ABV for Spirit Run

[SWstill]

Hi All,

Just complete my first 2 WBAB Stripping runs and ended up with 12 litres @ 45%, I watered this down to 35% by adding 3 litres of water so end low wines is 15 litres @ 35%.

Question is, for my spirit run is it best to run it with 15 litres at 35% abv or 25 litres at around 21% abv?

I have a mangrove jack 25 litre boiler with the heating element covered so don't need a minimum volume to cover elements etc

[hgwells]

Hi SWstill,

Only thing adding more water will do is leave more volume in your still at then end of your run.
Considering you said you don’t need a min quality in your boiler due to your elements being covered, I’d run as is.

Most people run low wines at no higher than 40% ABV

Cheers

HG

[bluc]

As long as 40abv max your good to go :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[RC Al]

:text-+1:

The WBAB is a flavoured wash so add as little water as you can to hit 40 - a bit of extra wash would be better (even if its only 1/2 fermented, watch for pukes though). With flavoured washes, I Just strip harder these days - currently with the washes im running, when i get the output to just under 10%, the average of the low wines is right on 40%. Have a search for the term sweetwater too, lots of flavour to be gained back there.

If you were doing a neutral, different story, if your still can make 95 from a 10% wash, then watering down to near there (10-15%) will reduce a lot of flavour and prevent a few esters from forming, giving you a cleaner product

[SWstill]

I ended up running the 15 litres @ 35% and doing cuts today after airing them out for the past 48 hours.

If you were doing a neutral, different story, if your still can make 95 from a 10% wash, then watering down to near there (10-15%) will reduce a lot of flavour and prevent a few esters from forming, giving you a cleaner product

I will do this with my next spirit run as putting another 2 ferments on today of WBAB. Looking to make a smooth Vodka and a base for Gin infusion so clean neutral is what i am after.

[druwade]

Following a similar path mate, looking forward to your results. Got my second wash on now so we'll be similar just a few weeks apart.