Jr Hooch maker

[hoges89]

Hi all,

Been distilling for just short of a year now on a 50l keg boiler still i built. Started out just doing neutral spirit runs and using essences but in the last few months moved to the big leagues and have been trying my hand at rum from scratch. Quite happy with my results thus far but wanted to try some whisky next which is how i stumbled across this site. Nutrigrain whisky is the one ill try next followed by a corn whisky. I'm self taught with distilling so i still have heaps to learn so brace yourselfs for the questions.

Cheers Hoges

[bluc]

Welcome buddy whats your favourite drink? What sort of still is it? A pot or reflux?

[hillzabilly]

G-day mate welcome ta the fold ,sounds like ya onto it allready,doing it is the only way ta learn.I taught myself to a point and then found this forum and the helpful peeps filled in the gaps and took me to another level that I could not have achieved by myself.Swing away.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hoges89]

The still i built is a reflux still but i added some taps to deverted water for reflux so it would run as a packed column pot still(if theres such a creature). Was worried it wouldnt carry the flavor but it goes well. Very happy with it for the time being. Just bought the missus a small pot still from ebay so she can do essential oils. Might put some wash through it for a comparison.

[bluc]

Hybrid pot. Running a packed section will strip flavour but i think bump abv so the pot will have a fair bit more flavour but lower abv product i reakon. Without seeing your still or knowing how it runs its only a guess though :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hoges89]

Cool I can remove the packed section but i was being lazy. haha

[Zak Griffin]

Welcome mate. You're not the youngest distiller here! Love to see a pic of your still :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[hoges89]

Its nothing special but it does the trick. Most importantly it hasnt yet blown me up :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[scythe]

Not too bad of a setup.
3 things to change tho.
The rubber bung at the top for the thermometer,
the plastic funnel and
the method of mounting the column to the boiler (pending gasket material).

As you read more you will be convinced that any contact of high proof alcohol vapours or liquids with incompatable rubbers, plastics or brass (lead) is a bad idea. Nobody wants to drink any of those things.

[hoges89]

Hadnt thought of the thermometer bung. Boiler gasket is cork. Thanks for your input i'll make some changes

[Doubleuj]

G'day mate, nice rig. I'm sure she'll give you some nice pot stilled spirits, not sure how effective the reflux will be but that's what experimenting is about.
Just watch cork, most of the gasket corks are manufactured using nasty glues that you wouldn't want near your spirit, perhaps best to get some silicon

[hoges89]

Its definitely in the middle ground. It goes well in pot mode plenty of flavour. it goes well in reflux mode (not pictured) high ABV and quite clean. Is it the best at either no but a good starting point none the less for someone like me. I've learnt heaps from it and the next still will be a vast improvement i'm sure.

[Beer Belly]

I'm interested in finding out what the security is for (on top of the gas bottle) must be some undesirables lurking around in the garden hey LOL. :violence-rambo:

[hoges89]

If they are flammable they are in trouble.

[ed9362]

its just not moonshining without a firearm handy

[warramungas]

I'm interested in finding out what the security is for (on top of the gas bottle) must be some undesirables lurking around in the garden hey LOL. :violence-rambo:

Big alcoholic cane toads? :think: