Getting started

[arard]

G'day anyone interested
I have been doing plenty of lurking and research for months while building and getting set up.
I have built a 50L keg boiler, 3600w element controlled by a voltage regulator, 2" pelican pot(non modular) with a 1200mm Liebig condenser with a Bunnings water feature pump recirculating from a 200L steel drum (works too well as I get quiet a bit of huffing, although I am not worried at this stage).

Using a 60L fermentation barrel with 2 heatbands and controller.

So far I have done a vinegar clean, sacrificial TPW.
25-30L 1st gen mcstills rum close variation stripping run.(fermented in 3 days- started at 30°c, SG of 1.090, heated it up to 35°c the next day onwards, rapidly dropped to SG of 1.010 @ 35°c with a pH of 4.4. this is as far as it went for the 10 days I left it.)
I added a little olive oil to the boiler and had zero signs of puking.
Just started fermentation on gen 2(making a 50L+- wash this time round as my 25-30L test wash didn't show uncontrollable foaming)
My plan is to just do a 2 generation rum to get a feel and taste etc, work my way up to understanding first hand the progression of generations.
To do this I plan on stripping just over 30L of my 2nd gen wash - say gen2a, combining the low wines from gen1+gen2a with the 20L of wash left from gen2.
I will soon see if this is the right or wrong choice of direction.

I couldn't measure what volume I got from my first strip but I estimate it to be 6-7L at 50%ABV, I took it down to about 20%ABV.
I didn't think I would need a parrot but I plan on building one before I do my spirit run, I now see the value of at least having it lay around.

Anyway this place is a wealth of knowledge and appreciate that alot of the information helps make decisions that are ultimately up to what works for the individual. Everyone's different input really makes taking up this hobby enjoyable on the research side of things.

[The Stig]

Welcome mate , sounds like your n the path of enlightenment .
Enjoy the stay and new found wisdoms :laughing-rolling: :music-deathmetal:

[Professor Green]

Welcome to AD arard.

Sounds like you're off to a good start.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

[dans.brew]

Welcome mate! :greetings-waveyellow:

[arard]

Thanks fellas.
I imagine the hardest part will be the aging process..

[dans.brew]

Thanks fellas.
I imagine the hardest part will be the aging process..

If you make more than you consume then it's not a problem. 8-}