Hi from SA

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Hi from SA

Postby homebrewanddry » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:08 pm

Hi All.
Another south Aussie joining the ranks. Im new to distilling but have dabbled in brewing beer for the last couple of years. I currently dont have any equipment but here to do research and buy soon (already have approval from the missus :handgestures-thumbupleft: ). I have been doing research for the last couple of months and have a pretty good idea about the basics (uni chem is finally useful).

Specifically i'm interested in distilling some wine i have access to (~1000L) and producing as high quality product as possible. Maybe dabble in some aging down the road. Ill leave the rest of the information for when i ask questions.

cheers
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby Professor Green » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:11 pm

Welcome to AD homebrewanddry.

What kind of spirits are you looking to make from the wine? Neutral spirit, brandy? This will determine the type of still you need.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby homebrewanddry » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:28 pm

My plan was to make a neutral spirit and add flavorings for different spirits. I assume these taste alright?

I also have access to welders and people who know how to use them so homemade is also a possibility.
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby bluc » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:36 pm

All personel preference. But my 2 cents. Nothing beats the real thing...
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby homebrewanddry » Thu Jun 28, 2018 2:58 pm

I haven't had flavored neutral in quite a few years but remember it being fine for mixes but i am open to being convinced otherwise. The main reason i wanted to go to a neutral and then work it back was that id like to get a couple different spirits out, rather than just brandy.
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby woodduck » Thu Jun 28, 2018 3:15 pm

Welcome mate :greetings-waveyellow:

That's alot of brandy :laughing-rolling: I would definitely look into a reflux still to use that wine up but if your aim is to drink whiskey then I would suggest looking into a pot still later down the track. When you buy or build just do it so you can easy swap heads on your boiler to do both neutrals and whiskeys. Or even better save yourself some time and money and just build/buy a bubbler that way you can do both and faster too :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby dans.brew » Thu Jun 28, 2018 6:51 pm

Welcom to the forum homebrewanddry!
:text-+1: on what Woodduck said.
I started with a reflux still, but soon had the urge to make the real deal as bluc put it. I made my own pot still, only took a sunday arvo and didnt cost much. So very easy to do if you have a few building skills.
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby RuddyCrazy » Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:19 pm

Welcome mate now if you want to learn on a 4 plate bubbler I'm up in the hills and thru winter I don't bother distilling as it's impossible to get ferments to finish but I'd be more than happy to setup the still and give the full info one weekend.

I'm up in the Adelaide Hills so hopefully not that far to drive.

Cheers Bryan
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby homebrewanddry » Thu Jun 28, 2018 10:46 pm

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

Bryan I might possibly take you up on that offer. Did you build or buy your system?

How does a bubbler compare to a Boka reflux still when making a neutral?
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby RuddyCrazy » Fri Jun 29, 2018 8:02 am

G'day mate I built my copper still from scratch and for making neutral I use the 4 plates and I pack SS scrubbers in the 4" section above the RC. This strips all the flavour and comes off around 90% +.

I gave some russians a bottle and the report back was it was the best vodka they had tasted......

Cheers Bryan
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Re: Hi from SA

Postby Sam. » Fri Jun 29, 2018 8:25 am

Bryan1 wrote:G'day mate I built my copper still from scratch and for making neutral I use the 4 plates and I pack SS scrubbers in the 4" section above the RC. This strips all the flavour and comes off around 90% +.

I gave some russians a bottle and the report back was it was the best vodka they had tasted......

Cheers Bryan


Hey Bryan do you mean the packed section below the RC or are you actually putting it above?

Also welcome to the forum mate we have had an influx of SA members lately :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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