (retain for later or whatever) Obviously this is probably the biggest learning curve point for obtaining a quality end product.
Age/flavor etc as per whatever is desired

A lot is written about stripping runs etc, but this seems to fall more in line with obtaining the highest proof as opposed to retaining flavor. It doesn't seem like a straight pot still shine would need this? Specifically corn shine/whiskey and rum based recipes would be a blue print as a starting point.

As one attempts to narrow down the vast wealth of information one has absorbed and attempts to point themselves in a specific direction, would that person be on the right track that I listed above? What might have that person missed out on along the way?

[NZChris]

For flavor, you only need a pot still. What is there to clean your whiskey and rum of, other than the flavors you actually want? Leave thoughts of cleaning for neutrals.

Some people do one pass through a pot still and reckon they make nice product. Good luck to them. Three or four stripping runs, then a spirit run will give you three or four times the volume to choose your cut from, plus a higher percentage of the total output at barrel proof. My fermenter will fill my pot four times so that one weekend of hard out stilling will have a decent amount of double distilled quality likker oaking in my cellar.

[Salty Dawg]

For flavor, you only need a pot still. What is there to clean your whiskey and rum of, other than the flavors you actually want? Leave thoughts of cleaning for neutrals.

Some people do one pass through a pot still and reckon they make nice product. Good luck to them. Three or four stripping runs, then a spirit run will give you three or four times the volume to choose your cut from, plus a higher percentage of the total output at barrel proof. My fermenter will fill my pot four times so that one weekend of hard out stilling will have a decent amount of double distilled quality likker oaking in my cellar.

Thanks for the clarification. I think now I have a decent plan of attack to venture off on.

[biker geek]

I'm a fan of CM type stills because they give you the option of doing a single run if you want to evaluate a recipe without fermenting and running a number of batches.

[underdog]

Hi!

I use a milk can electric boiler with a 60" 2" mesh-packed copper column. The column has sanitary clamps at either end, and a 2" Bokakob head attaches on top with a traditional coil condenser. I also have a Liebig-style product cooler attached to the liquid output pipe of the Bokakob, which is just a 1/4"copper line through a 1/2" length of CPVC.

Running slowly with the column in place, I have no problem producing 96% ethanol (used for various yummy flavors of pantydropper as well as diluted for vodka duty). The Liebig on the output makes sure that I don't have to handle hot liquid from the draw tray while running.

When I'm making UJSSM, I attach the Bokakob directly to the fitting on top of the boiler (don't need the 60" column) and run it like a pot still.

This gives me the best of both worlds. At some point, I was planning on building a separate pot still head to replace the Boka for pot still duty, but I haven't seen the need for it yet.

Anyway, this modular-style rig is pretty common. I just thought I'd give you something else to think about.

[Salty Dawg]

Hi!

I use a milk can electric boiler with a 60" 2" mesh-packed copper column. The column has sanitary clamps at either end, and a 2" Bokakob head attaches on top with a traditional coil condenser. I also have a Liebig-style product cooler attached to the liquid output pipe of the Bokakob, which is just a 1/4"copper line through a 1/2" length of CPVC.

Running slowly with the column in place, I have no problem producing 96% ethanol (used for various yummy flavors of pantydropper as well as diluted for vodka duty). The Liebig on the output makes sure that I don't have to handle hot liquid from the draw tray while running.

When I'm making UJSSM, I attach the Bokakob directly to the fitting on top of the boiler (don't need the 60" column) and run it like a pot still.

This gives me the best of both worlds. At some point, I was planning on building a separate pot still head to replace the Boka for pot still duty, but I haven't seen the need for it yet.

Anyway, this modular-style rig is pretty common. I just thought I'd give you something else to think about.

Thanks. Like I didn't have enough marbles rattling around loose in the ol' noggin already. I think the set up I will be running will be good enough for now. I do like hearing about how people use the different designs they have. GIves me something to think about if I start looking for another rig to focus in on one direction or another.

[Danespirit]

+1 On what NZChris wrote about that potstill..

I run both reflux and potstill.
The potstill is the easiest to build and a good startingpoint for learning the basics about distilling.
But there is more to it..a potstill gives you the option for fast strippingruns, you could run in a refluxcolumn later.
So however you look at it, a potstill is a good choice you won't regret.
You mentioned Mile Hi...their products seem to me as being good quality, however building your own will save you some real money...$$$
Have a look at the buildthreads in here, some of the members use simple materials i.e. stockpots and some copperpipe.
Such a still can be build without being a professional metalworker or having fancy equipment at hand.
If you do a little research on your own, a lot of helpful folks in here are ready to assist you to reach your goal.
Btw..the milkcan on the picture is my boiler, inexpensive and durable.

[Salty Dawg]

+1 On what NZChris wrote about that potstill..

I run both reflux and potstill.
The potstill is the easiest to build and a good startingpoint for learning the basics about distilling.
But there is more to it..a potstill gives you the option for fast strippingruns, you could run in a refluxcolumn later.
So however you look at it, a potstill is a good choice you won't regret.
You mentioned Mile Hi...their products seem to me as being good quality, however building your own will save you some real money...$$$
Have a look at the buildthreads in here, some of the members use simple materials i.e. stockpots and some copperpipe.
Such a still can be build without being a professional metalworker or having fancy equipment at hand.
If you do a little research on your own, a lot of helpful folks in here are ready to assist you to reach your goal.
Btw..the milkcan on the picture is my boiler, inexpensive and durable.

Boiler.jpg

I may build my own on down the way. To start I just wanted something I felt confident in. I have enough variables to worry about without worrying if my craftsmanship was up to snuff. Not that I'm any stranger to tools. Just wanted to eliminate some possible issues.