Alcohol below 78.5 is it safe? T500 copper column

[Sven741]

Using HBS ingredients, on a couple of occasions I can comfortably get rid of my foreshots 150mm, set aside 200-400ml as heads then get another 1 litre or so collected when it’s sitting at 78.5 or very close (using a new copper still spirits T500) then the temperature will rise up above 80 and I have a hard time/impossible to adjust the water to get it back to 78.5. It will however happily sit at around the 77 degrees and still pump out a relatively good stream at about 90% for easily another 1 litre or so. Whilst I am taking cuts, some of these cuts at 76.5 to 77.5 don’t have bad odours like the first heads or last tails. Is it safe to consume this alcohol after the temp has risen from what I guess is the hearts but has been run off the still at below 78.5 degrees?

Thanks.

[TheRealMrMessy]

Don't worry too much about focusing on the temperature you are seeing - it's a cooling management column and you are simply watching the cooling water temperature as it leaves the still. Aim for a slow drip of alcohol production to pull fores and heads. Aim for a steady drip or very thin toothpick-like stream after you cut to hearts. The boiler temperature will increase as you take off alcohol and the column cooling temperature will gradually rise also - that'll be reflected on the gauge at the top of the column if you have one.

Just starting out, off a 30L batch, single ferment to spirit run, you can likely throw the first 500mL you take off as fores and heads trash you don't want to drink, then start taking small cuts say 200mL and taste test later. Start in the middle and work your way outward. Heads are hot and sharp and headache material. Tails smell and taste just... gross and weird. Hearts should be relatively clean and comparatively smooth (as in not burning your mouth). Water down for testing if you need to, around 30%.