Turbo 500 and flavor essences vs DIY
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:41 pm
I've been on the fence for a while now about distilling. I was at my home brew shop gathering ingredients for a beer the other day when I saw the Turbo 500. I was intrigued. An electric, fine controlled still system. I have a spare keg and had I gone DIY I would have either made or bought a tower to fit onto said keg. But this involved me putting in an electric element, some welding, etc. After looking into this a bit, it seems like they really dumb it down and make it super easy.
However, They seem to recommend a sugar wash only (whether for simplicity or equipment IDK) and use essences or basically flavors to add to you neutral spirit to make a brandy or bourbon or rum or scotch, etc. But I feel like this is a half ass way of making something. If I want to make bourbon, I would think I need a grain bill for the wash, then use a pot still to make my whiskey, then age it on oak.
But to be practical, this probably takes TIME to get it where you want in terms of quality.
So...
1) are the premade flavors any good?
2) can you add anything to them to alter them for more character?
3) Why can't you make a grain bill and put it in there?
Just a few things I'm thinking about. I'm intrigued because $500 for a ready to distill package is a damned good deal. I previously thought about the mile hi distilling towers, but that requires keg work on my part. But it would save a bit. I also like the auto off on the turbo 500. I wouldn't know how to make an auto off for my element.
However, They seem to recommend a sugar wash only (whether for simplicity or equipment IDK) and use essences or basically flavors to add to you neutral spirit to make a brandy or bourbon or rum or scotch, etc. But I feel like this is a half ass way of making something. If I want to make bourbon, I would think I need a grain bill for the wash, then use a pot still to make my whiskey, then age it on oak.
But to be practical, this probably takes TIME to get it where you want in terms of quality.
So...
1) are the premade flavors any good?
2) can you add anything to them to alter them for more character?
3) Why can't you make a grain bill and put it in there?
Just a few things I'm thinking about. I'm intrigued because $500 for a ready to distill package is a damned good deal. I previously thought about the mile hi distilling towers, but that requires keg work on my part. But it would save a bit. I also like the auto off on the turbo 500. I wouldn't know how to make an auto off for my element.