Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

hi all question when using dunder for next gen say 20-30% when i top up with water i get ph of around 3.5 to 4 % i like to start my washes at about 5.8 ph to 6 so i get a fast fermentation so to my question do you guys raise ph with calcium carbonate to get ph in sweet spot or do you just wait 4 weeks to ferment or stall which has happened to me in the past asking because ive never used calcium carbonate

Never checked ph with rum I use 25% dunder and do 5gens. But just cause it works for me doesn't mean it will for you I used calcium carbonate in a homemade golden syrup recipe I did From memory I think I used 2 tablespoons in 60l its the only time I have used it..Raised it from 3.5 to 5.5-6 using strips to test :-B

I don't adjust the ph at all. I just monitor the amount of dunder I use to keep it above 4.9ish. Which is anywhere between 2ltrs to 3ltrs in a 30ltr wash :-B

thanks guys are you using lowans bakers yeast or acid liking Lalvin EC-1118 im using bakers and how long do your ferments take just comparing wether i should adjust ph or use different yeast ?

I only use lowans. Ferment in middle of summer have had them finish in 3days cleared and run in 5 in winter about 10 days is the norm. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I have read often ec118 is more a workhorse yeast longer type fermentation which can give a higher ABV where with a rum you want to run hard and quick,apparently that gives the best flavour. I have also been told as advise that you can reduce Dunder volume down to 15% as it does reduce ph over generations may I suggest 2 nd gen 25 then subsequent lower to 15% :handgestures-thumbupleft:

thanks very much always good to know what others are doing :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

I use 5L dunder per gen from gen 2 to 5, at gen 3 I add 1 heaped tsp of calcium carbonate to keep it fermenting fast, haven taken ph readings. All washes ferment out in 3 days max, in summer or temp controlled. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

TasSpirits hi mate whats your start ph when you have adjusted ph before pitching yeast ? thats what im trying to get at because when i use that much dunder and mixed mine is about 4 which i think is too low. thanks for the reply and is causing me a slow ferment.should i adjust to 5.8 ?

sorry just relized you dont take ph

I use lime to keep the ph to around 5.5 starting out. I use 30L dunder in a 180L ferment. I also don't use sugar just molasses. It's usually takes a bit longer as the sg is higher making the yeast work harder. It produces a strong heavy rum.

coffee addict thanks bloke thats what ill do ill add 20 % dunder and keep start off ph at 5.8 start point even if it means adding lime to get it there as from what i read dunder is very important to flavour complexity :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft: of the rum

Welcome mate, it's all about finding what works for your tastebuds!

Hey
coffe addict when using all molasses how much do you use for the 25-30lt wash. Instead of 3 sugar and 3lts molasses you just use 6lts or a little more ???

Hey mate I use 7L as there's less fermentable sugar in molasses. I also take sg reading and have found 1.1 to be the upper limit and it won't go below 1.03 above 1.1 it will most likely stall.

Thanks for that and that's with the DAP, acid, salt and 20g of yeast is all the same or you dont worry about that.

Personally found straight molasses wash 6l in 30l total wash to ott and sickley. bout as heavy as I go is original mcrum 25% dunder 5 gens..

ok sounds good and sounds like it may puke more. I might increase slower not go all out

I don't bother with dap. I do use Epsom and the same amount of yeast. The citric is only needed if your not using dunder.
I don't have issues with puking much as it usually gets a week or more to settle out before I run it.
As it's a heavy rum it does take longer to for aging.
Think Ron zaccappa Solera 23.
I find mc rum to be alot like Mt gay rum bland and lacking complexity. I'm not bagging it, it's just not to my liking.