Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

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Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby northerner » Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:29 am

So I'm just about to run a turbo wash for the first time. I have a TPW almost ready to go too so the turbo wash was going to be sacrificial but I'm thinking, surely there's got to be something I can do with it.

Any recommendations? I was thinking limoncello or similar to try and disguise what I'm sure will be a mediocre neutral??

Thoughts?
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby Wellsy » Thu Sep 10, 2020 8:06 am

Use it as a learning run mate.
I did my first sacrificial run yesterday and learn heaps, mind you I knew nothing to start with lol.
Learn importance of temp control and tasting drops straight off the still.
I understand completely your almost uncontrollable desire to make something you can drink mate, I know that feeling so well lol.
As 1 noob to another mate just enjoy the first run mate, taste the drops ( not the fors of course ) notice who running the still to fast dilutes the spirit. Most of all just enjoy the first steps mate.
A sacrificial run is exactly what it’s name implies. Don’t stress you just can’t bugger this one up so just enjoy and practise how to take your cuts, where to place and label them. Then you will be ready to do it again on the weekend with your tpw
Good luck
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby hnhupi » Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:41 pm

Assuming your still is new, or at least one component in it is, you don't want to drink the sacrificial run.
The idea is to remove any residue of machining and soldering chemicals left on the equipment. You are lucky that it's a turbo wash, as you mentioned not a big loss; throw that away when you are finished distilling it, or keep it as bbq starter, windows cleaner anything that doesn't involve it going into your body.

Your TPW will be your first real product and as Wellsy already mentioned, you have an opportunity to get to know your still and get familiar with the process.
Enjoy the experience and maybe start thinking about what to put to ferment next :)
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby bluc » Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:17 pm

Noooooo dont drink it ~x( use it to start fire or kill weeds..
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby dans.brew » Thu Sep 10, 2020 7:42 pm

bluc wrote:Noooooo dont drink it ~x( use it to start fire or kill weeds..

Def good fire starter, but keep your eyebrows out the way. :scared-eek: :laughing-rolling:
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby northerner » Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:46 am

OK thanks.

Well, I've got plenty of fires to start for pile burning before fire season starts so all good! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby howard » Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:48 pm

would it not be slightly different depending on the still being soldered copper or SS modular?
ie if i had a friend, who had a SS modular still, the longest piece being 500mm.
all pieces of the still were soaked in PBW for 24 hrs, then steller san for 24 hrs, then had a vinegar run , then a steam run...
then would this 'friend' be ok keeping a bit of the first TPW run in this case?
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby RC Al » Fri Sep 11, 2020 3:22 pm

NO! :handgestures-thumbdown:

Its really not worth it mate, each of those cleaning runs will have removed different things from the build, different compounds are soluble in different things. Some times its really hard as a newbie to reconcile how much booze you can make if you set aside the time - its simply not worth your long term health for a quick drink. One of the big attractions to this hobby of diy for me is being able to responsibly manage what im consuming to a much better extent than store bought, seedy mornings are very much a thing of the past for me now too
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby dans.brew » Fri Sep 11, 2020 4:31 pm

:text-+1:
RC Al is bang on the money!
There is a reason you get a headache from many store bought spirits.. there is something in there that your body isnt liking.
Effectively not cleaning your still is adding more things to your spirit that your body may not like, simply not worth it. Especially if your sharing the rewards of your labour with others.
Your only really going to "waste" a bit when starting of anyway, as you will soon get feints after doing your cuts that can be used (diluted to below 40%) in cleaning runs. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Advice on what to do with first spirit run?

Postby bluc » Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:26 pm

Stop thinking of this run as a spirit run and start thinking about it for what it is. Cleaning fluid. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Oh and you can keep it for future cleaning runs :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Last edited by bluc on Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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