by PhillT » Thu Apr 26, 2018 2:32 pm
""Could it be a contamination in the bottle ouzo does this when diluted if you used bottle previously for some other brew.""
The bottles are used for nothing else, just clean pure alcohol prior to flavouring etc. They are capped when stored also.
""How long has it taken to clear that much phillt?""
24 hours to clear that much. It has been 48 hours now, and has only cleared a little more,....going to be a long wait.
""Looks like jelly fish to me.. louching from to much tails.""
Can't be because the first bottle I diluted is clear as glass, this bottle clouded,....all from the same distillation.
""Have you checked your alcometer? Put it in water at 20 degrees and if it doesn't read 0 then it's out of calibration.
98% is not possible unless you add something else to break the azeotrope. Commercially they use substances like benzene (carcinogenic) to break the azeotrope""
Checked it this morning, spot on. I only get a small part of a distillation at 98%, the rest is usually around 95% give or take a % point. I do a strip run first in pot mode, then run the column with a slow offtake.
""My spirit always clouds up but clears again in 15-20m, this I have never seen or heard of...sorry cant be more help but keep us posted""
That sounds a bit like when I pour really fast & get microscopic air bubbles, but they seem to clear in just a few minutes, 3 or 4.
""Not as pure as you think methinks.
See if it settles out and leaves a thin layer of white sediment on the bottom you can decant the clear stuff off. Or you could filter it but you'll need some seriously fine lab paper.
Either way you've had soluble at high abv proteins or minerals that are insoluble at lower abv come to life. Not harmful but it wouldn't take very much to create cloudy liquor.""
I am going to wait it out & see just how long it takes, and what is in the bottom.
I just can't see how I ended up with proteins or minerals in one bottle, but not the other bottle from the same distillation, using the same water. Mystery to me.\
""If you’re cuts were good it may be the water.
Could try watering down gradually next time instead of all at once. Or use less water & leave abv higher, 45%.
What wash was it? Could any oils have come over??""
I will try adding more slowly. I still need to end up at 37-38% though.
Sugar, tomato paste, epsom salts, citric acid & yeast.
If oils did somehow come over, why would it not have affected both bottles?