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Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:26 am
by utvol
I have a ket still that has a 2 inch column. I had never heard of a gin basket but could I put something like this at the base of my keg and put the column on top?
I drink more gin than I do whiskey but didn't realize i could make it with a pot still.
thanks in advance for any information given.
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:33 pm
by Demy
Generally the gin basket is positioned at the top, near the product outlet.
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:54 pm
by MooseMan
I have a keg still exactly like yours utvol, but I run my gins in a tiny pot still a litre or two at a time so that I can try loads of different ingredients, it suits me just like it does many other guys on here.
I put a little stainless mesh ball under my riser to use as a gin basket but honestly I'm beginning to sway more and more towards just putting everything in the boil.
Have a good read through Odin's easy gin thread, it's worth your time.
I do basically what NZchris describes in that thread for my gin making, and it turns out great!
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 1:03 pm
by Archee72
As Mooseman says you can follow Odins guide with your potstill, no need for the basket?
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 1:05 pm
by NZChris
2" is a very narrow basket, which means high vapor speed through the botanicals, plus a risk of blowing botanicals into your condenser unless you run very slow. There was a post a while back by someone who had trouble using one.
Probably ok for a few citrus peels, but not for the whole bill.
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 1:52 pm
by utvol
MooseMan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 12:54 pm
I have a keg still exactly like yours utvol, but I run my gins in a tiny pot still a litre or two at a time so that I can try loads of different ingredients, it suits me just like it does many other guys on here.
I put a little stainless mesh ball under my riser to use as a gin basket but honestly I'm beginning to sway more and more towards just putting everything in the boil.
Did you make or buy the small still you use for gin? Do you have any photos? I had not thought about just making a new small one just for gin.
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 2:02 pm
by NZChris
I built my mini gin still using a saucepan and steamer I found in a charity shop and copper bits found at a scrappy. It is the cheapest still I ever built and is my most often used still. The steamer gives me a huge botanical basket. It has made fantastic products, many of them experimental using local, in season, produce.
Try to find one that has a lid that forms a trough that can be easily filled with flour paste.
After a while I got over having to clean fusels out of the condenser after it had been used on the main still and I built it its own SS one that I never clean.
Re: Gin basket
Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2023 2:14 pm
by MooseMan
utvol wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 1:52 pmDid you make or buy the small still you use for gin? Do you have any photos? I had not thought about just making a new small one just for gin.
Yes I made the small still that I use for gin after doing some research. Like I said, I'd strongly advise you read the OEG thread, it's gin making gospel.
What I ended up with is a bit of a freaky looking thing and a bit oddball, but it works great and ignoring the condenser, the same thing could be done with just a std liebig.
Do a search for "Stock pot gin still" and you should find it, but there are many more, and better mini stills to see on here, mines just recent.