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Tips for Redistilling
So, I ran a few older sugar washes through my 20 gallon still and wasn’t happy with the product. The washes were not air locked when stored for several weeks, so I thought that may have lead to inconsistent, low proofs. Thoughts? 11 gallon wash got me about 2 gallons spirit. About 1/2 gallon was at a 80P – 130P range, the rest were heads and low wines. I’m looking for a consistent, 140 – 160 proof shine. Should I dilute and redistill the low wines for a better product?
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9 Replies
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First, I wouldn’t let a sugar wash sit for several weeks. It’s best to do a stripping run and then you can store the low wines for as long as you want.It sounds like you did a single run. You should do a stripping run/runs then do a slow spirit run.What kind of still are you using?4″ VM Build
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Yea, I jumped the gun making mash while waiting for the new still to show up…I have a copper 20 gallon pot still. I used to do single runs with my buddy and we managed a great 155P product. How long would you say 11-12 gallons of wash take to do a stripping run? I’d be willing to do it for a cleaner, better consistency and higher proof.Also, whats the best temperatures to combine low wines with water?
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I’m confused. A simple pot still won’t put out 130 proof from wash. Wash has to be stripped to above 50 proof then redistilled to get those ABVs.What still have you got?How are you running it?
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How long it takes to strip depends on the power input. You can strip as fast as your product condenser can handle it. How are you heating the still? If it’s with propane or flame, I wouldn’t have any input. I use electricity. If you are fermenting sugar washes to make a clean neutral, stripping runs are standard operating procedure. Dilute your low wines then do a slow spirit run and make your cuts.Temperature doesn’t matter when it comes to diluting low wines with water. I’m assuming you’re not talking about adding boiling water to low wines or anything extreme. Otherwise water temp doesn’t matter.To make the cleanest neutral possible, you would do best with a packed reflux column.4″ VM Build
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Sorry, its an old fashion copper still with a thumper in the middle. Thanks so much for the advice! I’m going to play around with stripping vs. not. Once I run this new wash, I can determine just how much proof I lost with old wash.
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I can’t say if letting the wash sit for several weeks helped or hurt.One run and done with a thumper isn’t going to make the best tasting shine. If using your rig, I’d do a stripping run with some wash in the thumper. Size multiplier. Dilute the low-wines with water to fill the boiler, put just enough water in the thumper to blow bubbles and redistill. Basically it would be a two run and done. The water will hold onto tails to be drained out, so there’s less coming out of the condenser.After cuts there will be more of and a cleaner shine.
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Excellent advice. I will try that, Shady. Thank you
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You should be researching for advice for making neutral using a thumper. I’ve never done it myself.I have designed myself a protocol for doing it, but it is untried so I won’t post it, I’d rather you learn from those who have already done it.
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Okay, I strip-ran an older mash today.- wash in the thumper- I was able to run the flame pretty high and got a nice flow from my hose-fed condenser (had to add ice to make sure it stayed cool enough)- 12ish gallons of sugar wash got me 2 gallons of varying ABV (in about 4 hours) and mixed together, the strip run from today is at 50 proof (nice). – I will follow up with how the spirit run goes when I get to it. This week I’ll be running a new wash, made with Redstar (instead of turbo) and I’m going to see if I can get my 160 Proof, smooth shine on the first run. If not, I’ll likely incorporate stripping runs into my process.
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