Gin botanicals with Air Still Pro enquiry

[PeteASP]

Gday guys

Have been doing numerous 25L TPW over the last 3 months in the ASP & thoroughly enjoying it!! :happy-partydance:

I have been doing stripping runs first on Pot Still mode then spirit runs on Reflux taking cuts to make neutral then filtering & adding essences.

I now would like to produce gin using the botanicals basket (just using the Still Spirits Gin botanicals to start with....)

QUESTION being : is it best to firstly just do a Reflux mode run with no cuts, dilute, then filter. Then Pot still mode using the botanicals & taking cuts?

Please let me know if I'm on the right track.

Cheers

[howard]

Gday guys

Have been doing numerous 25L TPW over the last 3 months in the ASP & thoroughly enjoying it!! :happy-partydance:

I have been doing stripping runs first on Pot Still mode then spirit runs on Reflux taking cuts to make neutral then filtering & adding essences.

I now would like to produce gin using the botanicals basket (just using the Still Spirits Gin botanicals to start with....)

QUESTION being : is it best to firstly just do a Reflux mode run with no cuts, dilute, then filter. Then Pot still mode using the botanicals & taking cuts?

Please let me know if I'm on the right track.

Cheers

personally, i think you want the cleanest best neutral you can make first.
then just mascerate the botanicals and do a pot still gin run with no cuts.(using the Odin method of 400ml per litre)
why would you add your expensive botanicals to a smeared product?

i've not used a airstill pro, how good is the hearts on a reflux run?
is there still a need to filter, if the hearts are ok?

[TheRealMrMessy]

Agree with Howard, do mine the same way. Use the hearts from your reflux run, macerate in the air still pot for 24hrs, then do a pot still run with the botanicals still in there.

[The Stig]

These guys are onto it :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[PeteASP]

Thanks for your replys.

To create the cleanest neutral I will then do what I normally do with 1 stripping run in Pot & then 1 Spirit run in Reflux with cuts. Then dilute/filter. Then do Pot run with botanicals in basket (I'll just use basket for now but will try macerate later in the boiler as well) & see how it goes hey :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[TheRealMrMessy]

Basket isn't going to add a whole lot of flavour compared, but go ahead and try it vs maceration in the pot. You won't be wasting anything, and if you don't like what you make toss it in with the next reflux run.

[PeteASP]

Thanks again!
Sooooo finally to confirm please... "macerate in the air still pot for 24hrs" , assume for the Air Still Pro add 4 Litres of 40% & macerate 24hrs then leave it in the still (not using the basket at all) & then Pot run but still taking cuts in this final run?
Cheers

[The Stig]

I would macerate at a higher ABV , normally 90+
Then add water to bring it down to 40%

[howard]

Thanks again!
Sooooo finally to confirm please... "macerate in the air still pot for 24hrs" , assume for the Air Still Pro add 4 Litres of 40% & macerate 24hrs then leave it in the still (not using the basket at all) & then Pot run but still taking cuts in this final run?
Cheers

not exactly.
odins method was refered to, and it's a good method IMHO.
it can be looked up but basically.......
you run the masceration in the pot still.
you collect the first 10ml separately
then you collect 400ml for every litre, so for 4 litres you would collect 1600ml (4 x 400ml)
around this point (the 1600ml), the flavours coming off the still can get interesting (not in a good way).
you can get grassy/bitter/woody flavours after the 400ml/L mark.
it depends on your botanicals, but i stick to a rigid 400ml/L, then i collect about 4 x 25-30ml samples separately.
the next day i choose which 25-30ml samples go in the main collection.
sometimes i add part of the first 10ml in, these are full of flavour but will make your gin louch.
i don't really care if my gin is louching.

[Ailmik]

Novice distiller here but just finished (bottled Boxing Day) doing Stubby's Gin - Bombay Sapphire posted by TDick. I did two 30l TPW's, stripping run with the alcoengine, carbon filtered this and then a spirt run with the Air Still Pro with cuts. Macerated for 24hours @ 42% ABV then all into the airstill pot @ 40% ABV for another stripping run. Collected this as per Oden's method and bottled. Had the wife and sister in law do a blind taste test against the real Bombay Sapphire and got two from two with the homemade coming out on top. Will be how I do it from now on.
Cheers
Kim