5 months in, still cannot get a satisfactory vodka

[axl617]

Does the TFFV recipe not work well with it? From what I've heard, Teddy has moved to using this exclusively over baker's yeast!

Didn't realise he swapped over. What's his nutrient bill now? Maybe its perfectly fine with his current recipe and it might answer my nutrient question too!

The FFV recipe on here just subbing to angel red is very, very so very slow and wont ferment out. Definitely nutrients at issue.

I prefer FFV to WBAB taste (and WBAB to TPW), but do what I did and make them all to compare and find your preference. :handgestures-thumbupleft: i may have said i tried the sultana oat one too. Not a fan, very hot mouthfeel. Oats are worth adding. If you want to add a hint more flavour, bake the oats in the oven first. Works great for my Anzac biscuit ale!

Edit: added context.

This is where he talks about it: https://aussiedistiller.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=241844

But the comment about him using it exclusively for FFV was from Jesse from Still It, in one of his videos. So they must've had that back and forth in private.

What nutrition and SG are you using?

[Professor Green]

I'm with Stig; WBAB over 5 plates and a packed section will get you an outstanding vodka if run and cut correctly.

[Stillsmith]

I'm with Stig; WBAB over 5 plates and a packed section will get you an outstanding vodka if run and cut correctly.

Professor are you and Stig doing the vodka as a one and done (single run) or are you stripping in potstill mode then watering back to 40% before doing a spirit run ?

I assume you are doing a one & done over 5 plates but i thought i would ask to get 100% clarification.... :D

[The Stig]

Single run over the plates for me , run at about 2.5L/H

[Professor Green]

Strip first then spirit run over 4 plates and packed section for me. Mainly because I could really only run 4 plates due to height restrictions.

[Stillsmith]

Strip first then spirit run over 4 plates and packed section for me. Mainly because I could really only run 4 plates due to height restrictions.

That's why i don't have a packed section because i am height poor. My distillery is underneath my old Queenslander.

I dream of a nice big shed but for know it is what it is....

[TheRealMrMessy]

I'm wanting a jacketed boiler, but it stands considerably taller than my current boiler... which at the full stack only has about 8cm clearance from my ceiling.

Been thinking about the potential for an offset head, but not sure I understand how I'd have to set up the liquid return just yet.
https://www.aussiedistiller.com.au/view ... 36&t=13611 great source, would likely need to do some math that I don't have my head round just yet.

[axl617]

Weet-bix over 5 plates and a packed section makes a nice vodka .
Your equipment list states Air Still pro but you mention. 1m tube .
What still are you actually running ?

Forgot to update. I was using the Polyphoenix Air Still head connected to their PPSU sections, using digiboil. I actually got okay results after comparing to store bought bottom-shelf. But it's just like 5% not quite there yet. I decided to give up on the air stuff and got a water cooled reflux system on the way.

[TDick]

I'm late to the party but....

The definition of Vodka - WAS "odorless and tasteless" - seems to have changed into all kinds of flavored "SPIRITS" but you mentioned looking for something "clean".

Some suggestions.
Here's a video by Bearded & Bored making vodka with an airstill. I use a Vevor Water Distiller with power controller, don't know how yours works compared to it.
[youtube]v=1IuHxZZg20A[/youtube]

https://youtu.be/1IuHxZZg20A?si=faAwWLCjB5terGrm

I did something similar to BB
I used INVERT sugar, EC-1118 - designed to strip tastes out - and staged nutrients using "Yeast Bombs"
made by taking the sludge - dead EC-1118 cells - from previous batch, microwaving briefly to almost boiling point, then freezing in small 2-3 TBSP "pucks". Small 5 gallon batch, throw 2 or 3 in along with 1-2 whole Tums (calcium carbonate) for ph if needed.
Kept a low OG between 1.08 - 1.085 and slow temp ferment to keep stress low.

Two other things I do might help.
I "Pre-Vent" - fill the 4L tank, set temp setting to 70C for 30-45 minutes uncovered. And I have a fan blowing over it.
I can absolutely smell some of those off smells you are tasting.
Then I cover and use my power controller to keep a small, steady stream even while stripping.

The other suggestion - similar to Nuclear Aging using wood chips.
After cuts small jars in my microwave. Check temp every 30 seconds or so until it hits 55C - above the boiling point of methanol.
THEORETICALLY, it MIGHT burn off at least some remaining methanol and other nasty stuff without boiling off ethanol.
When nuclear aging on chips, I let it cool uncovered then cap it and stick it in the freezer overnight.

[The Stig]

EC1118 is probably the worst yeast to be using for sugar wash’s .
And all your doing is boiling off the foreshots, nothing new and from what I can gather started when the TV show moonshiners started doing it .
You can get around doing this by making correct cuts

[Wellsy]

Damm that seems like a lot of hard work.

I am with Stig and the Professor, WBAB wash, over 4 plates. I do strip run first but that is due to volume I do.

For me Vodka and Neutral are different products, where some people think they re the same. That’s the best bit of this hobby you can do whatever gets you the product you like.

[RobMichelle]

Jeepers no way I’d be enjoying that process, drive a man to give up drinking :sad:

[howard]

I'm late to the party but....

The definition of Vodka - WAS "odorless and tasteless" - seems to have changed into all kinds of flavored "SPIRITS" but you mentioned looking for something "clean".

Some suggestions.
Here's a video by Bearded & Bored making vodka with an airstill. I use a Vevor Water Distiller with power controller, don't know how yours works compared to it.
[youtube]v=1IuHxZZg20A[/youtube]

https://youtu.be/1IuHxZZg20A?si=faAwWLCjB5terGrm

I did something similar to BB
I used INVERT sugar, EC-1118 - designed to strip tastes out - and staged nutrients using "Yeast Bombs"
made by taking the sludge - dead EC-1118 cells - from previous batch, microwaving briefly to almost boiling point, then freezing in small 2-3 TBSP "pucks". Small 5 gallon batch, throw 2 or 3 in along with 1-2 whole Tums (calcium carbonate) for ph if needed.
Kept a low OG between 1.08 - 1.085 and slow temp ferment to keep stress low.

Two other things I do might help.
I "Pre-Vent" - fill the 4L tank, set temp setting to 70C for 30-45 minutes uncovered. And I have a fan blowing over it.
I can absolutely smell some of those off smells you are tasting.
Then I cover and use my power controller to keep a small, steady stream even while stripping.

The other suggestion - similar to Nuclear Aging using wood chips.
After cuts small jars in my microwave. Check temp every 30 seconds or so until it hits 55C - above the boiling point of methanol.
THEORETICALLY, it MIGHT burn off at least some remaining methanol and other nasty stuff without boiling off ethanol.
When nuclear aging on chips, I let it cool uncovered then cap it and stick it in the freezer overnight.

i'm watching the video.
he adds citric acid early on, then tests his PH later and finds it's low? :angry-banghead:
is inverted sugar worth it? i just dissolve my sugar in boiling water, stir it and leave it to dissolve completely before adding cold water shortly afterwards.
staging nutrition, never had to do that in a sugar wash.
(btw did he mention aerating the wash?)
anyway, IMHO you need to make a good vodka with anything other than sugar.
is he using a sugar wash and hoping to get a good vodka?
my 100% wheat vodka is very nice and i refuse anyone to use it with mixers.
imho 1.080 is not a low OG either, probably on the high side.
i see the methanol rears it's head again, in a sugar wash?
nuclear aging/chips/filters WTF
sounds like a well operated reflux still is required.(we are talking about vodka here?)

[The Stig]

This is why I tell people to stop watching so called experts on Utube
And yes, theres always a small chance there could be a small amount of methanol in any wash

[chipboy]

Methanol in lettuce!

I did an all grain wheat vodka, my only mistake was ABV, 95% is almost mandatory. Too much flavour at 85. Will run iot through with the next batch, in th emeantime I will do the weetbix thing as they have sugar in them and are gelatinous wheat.

[axl617]

Update on this. I finally cracked the code. Turns out my previous runs were very pleasant to others but I suppose I am extremely sensitive to off notes.

All it took was getting ditching the Air Still stuff and moving to 1M SPP column with a water cooled dephlegmator.

Recipe was raisin, rolled oats, rolled wheat (Allan Bishop in Jesse from Still It style).

Run was 97% ABV v/v throughout. It retained this interesting nutty character (not sure what gave it that). But extremely clean and I would say artisan level. Everyone wants some now, sadly I only retained about 56% as hearts, this thing had a lot of heads. Perhaps WBAB or TFFV will give me a bit less of a heads stage.