Sodium Carbonate and soapy smell
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2023 5:09 pm
On my journey to produce the best vodka (and neutral for gin), I decided to add Sodium Carbonate to my low wines before my spirit run. I got my Sodium Carbonate from an organic grocery nearby and made sure it was 100% pure as it was in the cleaning product section and sold as washing soda.
I was quite surprised to notice a "ozonic, clean dishwasher" smell coming out of my still about halfway through the hearts...
I smelled the "cristaux de soude" and they actually have a bit of a soapy smell. I contacted the company producing/packaging the product and they assured me it was 100% Sodium carbonate, however they did specify that it was not food grade, meaning that it is package on equipment where other product are being packaged.
Now I am a bit concern about few things:
1-losing my 10L batch of 94% alcohol that was on its way to become a great neutral
2 - potentially contaminated my neutral with hazardous product
If I dilute to 20-30% and rerun it, would it clean the neutral from this potential contaminent?
What is your take on this? If I rerun and get rid of the smell, should I trust this and drink it?
I think from now on I will simply rely on a quality wash and 2-3 or even 4 distillation to get the nest neutral possible...
I was quite surprised to notice a "ozonic, clean dishwasher" smell coming out of my still about halfway through the hearts...
I smelled the "cristaux de soude" and they actually have a bit of a soapy smell. I contacted the company producing/packaging the product and they assured me it was 100% Sodium carbonate, however they did specify that it was not food grade, meaning that it is package on equipment where other product are being packaged.
Now I am a bit concern about few things:
1-losing my 10L batch of 94% alcohol that was on its way to become a great neutral
2 - potentially contaminated my neutral with hazardous product
If I dilute to 20-30% and rerun it, would it clean the neutral from this potential contaminent?
What is your take on this? If I rerun and get rid of the smell, should I trust this and drink it?
I think from now on I will simply rely on a quality wash and 2-3 or even 4 distillation to get the nest neutral possible...