Making neutrals with bubblers - packed columns

[Jimmy.]

Good morning all

I am looking at bubblers as an upgrade in the near future. How are people making/ packing a column for quality neutrals?
I like the idea of people able to add an extra attachment to have flavored gin etc as well
Most I have read are using them for whiskeys and rums etc.

Cheers

[EziTasting]

G'Day Jimmy,
the attachments are used after we have made the neutral, not at the same time... just to clarify.

I have a 500mml packed section into which I typically add 2 rolls of copper mesh (top & bottom) and fill the space between them with SS scrubbers (NOT from China - they corrode! Not even sure they are actually SS or what grade they are). I usual put this above my 4 plates and underneath my RC to maximise the reflux potential... I also strip my neutral before I do a spirit run in the above mentioned configuration. Spirit run is done WITH cuts!

Once you have your neutral (selected cuts), that is when you would dilute it to 40% and re-run it thru your still with the 'attachments' for making Gin.

[DaveZ]

I do the same as EZI except I fill the packed section with lava rock. Works really well, just need to give it a good rinse and a boil to clean it up after a few runs.

Cheers,
Dave.

[The Stig]

:text-+1:
What he said ^:)^

[RC Al]

The longer the packed section, the better. The product dosent have to do as many trips up and down the column and your take off speed or quality will be higher

[coffe addict]

:text-+1: with all of the above. There's also other options. I've been using 5plates to strip and take rough cuts watering back to 40% and then running again with a 1.41m lava rock packed section. This is making excellent neutral. Then it gets run a third time for gin.

There's many ways to skin the cat you'll need to play around to see what suits your needs.

[Joycy]

:text-+1: with all of the above. There's also other options. I've been using 5plates to strip and take rough cuts watering back to 40% and then running again with a 1.41m lava rock packed section. This is making excellent neutral. Then it gets run a third time for gin.

There's many ways to skin the cat you'll need to play around to see what suits your needs.

Are you using an inline gin basket for your botanicals? 1.4m packed section, wow that must be easily doing the job of 15 plates :smile:

[Ned]

I do the same as EZI except I fill the packed section with lava rock. Works really well, just need to give it a good rinse and a boil to clean it up after a few runs.

Cheers,
Dave.

Hi Dave,
Where did you get your lave rock (scoria) from and do you grade the size of the rock. If so approximately what size

Cheers

Ned

[coffe addict]

Big green shed comes graded @7mm to 14mm

[DaveZ]

Hi Dave,
Where did you get your lave rock (scoria) from and do you grade the size of the rock. If so approximately what size

Cheers

Ned

Hi Ned, it was about 5 years ago I bought it, pretty sure I just got it on eBay and would be 10mm or so sized pieces. Seems to work really well. Just don't sniff the scoria after it's done a couple runs :scared-eek: :scared-eek: :puke-huge: :puke-huge: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Cheers,
Dave.

[PeterC]

I use stainless steel scrubbies like this https://www.bunnings.com.au/sabco-profe ... k_p4460722 in my packed section but maybe I can use this? https://www.bunnings.com.au/dalson-3kg- ... k_p3173371 I will go and check the sizing.

[coffe addict]

Nah that'll be large rocks. You want the small garden pebble ones. They're a pain to wash.

[DaveZ]

Something like this is what I got.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 2573095615

[Plumby]

Most landscape yards should have it also, it was all the rage a few years ago we used heaps of it.
You might be able to go to your local landscape yard and cherry pick what you want out of their bulk supply for less than the big green shed sells a big bag for.
Just a thought.

[Lowie]

I have a 600mm section which I pack with 3 rolls of copper mesh. Like Ezi, above the plates and below the RC.
No point stripping prior to running a spirit run. Run your wash straight up with your botanical basket (if you have one). That's one of the beauties of a bubbler. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[RC Al]

Plumby got a yard or two in seq to try? Only found it at $400/cubic so far

[woodduck]

You probably won't need the whole cubic meter :teasing-tease: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

[RC Al]

Lols, the other factor is I don't need enough to make the trip, It's a good way away from where I usually visit, it's on the sw side of brissy, if I could get a trailer load there at vic rates I'd make the trip, sadly a big green shed bag or two and a hammer is most likely in my future

[coffe addict]

No point stripping prior to running a spirit run

That's not my experience, sure what you end up with will be drinkable but certainly not neutral. Ymmv

[The Stig]

No point stripping prior to running a spirit run

That's not my experience, sure what you end up with will be drinkable but certainly not neutral. Ymmv

It depends on the wash, a weet-bix wash run nice and slow will be a great sipping vodka after a single run :handgestures-thumbupleft: