Excuse the elementary post, but I have read and looked and can't seem to find the answer to what should be a simple question. Can tails burn in a spoon?
I am trying to keep my new hobby from "wifey poo" so the purchase of hyrdometers is going to have to be on the down low, and in the near future not to mention doing a run (hence stripping runs are out of the question). I run a 16 quart pot still, and I have made several generations of UJSM, that the later ones was absolutely great and unfortunately made it to the glass before the cask. I recently did a molasses wash, bakers yeast, vitamin B, lemon juice for nutrients, it fermented for a couple of weeks and produced a rather strong wash, sort of tasted like a strong, bitter mead. My little pot still ran for 3.5 hours and I collected until it no longer burned in the spoon (3 liter wash, 750 ml collected, 1st 50 ml tossed).
Now, I read on this site somewhere that if it burned in the spoon it was at least 40%, is this true? I tasted and burned in the spoon the entire time until I had difficulty lighting it. Without access (currently) to a hydrometer, I am trying to learn my cuts, and with the UJSM I thought I was close. Everything I have read here says tails are a lot lower in ABV and therefore (I think) should not "light". The reason I ask is because although what I collected is a strong drink, the flavors are just not as "desirable" my previous UJSM using the same flame method. Maybe I just don't like rum?
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