Day 11

[Carol]

Looks like you are well on the way. Gold star to Wellsy for getting it sorted. Looking forward to seeing your cocktails.
Cheers Carol

[Sam Smythe]

Thanks Carol, and yeah, he's a legend!
Here's the pics to date. Not wasting money on fancy garnishes....being a pensioner is hard lol, but here is what I have done with Wellsy's spirits so far. And thanks again for your input. You are amongst those who have kept me sane.

Dark and Stormy I have the essence (or is it flavour?) to put in his spirit
Cuba Libre I had bought a bottle of Bacardi)
Bloody Mary, Wellsy's vodka. Made some yesterday. the tomato juice was too sweet for me, so I upped the spices today. Way better, got a nice bite

I'm open to other suggestions for cocktails....I have about 20 or so on file

[Sam Smythe]

Notice the glasses are all the same? That's all I've got. Pensioner... :cry:

[Sam Smythe]

And Wellsy, I had noticed on your few visits...you are definitely not short on something to say, whether you have something to say or not lol. Just kidding mate :D

[RuddyCrazy]

So Sam did you get your air still working ? now if so I can send you over the ingredients for making my licorice root vodka where you can steep them in some of that neutral Wellsy gave you and after a week do the run and lets see if your taste buds leave for a week or not so we can prove beyond doubt Wellsy is a Collingwood supporter :laughing-rolling:

[Carol]

Nice cocktails. For fancy glasses have a look at your local oppie. I help out at an oppie and we sell glasses that are not in a full set for 50 cents each.
Cheers Carol

[Sam Smythe]

Thanks Carol. Will do.

[Wellsy]

The Vodka Sam is using is all from his own Airstill. So he knows it can produce the goods.

Now with a bit of patience he will be producing it for himself from a simple WBAB wash.

It costs me roughly $44:00 for a 200 litre wash so that’s 2:20 for his 10 litre barrel. Even. Pensioner can get into this hobby

[Sam Smythe]

RuddyCrazy (sorry, please refresh me...I'm old lol. It's Bryan right?).
Anyhoo, I can guarantee you Wellsy is most definitely NOT a Colliwobble supporter. I would have smelt him out way before he got through the front gate. Colliwobbles is a dirty 12 letter word here and they should all be shot on sight lol.
On a side note, what's got 20 arms, 20 legs and 8 teeth? The front row of the Colliwobble cheer squad :D

[Sam Smythe]

How much spirit do you get out of your 200l wash mate? And let's be realistic. I need to get a 10l wash working first

[Wellsy]

Last one got me about 10 litres of vodka at 77%.

You will be fine next time mate, you are off and running and now know what a fantastic still you have as it suits your needs perfectly.

[Sam Smythe]

So reduced to 40%, that's something like 15 litres of spirit? Off my head, didn't do the calculation. Not a bad outcome for the dollar input!

[RuddyCrazy]

Sam PM me your address and I'll send over the ingredients to make this licorice vodka :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Mate I just love your sense of humour :laughing-rolling:

Learning this craft is a long road and like I said in the past one step at a time mate. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Wellsy has given you the heads up and it is great a member of this forum did stand up to help you.

Mate read read and read this forum now did I say read :laughing-rolling: it's the best way to learn mate.

Cheers Bryan

[Sam Smythe]

Another one Carol....Moscow Mule, again thanks to Wellsy's vodka.
Surely there is another topic where I can talk about this rather than in the beginners area? Sure, I am a beginner, and haven't made a viable wash yet, but I fell this is an inappropriate place to be making these posts. Any suggestions?

[Carol]

That looks nice too. Maybe you post the actual recipe with the photo so others can try the recipe.
Cheers
Carol

[Professor Green]

Hi Sam. Those cocktail pics are making my mouth water.

Feel free to start a cocktail recipe thread in The Dunder Pit to post your cocktail pictures and the associated recipes. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam Smythe]

Thanks Carol, and thanks Professor Green for where to start a topic. I will do so, but not today. The brm brms are on at Bathurst :happy-partydance: Never do today that which you can put off til tomorrow lol

[Sam Smythe]

Professor Green, due to your comment, and Carol's request, I have opened a topic in the dunder pit. I have called it The Cocktail Stop. Have a sqiz, I would love to get your feedback

[Sam Smythe]

I have my second wash on....finally, after a lot of input from Wellsy, Carol, RuddyCrazy and The Stig to name just a few. Thank you all!!! It went on today...2/3/21 at about 8:00pm
This time I have gone with wbab wash and bakers yeast, working on a recipe suggested by Carol and Wellsy (yeah, you two guys will keep getting your names up in lights :smile: )
Another really stupid newbie question though. I have a scientific background, (not biology though, which working with yeast possibly needs). I am/was intending to measure the SG daily and record it, or should I just leave it alone?
Also, once the fermentation is complete, should I add finings, or just leave it to settle on it's own?
Thanks in advance people.

[Wellsy]

It is always a good idea to take a ready at the beginning Sam, and at the end.

Daily readings will give you a record of what happened when if things go wrong, but that is purely optional.

WBAB does not need finings, and does not particularly clear well. Your still will easily handle the uncleared wash as you have a concealed element just don’t over fill it and leave the dregs in the bottom of the fermenter.

You could always decant the wash into your glass demijons this time so you could see the wash settling. Decanting means you can get the next batch on the go 1 or 2 days earlier.

Save your money for more useful things mate, the stuff your still made that I brought around did not having any finings added and you know that worked :)