Rectifying questions.... gin from vodka
Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:26 am
Hello,
I'm not sure if this is a good place to ask but there seem to be a lot of knowledgeable people here so....
I'm interested in rectifying vodka to occasionally make gin at home using a small copper alembic 3 to 5L pot still (I'm aware of the requirements for a UK rectifier's license) but I'm having trouble finding the answers to some basic questions.
1) Starting with duty-paid, supermarket vodka, I'm assuming that, because it contains pretty much only ethyl alcohol and water, I'm not in danger of producing any other toxic substances (methyl alcohol, acetone .... etc)?
2) There is a lot of reference to making cuts, heads, hearts, tails etc. on the web and on this forum. Am I right to think that this only relevant when distilling alcohol from scratch (which isn't the plan)? Starting with a commercial vodka, do I only have to worry about stopping the rectification once the alcohol concentration in the distillate starts to drop?
3) If I'm heating gently to evaporate the alcohol and not boil the water, is 'bumping' (?) something I should worry about?
4) Whilst making gin, is it normal to leave the botanicals in or take them out before rectifying (I'm assuming they will have been seeping in the vodka)? Or is that just a personal taste choice?
5) I've read lots of controversy about whether to use a thermometer (not intending to start a new debate about that); I'm planning to use one to help me get the feel of the process. From what I have read, I would expect the temperature at the top of the swan neck to be about the temperature of whatever is boiling: so ~ 80C whilst the ethyl alcohol is coming off and then going up towards about 100C as the water starts to evaporate regardless (almost) of how hard I heat. Is that right?
Just for clarification, I'm sure that whatever equipment I plan to use, there will be lots of folk who suggest I use something better, more efficient, more expensive or complicated. I'm just planning on doing this for fun, on a limited budget and because I'm interested in gins.
(Apologies if this isn't the right place to ask these questions, in which case is there a more appropriate forum?)
Many thanks,
Magicbean.
I'm not sure if this is a good place to ask but there seem to be a lot of knowledgeable people here so....
I'm interested in rectifying vodka to occasionally make gin at home using a small copper alembic 3 to 5L pot still (I'm aware of the requirements for a UK rectifier's license) but I'm having trouble finding the answers to some basic questions.
1) Starting with duty-paid, supermarket vodka, I'm assuming that, because it contains pretty much only ethyl alcohol and water, I'm not in danger of producing any other toxic substances (methyl alcohol, acetone .... etc)?
2) There is a lot of reference to making cuts, heads, hearts, tails etc. on the web and on this forum. Am I right to think that this only relevant when distilling alcohol from scratch (which isn't the plan)? Starting with a commercial vodka, do I only have to worry about stopping the rectification once the alcohol concentration in the distillate starts to drop?
3) If I'm heating gently to evaporate the alcohol and not boil the water, is 'bumping' (?) something I should worry about?
4) Whilst making gin, is it normal to leave the botanicals in or take them out before rectifying (I'm assuming they will have been seeping in the vodka)? Or is that just a personal taste choice?
5) I've read lots of controversy about whether to use a thermometer (not intending to start a new debate about that); I'm planning to use one to help me get the feel of the process. From what I have read, I would expect the temperature at the top of the swan neck to be about the temperature of whatever is boiling: so ~ 80C whilst the ethyl alcohol is coming off and then going up towards about 100C as the water starts to evaporate regardless (almost) of how hard I heat. Is that right?
Just for clarification, I'm sure that whatever equipment I plan to use, there will be lots of folk who suggest I use something better, more efficient, more expensive or complicated. I'm just planning on doing this for fun, on a limited budget and because I'm interested in gins.
(Apologies if this isn't the right place to ask these questions, in which case is there a more appropriate forum?)
Many thanks,
Magicbean.