freezer distilling

[robtes]

Hi guys, I tried a search but no luck here. Have I asked the right question?
Im told that freezing a mash in a chest freezer means you can end up with a frozen lump (using a simple jug) which can be up ended and left to drip in basin on the kitchen table. Say you fermented a Walch grape juice (concord) to 10 % abv. you might recover ca 20% low wine. Ready for my Air Still.
What do you guys think?

[The Stig]

What your talking about is Applejacking refers to a traditional method of producing applejack, a spirit distilled from hard cider. The process involves freezing the hard cider and then removing the ice, which concentrates the alcohol content. This method, also known as freeze distillation, was historically used to increase the strength of applejack

[robtes]

What your talking about is Applejacking refers to a traditional method of producing applejack, a spirit distilled from hard cider. The process involves freezing the hard cider and then removing the ice, which concentrates the alcohol content. This method, also known as freeze distillation, was historically used to increase the strength of applejack

Indeed yes thats what I was referring to thnx for the correction @the stig :D

I now wondered if this process might be useful as the first stage of a pot still process which should produce a low wine of ca 20%abv - ie instead of doing a stripping run first (probably no advantage unless your up north with our Canadian friends and outdoor freezing maybe a common method?) :))

BTW I read somewhere that repeated freeze concentration of Applejack is bad news as it can create poisonous product - is this true? If so its the opposite of pot distillation where repeated runs - 3 or 4 times produces a vastly improved product

[B-Man]

It probably has its uses but a stripping run isn't hard.
And tbh would use a slightly more power, be done alot quicker and give you a better result.

[bluc]

Once distilled and proper cuts it's fine.
With applejack so don't seperate you simply jack the proof up by remoywater...I have read of ripper headaches from this method but again irrelevant if distilling and doing cuts afterwards :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[robtes]

Once distilled and proper cuts it's fine.
With applejack so don't seperate you simply jack the proof up by remoywater...I have read of ripper headaches from this method but again irrelevant if distilling and doing cuts afterwards :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Yup its obvious really you are simply concentrating all spirits - good and bad from ca 10% ABV to 20% ABV

So in Canada it might be useful cos they get 9 month frozen up out there. So for the 1st run it can be useful but it must be followed up by pot or reflux runs to dispose of bad stuff?