Newbie From Atlantic Canada

[Whenwood]

Hello All,

I've been a home brewer for many years, and recently I've become interested in distilling. After some research, I visited the Canadian website North Stills and picked up a 3-inch stainless steel reflux tower paired with a 50-litre stainless steel boiler. I also added a 3-inch sight glass to keep an eye on things during the process.

With the help of a friend (the electrician), we built a controller box to power the 6500W heating element. For supplies, I purchased 25kg of white wheat, 25kg of oats, 75kg of sugar, and 75kg of cracked corn. I also have a block of Yellow Label yeast ready to go.

After watching a YouTube review by The Shine Shack about the Vevor grain mill, I decided to get one for myself. This week, I also managed to pick up a brand-new 200L blue barrel.

I personally enjoy bourbon, but the process seems a bit more advanced. That’s why I purchased the Yellow Label yeast to simplify things and skip the mashing/boiling process. I’d like to create a wheated bourbon. I also got all the sugar to try a sugar wash, but it seems less desirable on its own, so I picked up oats—I’ve heard they can improve the flavor profile.

Where I’m finding it tricky is calculating the amounts. To make a bourbon, I know it needs to be at least 51% corn, with the rest wheat (for my wheated bourbon). I also want to make enough for three stripping runs to ensure I have a full boiler (about 40-ish liters) for a spirit run. The water-to-grain ratios are where I’m a bit lost.

I’m excited to get started! Any tips or advice for a beginner in distilling—especially around recipe calculations—would be greatly appreciated.