http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ Home Distillation Made Easy! en Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:55:21 +0000 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=28#post-166 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:52:51 +0000 quietman 166@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Good Idea Bluecap, my missus would like that</p> <p>Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=28#post-165 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:27:07 +0000 bluecap 165@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Well this isn’t really a recipe but ill include it as it keeps the wife quiet for the first liter but alas the alcohol takes over for the second liter and makes her twice as bad.</p> <p>Take 300mils out of any 2 liter bottle of pop and replace it with 300mils of 50% spirit, instant alcopops @ 7.5% she prefers the traditional lemonade as it’s not too sweet. </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33&page=2#post-164 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:44:34 +0000 quietman 164@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>The man from my local hbs warned me to make sure all the gas was out of the wash by stirring vigourously as often as possible at the end of its fermentation. He told me that it would bubble up and lift the lid if this was not done (so I did and all was fine with mine). So another clue to the problem methinks lol </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=35#post-163 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:15:08 +0000 bluecap 163@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>The only time I double distill is the dregs as I call them.</p> <p>I use the 48 turbo yeast and brew it to 18% which I think is the maximum with 8 kilos of sugar or at least that’s what the online sugar calculator says</p> <p><a href="http://www.brewhaus.com/Calculators_s/46.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.brewhaus.com/Calculators_s/46.htm</a></p> <p>Sorry if I’m not supposed to post links.</p> <p>This time and bubbling away at the moment I have tried 9 kilos of sugar for the 25 litre wash which hopefully will fully ferment to 20% as the yeast says it can handle it but time will tell, from the 18% wash I scrap the first 20 mils and then take 1300 mils from the still that’s dead on 50% I then take 670 mils and save it to the end, so at the end I have 6 lots of 670 which is about 4litres and I get another 1 litre of 50% of it </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=35#post-162 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:38:53 +0000 Jimmy 162@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Sounds good to me! It's always a balancing act, the less you take the purer you can make it, but the more you waste. It's personal choice whether you take more and try to smooth it out by filtering (as I do at the moment) or take less at a higher purity level and go for quality over quantity (a la Phantom). </p> <p>I think what we've learned here is that I'm more of an alcoholic than Phantom, or at least my tastebuds are less choosy! ;)</p> <p>The best results I ever had were the earlier ones where I was more rigorous with the amounts I was taking, but recently I've opted for squeezing the most out of what I have as once it's filtered and drunk with a mixer it matters less. Phantom is more 'correct' though, for anyone taking notes here! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-161 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:32:21 +0000 Jimmy 161@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Gas sounds like a good theory, which of course would work by degassing - what does the distillers conditioner actually do? Is it related to CO2 in any way, or does it do something different? We're closing in on it! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-160 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:17:46 +0000 bluecap 160@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi Phantom</p> <p>That last 4 litres was still a little cloudy which I degassed with a degasser that you attach to a drill just before putting it in the still so got rid of all the gas, the distillation went perfect and on opening the still afterwards there was a layer of sediment on the base so it has to be the amount of gas in the wash, but saying that it’s a non exact hobby so I hope I’m right.</p> <p>Please don’t prove me wrong. </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=35#post-159 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:17:39 +0000 Phantom 159@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Oh, Ok I'll give that a try i.e. I'll still stick to taking 800 mls off of 4 litres at the 60(ish) % but then I'll just use a little distilled water to bring it back down to 50% before I run it again.</p> <p>I think I'll try to keep a little spent wash and see if that registers on the alcometer.... </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-158 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:14:07 +0000 Phantom 158@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Well I'd guess that it could easily be possible that when you give the wash the stirring to de-gass it prior to hitting it with the finings, that if you're using a plastic paddle type stirrer then maybe it could release enough gas and stir up enough sediment to be convincing..........</p> <p>Plus it might also be feasible that any wash that hasn't had all the CO2 released might sit on the bottom of the bucket when it's cleared....</p> <p>It's just so hard to be convinced about the various ideas as to why this problem might occur some times..... mainly because I seem to have had all of the possible suggestions at various times, sometimes it lifts, others not and as I haven't thought about keeping a record of the progress.....</p> <p>I suspect I'll just keep on just working as I am, but always making sure that I have boiling chips of some sort in the heater section and keep including a cap full of "distillers conditioner" as I haven't had any problems when I've used it (so far......)</p> <p>Of course if anyone else has any ideas or suggestions I'll certainly give them a try.</p> <p>TVM </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-157 Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:03:54 +0000 bluecap 157@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all, ill give my experience from tonight with my smartstill.</p> <p>I was down to 8 liters of wash in my bucket and as normal put the four liters in the still up to the mark and all was ok at first until it started over popping and eventually the side completely lifted up and spewed a large amount of wash out over the side, this had never happened before, my instinct obviously was to turn it off which I did and let it cool a while, about twenty minutes later I switched it back on and it seemed to finish ok all be it a bit noisy.</p> <p>After letting it cool as normal I put the last four liters in but before I did I used a degasser on it, the type you fasten to a electric drill and got rid of all the gas, the last distillation went flawlessly and was even quiet which can only leave the conclusion that it was the gas in the wash that was the problem and if you think about it a load of gas in a sealed unit has to get out somewhere.</p> <p>Now whether this is the answer or just luck I don’t know but it’s the only difference between the first and second distillation </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=35#post-156 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:59:41 +0000 Jimmy 156@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>I have triple distilled mine on a number of occasions - you seem to top out at about 84% which is still pretty good. That stuff is lethal, you can practically see it evaporating before your very eyes. </p> <p>My method is to do the first run very loose, not even bother to take off heads or anything, just literally stick 4l in and take 1 litre out at 45 - 50%. Then add those together, take a reading of the strength, and use the calculator to work out a decent yield from the next batch(es). This time I take off heads, and likewise if I go again I do the same. </p> <p>Then when I have it as strong as it's going to get, I dilute down to 40% with pure spring water, and then filter (filtration works better at lower strengths).</p> <p>Why? Well I was curious to see how pure you can get it, and also I wanted to experiment and see how different it behaved at those strengths - you can definitely tell by the feel of it, and how it burns on a spoon, etc. I believe it's good to learn about the craft, and it's all good fun. </p> <p>I do think this method is quite wasteful though, although it does work. Next I intend to try distilling once, then diluting down to maybe 30 - 40% and distilling again - the theory being that it should turn out purer with less waste as the difference between alcohol and pure water should be more distinct. </p> <p>Let us know how you get on! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=35#post-155 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:40:44 +0000 Phantom 155@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Has anyone distilled any sugar wash and then re-distilled it ?</p> <p>I only ask because, I regularly get between 57 and 60% ABV, but it occurred to me that I might be able to up it a bit......... ?</p> <p>Of course, I'm aware that the tabletop smart still is basically a pot still and understand about the limitations that the design imposes....</p> <p>For instance, if I re-ran some 57 to 60 % distillate, is it likely that it'll come out of the still at a rate of knots ? when it gets up to temperature.</p> <p>Or should it be diluted to, oh, I don't know, say 50% or something like that ? </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=16#post-154 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:33:47 +0000 quietman 154@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hot water in the dj, 2 denture tablets and they fizz away all the hard to shift grime while you watch. Hope it works for you.</p> <p>Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-153 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:31:27 +0000 quietman 153@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Too right Phantom,</p> <p>use 'em and run back here quick is my plan</p> <p>Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=16#post-152 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:49:34 +0000 Phantom 152@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p><blockquote>I use denture cleaning tablets, seems to work for me</p> <p>Regards, Ian </blockquote></p> <p>Now I hadn't thought of trying that.</p> <p>One of the DJ's that I'd filled with the SS Kentucky Sour Mash bourbon, looked "as clean as a whistle", but after it was emptied and had dried out a bit, there was still some "water mark"/limescale showing.</p> <p>I'm gonna try washing soda when I can get some - the idea being that a high enough concentration should dissolve the limescale so after rinsing, would be gone...</p> <p>When we go shopping I'll get a pack of denture tablets and see what I can do with them. </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=19#post-151 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:45:44 +0000 Phantom 151@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>It's still "too rough" to tell. Yes it's drinkable, but as yet I haven't worked out how to get it any smoother in taste. </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-150 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:44:32 +0000 Phantom 150@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>No Ian, it's not just you that gets that feeling, but it's fair to say that while there might be a fair amount of "inverse snobbery" at other forums, there's also a lot of handy information to be gleaned! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-149 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:42:43 +0000 Phantom 149@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Well this evening, after I'd finished doing the last run of a batch I cleaned out the boiler, dried it and put everything away except the lid......</p> <p>3 screws later, the top most cover was off. Some wiggling around removed the condenser tube, which does seem to be reasonably well made, there is a small "T piece" of silicone on the end but that's not actually connected to anything, it just drops the distilled spirit into the lower section of the casing which flows it into the carbon filter bag holder. </p> <p>Yes I did give it a rinse, but there was no evidence that there might be any reason why it might cause the bubbling of the boiler section to lift the lid.</p> <p>The only way I can see of cleaning it, without taking it apart every time, seem to be, holding the lid so that the protruding part of the case is facing down, you'd then have to squirt a tiny amount of some sort of liquid cleaner into the condenser from the "inside the lid" part. </p> <p>This would then be rinsed through with water - while still holding the lid in the same way as mentioned above and of course, over a sink, and keep the water flow rinsing through the condenser until there's no sign of the cleaning liquid.</p> <p>Then you'd just blow it through, whether with some sort of compressed air or just by blowing down the entry hole. </p> <p>There's no point in trying to blow through the discharge/external hole as it's not actually connected to the condenser pipe it's just like a sort of moulded funnel type affair.</p> <p>The only reason why I can think that I haven't had any problems is because I've been using some boiling beads and distillers conditioner in the wash when it's running.</p> <p>Now I'm not saying that there's nothing actually gained by rinsing the condenser through, just that there's no apparent or logical reason why it might affect the boiler section and the way the wash sometimes bubbles enough to lift the lid.</p> <p>Logically, that can only be cause by back pressure in the boiling chamber so it can only be down to something "wrong" with the wash i.e. something that causes the bubbles to join up into a large(r) bubble providing enough back pressure between the surface and the lid to lift it causing the eruption.... </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-148 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:15:49 +0000 quietman 148@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>the stuff I've tried made from one has been amazing, so they can keep their opinions to themselves</p> <p>regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-147 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:53:15 +0000 Jimmy 147@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Indeed. If it is a useless toy, why have I (and others) used ours to make great quantities of decent quality spirits? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and mine is that these devices are great for people who are starting out because you can do exactly what I have done with exactly the same equipment and you'll get similar results, unlike a home made device. Reading is a good way of learning, but doing something is even better. Yes there are better, more efficient stills out there, but this kind does what *I* want, and that's all that I'm bothered about. You make your own choice! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-146 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:59:58 +0000 quietman 146@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p><strong>Here's a perfect example on a Yahoo forum<br /> someone asked the following question</p> <p>My question is about the EZ still, and how it simply uses one<br /> temperature to create spirits. I have heard good things about this<br /> cool beginners tool, but I am confused about running the still at one<br /> temperature. .. Does this seem a reasonable process? How would you<br /> know which parts of the run to discard, and which to keep, let's say<br /> for malt-scotch. Hm... my appologies if I am off-topic or out of my<br /> league! I am an avid beer and wine maker, (especially dry sparkling<br /> meads), and am shopping trying to get my way to success...</p> <p>Also, if there is some insight into why I can post here but not at<br /> new distillers I would really appreciate it, srsly!</p> <p></strong>and got the following reply</p> <p>Hi James,<br /> The 'EZ still' is, in my opinion, a useless toy. If you are serious about distilling, I suggest that you read more, </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-145 Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:15:17 +0000 Jimmy 145@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>No problem! I had the same when I started out, and I'm sure lots of others will have as well. I don't want to sound all happy-clappy but the more we all share with each other on here, the better it will be for others in the future so please let us all know what goes right, what goes wrong, and whatever else you discover! It's such a big subject that it's impossible to be a complete expert on it, but between us all we can raise the bar collectively. </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-144 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:31:20 +0000 quietman 144@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Thanks Jimmy, I was really pleased when I found this site, so more power to you. I'm getting lots of help from my local hbs but I'm sure I'll need lots of advice. I will be sure to update you with my progres.<br /> Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-143 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:02:29 +0000 Jimmy 143@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Well I am extremely talented (!) so I also stuck my gob on the other end and blew it through - it never seems to have a detectable blockage but there you go. I keep meaning to give it a go with the little compressor I've got and blow it through properly but I can never be bothered. If it becomes a major problem I'll probably investigate taking it apart - if anyone beats me to it and finds anything, send through some pictures and I'll put them up! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-142 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:58:55 +0000 Jimmy 142@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>It's not just you - that's why I started this site in the first place! Don't worry, we'll keep it free of snobbery on here - beginners and part-timers are more than welcome! :) </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=19#post-141 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:42:37 +0000 quietman 141@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>so is it any good?</p> <p>regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=16#post-140 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:40:25 +0000 quietman 140@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>I use denture cleaning tablets, seems to work for me</p> <p>Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=34#post-139 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:20:45 +0000 quietman 139@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Hello,<br /> I have recently purchased an easystill and I am currently brewing 25 litres of sugar wash. Is it just me or do most people on distilling forums have a sort of snobbery towards those of us who dont make their own still and just want a small easy to use still without miles of copper tubing. If it does what I want it to do, then that's good enough for me, having said that I do like to see pictures of the stills they make and use (especially the old prohibition ones)<br /> Regards, Ian </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-138 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:14:29 +0000 Phantom 138@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Oh, OK thanks both.</p> <p>If that seems to be the case I'm guessing that there must be variations during the actual evaporation of the alcohol - I'm guessing that maybe something like a little capilliary effect must cause a slight build up of cooling spirit and the slight variation in pressure inside the still is enough to cause bubbling problems.</p> <p>Basically I seem to have experienced the same problem as Jimmy i.e. sometimes it seems to run fine then other times this problem appears.</p> <p>I mean, the second run, with the conditioner and the saddles in the boiling pot meant that it seemed to work without a hitch - in fact it seemed to have run faster than the first go. </p> <p>Maybe that was because there was still some residual heat in the pot I don't know.</p> <p>I'm not sure if Jimmy's idea of just blowing down the tube would have much effect as I've tried that before and it seems that the collector end of the tubing isn't actually connected/sealed to the funnel shaped part of the lid, it would seem that the spirit just drops into the funnel and then into the carbon filter holder "a la gravity".</p> <p>I'm now thinking that it might be worth while dismantling the lid after each batch i.e. 25 litres of wash.</p> <p>Damn! I've just remembered something I read over at homedistiller. It's got me thinking that maybe they've built it/them with tubing that's just a little too close to the absolute minimum to conduct the vapour? It's got to be possible as they've done quite a good job of making it so compact!</p> <p>Hum? </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-137 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:19:07 +0000 alan 137@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>jimmy / phantom,all i do to clean mine is turn the lid upside down and fill the coil with stiriliser (VWP) just anough to fill the tube no more or you will wet the fan moter leave to soak for about 1 hour then up end the top over the sink rocking the top back an forth to empty then fill with water a couple a times to flush it through<br /> hope this helps. once a week i strip the top down and plug one end of the coil with a small cork and fill it as befor but let it sit there over nigth </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-136 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:04:29 +0000 Jimmy 136@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Ooh, nasty - glad you're not hurt this time!</p> <p>All I've done with my condenser is blow it through - I was having an odd problem where one run would be fine and then the next from the same batch would bubble badly, which seemed to say to me that it wasn't the wash. I cleaned everything out inside but it was still the same, so in a totally unscientific way I stuck my gob on the outlet pipe (when it was cool!) and blew as hard as I could a few times. It seemed to help, but that's not to say it is conclusive proof. </p> <p>My reasoning for this is that before it bubbles over you get a period of calm where the rate of collection slows right down - to my mind that must mean that something is blocking it getting out, and allowing the pressure to build inside. All I can think of is that either that this blockage is liquid, and somehow it's backing up (unlikely) or that some kind of solid is blocking the pipe, maybe just a little but enough to cause the pressure buildup. If anyone else has a better theory then I'm all ears! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=33#post-135 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:14:10 +0000 Phantom 135@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Ok, so I'm aware that on occasion, the table top "smart still" can over boil.</p> <p>This is often because of "cloudiness" issues with the wash.</p> <p>When I first experienced this, I was advised about using ceramic rings (raschig rings I think they're called), or some of the "ceramic saddles" that I got with my 25 litre "Super Reflux" still, or even (as suggested over at "homedistiller", some sanitised broken glass). Plus to try using "distillers conditioner" in the wash.</p> <p>Anyway, stupidly, I was running it this afternoon, and I'd forgotten about doing any of the above, mainly because the current batch of wash is almost "gin clear".</p> <p>My partner spotted it as it did a tiny "burp" splashing just a few teaspoons full of wash. So I held the top down while I switched the power off.</p> <p>It was then that I remembered the glass/ceramic beads/conditioner "trick". So I got a handful of the ceramic saddles, opened the top and chucked them in.</p> <p>Mistake!</p> <p>It proceeded to foam about 2 litres of hot wash all over the place. "A la teaspoon in hot milk from the microwave".</p> <p>So I've just finished cleaning it up and since then I've added the distilled spirit back into the wash, along with 2 more litres of wash to replace what foamed out. Plus I've also added the capful of the distillers conditioner as per the instructions. It's now running again, though not in the kitchen :D</p> <p>I've also read here at the smartstill forums about "cleaning the condenser". I can do that with my 25ltr reflux still, but the smartstill doesn't have any obvious way of cleaning the condenser as it's all built into the lid.</p> <p>So can someone explain how this is done please ?</p> <p>TVM </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=24&page=2#post-134 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:11:04 +0000 Phantom 134@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Ah, my local HBS does the "still spirits" range. They recommend the "triple distilled" yeast/carbon packs for running with the smart still, the idea being about purity.</p> <p>I've only tried the alcotec stuff a couple of times, it's just less hassle to go down the local HBS and buy what he sells! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=32#post-133 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:04:03 +0000 Phantom 133@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p><blockquote>come on phantom!! lets have some tips...... :) :) :) </blockquote><br /> Patience young Jedi!</p> <p>What I've been doing is taking the meads and other fruit wines I make, but find I don't like the taste of when they're done and running them through my still (well both of my stills actually). Then, as there's not so much of that, I hit the online HBS, the local one and the local Wilko's to try and get the cheapest possible cider kits (and I pillage the local wild tree's as well).</p> <p>Now you have to remember the differences between apples as well as the difference between "West Country" and "Kentish" ciders. The West country is made from cider apples (usually "only" but they may add a few other types) and the Kentish is mainly a mix of eaters and cookers a.k.a. sweet and sharp apples.</p> <p>I have no idea what most of the kits are, though I'd presume that if it's a "West Country" kit, it should be mainly, if not all, cider apple "concentrate".</p> <p>Anyway, using <a href="http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2003/lim/Appleweb2003/Cidermaking.htm">this as a basic guide</a> I check the gravity and pH of the basic "must" once it's made up i.e. before you add the yeast.</p> <p>So, with that in mind, I then modify the must from whatever gravity reading it gives me, and increase it using either sugar or honey, so that it's about the 1100 mark, which should give you a little less than 15% ABV. I then check the pH, and modify that as well so it's between 3.0 and 3.5, using a mix of 2 malic acid to 1 tartaric acid (I keep this pre-mixed).</p> <p>I haven't got any way of testing tannin, so I take a good measure of the must, chuck it in the liquidiser (sanitised in the same way as all brewing kit), add a couple of teaspoons of grape tannin and give it a whizz - it mixes the tannin nicely and aerates the must.</p> <p>Then I'll add the nutrients (tronozymol or similar and anything that came with the kit), the yeast that came with the kit plus a pack of Youngs "cider yeast" (you could of course use one of the proprietary yeast/nutrient/carbon packs from Still Spirits instead), give it a stir and then seal/secure the bucket and airlock it with a bubbler valve.</p> <p>The aim is to approximate a cider that's as dry as a buzzards arse, at about 14 or so % ABV and sharp as hell - similar to what the French calvados makers would be making (but higher alcohol).</p> <p>It's very important to make sure that when the ferment has finished, that you "clear it" before you think of distilling it, because any amount of cloudiness left in the wash/cider (or whatever else you might want to call it) can cause the smartstill to "burp" i.e. make big enough bubbles to lift the lid and chuck it everywhere - it makes a hell of a mess when that happens.</p> <p>You should consider using ceramic rings/beads/saddles in your smart still, as well as "distillers conditioner" (from the HBS - the ones that sell the still spirits stuff) to stop this. </p> <p>Plus using "finings" in the "cider" before you distill it and being careful not to pick up any sediment when you syphon it off the lees/sediment layer.</p> <p>Once it's distilled you're basically left with "eau de vie". Colourless with a hint of apple. </p> <p>Now I haven't managed to track down a barrel small enough yet, well not one that's heavily toasted like a spirits barrel anyway, so I've been adding this to the distilled results of my wines/meads in a 34 litre "demi-john"/carbouy. I've also added about 4 packs of "oak chips" in an effort to approximate it having been kept in a barrel (I might add more, depending on how the colour develops). This is to try and make a "mixed fruit brandy" type spirit. Either way, once I've got the DJ filled I'm gonna seal it and leave it for a couple of years to mellow as much as I can.</p> <p>There's quite a few other bits you can think of trying if you look at the distilling section of <a href="http://www.brouwland.com/">Brouwlands</a> website (don't forget it will work out a bit pricey from them as they're in Belgium, the current € Vs £ rate and shipping but they do have stuff that's just not apparently available in the UK - as far as I can find, any rate). I've used some of their calvados flavouring and I've also tried some of the <blockquote>Distipur Erbsloh</blockquote> to try and remove the "raw or rough" taste more quickly.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phantomdistiller/3012079767/">Here's what it looks like</a> at the moment. If I don't like it when it's "done" it doesn't matter as I'll just chuck it back through the still and clear it that way. Then flavour it with "Prestige brand" calvados as that's not a bad drop at all! </p> http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/topic.php?id=29#post-132 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:55:17 +0000 alan 132@http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/ <p>Ishould have said this is deathwishs wheat germ recipe posted by tater </p>