Howdy

[Skitz08]

Newbie here from SEQLD doing some research.

Bought a T500 thinking it would be interesting to learn how to make my own whiskey, naively went to the HBS thinking this would be the best place for advice and was sold a great kit with turbo yeast kit, a filter, granulated carbon and a T500 in stainless steel. Went home all excited followed the instructions and the few tips from the lovely gentleman at the HBS got through the process followed everything to the letter, mixed it with the essence recommended and it tasted....awful. Thought it needed some time....nope still awful. Surely I have done something wrong, back to the HBS sold another handy box of turbo and asked the questions I had a-lot met with "just follow the instructions ya cant go wrong been doing it for years". Difference essence this time cause surely thats the problem...another week of fermenting, few hours distilling and wow to my surprise...absolutely awful again!

Started reading and watching a-lot of videos and discovered that I had been taken for a ride. Found an alembic pot for my boiler for under 100 bucks on good ol marketplace! made my first UJSSM following all the guides doing stripping and spirit runs and collection what I thought smelt and tasted ok, now on my 5th generation and its getting better but still has a way too strong chemical (think pure ethanol) smell making it hard to do the cuts.

So here I am to do some more reading and research to help bring the quality of the product i am making.

[The Stig]

G’Day Skitz,
You’re in the right place mate , enjoy the rabbit hole you’re about to spiral down.
Where in SEQ are you around ?
Cheers

[Skitz08]

Thanks mate,

Live around strathpine, work at coopers plains so I am all over the place.

[BigRig]

Thanks mate,

Live around strathpine, work at coopers plains so I am all over the place.

So do i. Welcome.

[The Stig]

Thanks mate,

Live around strathpine, work at coopers plains so I am all over the place.

See you this arvo :music-deathmetal:

[Professor Green]

Welcome Skitz.

You've definitely come to the right place, there's heaps of info and knowledge here.

Cuts on flavoured spirits are a bit of a black art. You'll get better at it over time.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

[Wellsy]

Welcome skitz
Lots of very knowledgeable people on here ( pointing at others :laughing-rolling: ) who will happily share their hard earned knowledge.
Read the newbies section a few times , it takes a bit to absorb it all but you will get there eventually.
Can I suggest you give everything a good clean and put down a WBAB wash ( wheat bix and all bran) home brand variants are fine. Do a couple of batches stripping them, then do a nice slow spirit run.
That will get you a nice Vodka/neutral that you can mix until you get some stuff aged.
With a good starting spirit you will have at least half a chance with the essences. I found essences can give you an initial similar taste to the stuff they are mimicking but lack any follow up flavour and disappear quickly.
You may even discover over time you actually prefer your own aged spirits in preference to store bought or essences
Enjoy the journey and consider the money already spent as an investment in you education. Once you learn it’s limits the T500 will produce some very drinkable stuff for you. But we all know you are going to be going back to the finance manager many more times :laughing-rolling:

[Skitz08]

Certainly some good info here. I grabbed a power controller yesterday from Andrew and eill give it a whirl to slow things down a bit.

[Wellsy]

Excellent start mate. Andrew is happy to give very good advice, and he is happy for you to either follow it or not. He does not need to push his products as they sell themselves. We can’t wait until you are enjoying what you have made yourself :)