Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

I know this topic comes up a lot, but I figured I’d get a test done for my own peace of mind. I get that sugar washes shouldn’t produce methanol, but I was curious to see for myself.

These days I mostly run a kale sugar wash, and that’s what this sample came from. I used an Airstill Pro and first stripped the wash in pot-still mode without making cuts, then ran it through in reflux mode and was pretty careful with my cuts. The end result was about 89% ABV.

By the time I sent it off, the batch had already been sitting with lemon rind for a couple of weeks (was starting a limoncello). I didn’t expect the lemon to make a difference, but it was the only batch I had on hand when I came across the testing service.

Anyway, the results came back as below the lab’s minimum detection range for methanol. This was from a proper commercial lab — the same type of testing done on retail spirits — so I feel pretty confident in the result.

Nice! Good to have the reassurance - did you take a big heads cut out of the batch, or just a fores cut for the experiment?

I'm going to do similar with some of the low carb beers I'm trying to develop. Once it has all appearances to me of being low carb, I'll be getting a few lab tests done to get actual numbers! Couple places in the country do it and its only 70 bucks a pop.

TheRealMrMessy wrote:Nice! Good to have the reassurance - did you take a big heads cut out of the batch, or just a fores cut for the experiment?

I'm going to do similar with some of the low carb beers I'm trying to develop. Once it has all appearances to me of being low carb, I'll be getting a few lab tests done to get actual numbers! Couple places in the country do it and its only 70 bucks a pop.

I wouldn't say big head cuts, but a little more than usual as i was trying to get a very clean tasting result when i was doing this batch.

Whats this cost where you get it done?

For what it's worth I don't worry about methanol at all. Well, kinda not.

At first, I agree with Jesse on Still It. I'm gonna toss the first 100 mls are so anyway so what difference does it make if it's fores or heads.
That said there IS something I do more and more of now.
I got the idea from discussions about nuclear aging, then a thread by ShineOn - Home Distiller about Butter Rum.
Short version on Butter Rum - he made his mash, then heated it to 130F and let it hold for a couple of hours.
He got sidetracked and it cooled back down. When he ran it it had a very detectable butter rum taste to it.

MY application is to fill my VW air still and bring it up to 70C uncovered - above the boiling point of methanol, acetone and other nasty stuff.
Let it hold there for 30-60 minutes -?? - then top it off and run.

For nuclear aging, similar approach. Spirits and oak nuked to 70C, left open or topped with coffee filter until if comes back to room temp.
Then I put a lid on it and stick it in the freezer overnight. Repeat for 3 days.

I understand that bringing it up doesn't GUARANTEE that all the methanol is going to boil out. And it may not make any difference.
Or maybe it will make some difference for very little effort.

im playing with a different toy but I tend to agree with sentiments on forums....