Getting Subtle Flavours in Neutral Spirits

[tororm]

After 6 years of lurking I've FINALLY bought a still- I will receive it in the next week or so (4 plate bubbler with an additional 500mm packed column) .

I'll mainly be making gin and vodka. The plan is to do some TPW's first to get used to the still and and then decide what to do next.

I'm struggling to answer one question though- most commercially made vodkas I drink (right now in the glass is a sunny hills distillery vodka from SA) do have a subtle flavour and certain thickness to them. Will I need to move to grain based washes to replicate this texture/flavour?

[dans.brew]

Welcome tororm!
Perhaps pop into the welcome centre and introduce yourself there. In your intro you can ask any questions you may have.
Sounds like you will be starting of with a nice bit of kit. :happy-partydance:
In answer to your question... the tpw and ffv washes are really for making that clean tasting neutral with no flavour, but the wbab wash or a grain based wash is where you will get the subtle grain flavour or in some cases mouthfeel your talking about. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[The Stig]

Forget the TPW in a bubbler even with a packed section .
Go for something like a weetbix wash

[Doubleuj]

Gday mate, good on you for finally taking the plunge.
I’d agree with Stig and use a wbab to start and see how it tastes, or, Sunny Hill do have a profile on here, maybe they’ll give away some trade secrets :pray: :laughing-rolling:

[The Stig]

I know the trade secret :teasing-neener:
Wheat in field becomes vodka in bottle

[tororm]

Thanks for all the advice- I'll run a TPW through it as a scarificial and then get straight into wbab.

I'm also keen to give a all corn mash a go using enzymes- but I reckon I'll put a few wbabs through and get a feel for the still first.

[Sunny Hill]

I'm struggling to answer one question though- most commercially made vodkas I drink (right now in the glass is a sunny hills distillery vodka from SA) do have a subtle flavour and certain thickness to them. Will I need to move to grain based washes to replicate this texture/flavour?

Hello Tororm, I hope you are enjoying our Vodka!

Basically yes, you will need to use a grain based wash to get that grain flavour through the still.

We use 100% wheat from our property for the mash, once fermented two of these are stripped fast through our 4 plate column still then combined in our 12 plate still for the spirit run.

The mouthfeel comes from a combination of the grain and also the fact that we do not carbon filter anything, carbon filtering will remove impurities but aslo strip mouthfeel that you will find in most high end vodkas.

Good luck on your journey.

[Wellsy]

Welcome Tororm
Wow !!!!
It speaks volumes for the forum that a commercial operator is happy to share what they use as ingredients and the techniques used to get exactly what you are looking for.

Good luck mate you got it straight from the horses mouth so you are making an excellent start to reaching your goal.