Who let the yankee in?

[RandyMarshCT]

Hello all!

I've been distilling for several years. I'm always interested in learning more and there seems to be lots of knowledge and information here. I live in the U.S. (Connecticut). I have potstills (2" & 3"), a 3" VM/LM boka, a 4" 4-plate (perf) flute, and I'm currently building a 3" offset crossflow Thor's Hammer. I usually use a 26 gallon boiler, but I have an 8-gallon and a 15.5-gallon keg boiler as well. Heat with electric (220v, 5500w, phase angle controller). I love making AG bourbon, rum, neutrals, and brandies. My favorite is Maple Brandy. I think that's about it. Thank you all very much for having me! Let me know if anyone has any questions.

[peterhobit]

Hello Mr Marsh, these forums sure make the world a small place. Looks like you will be sharing some real nice experience ;-) to beginners like me. Cheers from all of us here in downunder Austria ;-)

[Sam.]

Welcome mate :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I take it your a southpark fan? Randy is definitely the best character in that show :laughing-rolling:

[bang300]

You can relax Randy...none of them have bit me...yet...

dad

[res]

Maple brandy! :handgestures-thumbupleft: Sounds amazing, would love to see your recipe. Not they we get a lot of cheap maple syrup in these parts. Welcome aboard. :greetings-waveyellow:

[Geeps]

Hello Mr Marsh, these forums sure make the world a small place. Looks like you will be sharing some real nice experience ;-) to beginners like me. Cheers from all of us here in downunder Austria ;-)

:laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

I'll be back :laughing-rolling:

[Smbjk]

Welcome mate, maple brandy does sound good

[RandyMarshCT]

Maple brandy! :handgestures-thumbupleft: Sounds amazing, would love to see your recipe. Not they we get a lot of cheap maple syrup in these parts. Welcome aboard. :greetings-waveyellow:

Sure!

This ingredient list is for 44 gallons of wash. I do 2 single runs (22 gal each) through my 4-plate column and combine all the hearts to fill a 20 liter oak barrel @ 58% abv.

8 gallons maple syrup
2 32oz jars molasses
8 lbs brown sugar
8 packets of bakers yeast
Go-Ferm Protect

I mix up half the wash at a time since I use 25 gallon fermenters.
Boil 6 gallons of water and add 4 lbs sugar, 1 jar molasses, and 4 gal syrup.
Add mixture to fermenter and top up to 22 gallons
(I top up to 20 gal and use my hydrometer to finish topping so Og = 1.075/1.080)
Make yeast starter with 4 packets yeast & Go-Ferm Protect and pitch.
Ferment 2 weeks (syrup ferments slow, like honey)
Single run through flute; recycle feints from 1st run to 2nd run
Fill barrel at 58% abv (2nd use; first use is bourbon) and wait 4 to 5 months
Proof to 42% abv and add 1 pint of maple syrup for total of 7 gallons
Bottle

I know Maple Syrup is expensive (it is here, must be even more there). I have friends in upstate Vermont (USA) that make it and they sell it to me cheap ($30/gallon... I know that doesn't sound cheap, but it is). My goal was to make a spirit I enjoyed, not to formulate an inexpensive recipe for production. I think the go-ferm protect is unnecessary as there are nutrients in the brown sugar and molasses, but when I've tried to get advice on this in the past I've mostly been ridiculed... and when I have that much money in syrup at stake I don't want to take any chances... so I go with what has worked for me in the past and throw it all in there. It's just a modified version of my rum recipe with the syrup as the primary fermentable. This stuff tastes like everything that's right with the world. Any questions, comments, or criticisms are welcome.

[RandyMarshCT]

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

sam_and_liv, I'm a big fan.... totally agree with your best character selection. We didn't listen!

Dad, it's good to see you here! I have tons of respect for your advice and work. I think your adjustable condenser VM design is excellent!!!