Hello everyone.
I became interested in making my own whiskey as I was spending too much on my alcohol. I did some research over the internet, and was weighing up between the T500 and the Pure Distillery reflux still. My handyman skills are almost non existent, so building my own was out of the question. After dithering around for a few months I finally had the opportunity to call into a HBS in a nearby city, that according to the Pure Distillery Web Site, sold Pure Distillery (PD) stills and products.
However, by the time I researched it on the web, and calling into the shop they are no longer a PD stockist. But they did have the T500's and a locally built still very similar to the PD still for sale. I was easily persuaded into buying the PD lookalike.
My first batch, using all the supplied ingredients was a disaster. Completely undrinkable. The neutral spirit looked good, nice and clear, but when flavoured with whiskey essence was foul. So I threw the lot away. Then did another batch, using HBS products, and only got 2 litres of neutral, and when flavoured still tasted off, but with extra ice and coke was just drinkable.
Then made a batch using TPW (been reading the forums), and got just over two litres of neutral, which, again when flavoured tasted better....but still not right in my opinion. I ran another TPW through the still yesterday and got 2.2 litres of neutral which I bottled and mixed with whiskey flavour. Haven't tasted it yet.
So that's me, a beginner, just after easy to make low cost and drinkable spirits.
Thanks for letting me join the forum.