Pot still help??

[bac206]

Hi all. I've been using a reflux for a couple years and have been using a pot to strip tpws for about 3 months. So I've decided to go with macs BWKO recipe as an introduction into grain and pot stilling. I stripped out 5 gens as per recipe and went with first ever spirit run yesterday.
Once I took off 250ml of fores I slowed my 2200 Mac elements down to 160 volts for run and while it was nice and slow run the product started out at 86%, which is higher than I expected. Whilst I was very happy with the overall smell of the product by the time hearts came around. After blending the hearts it came to 75% for the hearts using approx 1/3 of the run. After 5 gens @ 8L each was perfect for a 40L 40% boiler charge. It's a 2 inch pot with a column of approx 300mm height, 2 90' bends with triclamps in between then out to 1/2 leiberg arm at 1.9m length.
My questions are:-
1. would this be normal for a pot still to run at this high %.
2. Should alc % be a concern when running a pot still.
3. Does anyone else run a single similar element and what sorta voltage do you run it at for a spirit run?
Thanks in advance

[djfrestyla]

Hi,
I have a 2"pot that I run on a keg.
I run 2 x 2200W elements, no controller,I run both for stripping runs, but for a spirit run, I cut back to 1 element when temp gets to boil.
I also lift the Lyre arm angle a bit for spirit runs, to promote better product cooling.
The high % at start of run seems normal to me, and when I blend hearts, I usually end up with around 1/3 of total,@ around the 70-75% mark.
I'm no expert, but works for me.

[Dominator]

The high ABV is no concern, being a pot still, your collecting everything that rises up the column so your going to retain plenty of flavour. After blending, if your concerned about a lack of flavour, you can back blend some tails but use caution or your hard earned will taste like crap.
I never worried about ABV when running my pot still. I payed much more attention to the smell and taste of my distillate.

[APLF]

bac206
I too get 88-84% depending on starting temp of around 79-80degrees depending on variables when I am doing my runs. I have a 50ltr keg with a 800high pot attachment with a 2400W element and a variable controller for fine tuning but its just a dial and I am unsure exactly what watts/volts it sits at as I go on temp with a spirit run. I also have a digital thermometer at the point of the take off arm.
I am still doing research to see if an article and formula I found thats stated (quote) " The 'middle cut' proportions that are listed in Ian Smiley's corn whiskey book mathematically conform (almost exactly) to the yield data I sent you out of that Japanese Scotch book - About a 57% middle cut.

I also learned that these "middle cut" numbers are good for any volume, and any still- I have made a corn whiskey and have "made the cut" according to Ian Smiley's numbers-It comes out to:
Fore shots (3.1%)
Heads (17.4%)
Middle Run (57.1%)
Tails (22.4%)." (unquote)

So I did the nmaths for different scenarios and came up with for a 50ltr keg
For 45ltr Grain wash (8%): = 3.8ltr @ 90%
Foreshots 117ml (3.1%)
Heads 661ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 2170ml (57.1%)
Tails 851ml (22.4%)

For 45ltr Grain wash (10%): = 4.75ltr @ 90%
Foreshots 147ml (3.1%)
Heads 827ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 2712ml (57.1%)
Tails 1064ml (22.4%)

For 45ltr Grain wash (12%): = 5.7ltr @ 90%
Foreshots 176ml (3.1%)
Heads 992ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 3255ml (57.1%)
Tails 1277ml (22.4%)

For 45ltr Rum wash (16%): = 7.8ltr @ 90%

Fore shots 147ml (3.1%)
Heads 1357ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 4453ml (57.1%)
Tails 1747ml (22.4%)

For 45ltr Sugar wash (18%): = 8.8ltr @ 90%
Fore shots 273 ml (3.1%)
Heads 1531 ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 5025 ml (57.1%)
Tails 1971 ml (22.4%)

But as I said I am still collecting data to compare with these figures to assertain wether this is correct. I have found and depending on taste, that the numbers are close and possibly could be used as a 'GUIDE' when doing runs. Have a go and see what you find/think and let me know if you have similar results. When I have done a single rum run I normally get around 76-80% for my hearts collection but I do have a taller pot column than most. It is my understanding that height increases % and widthand heat can influence volume flow.
Hope this helps
APLF

[bac206]

WOW. That's one hell of a reply. Thanks heaps. ^:)^ After running a reflux for a few years I jumped into the pot design as well and just wanna make sure im doing it right

[Andy]

love you work. helped me out a ton mate.
got my whiskey on oak now. the waiting game begins!

[APLF]

For 45ltr Rum wash (16%): = 7.8ltr @ 90%

Fore shots 241ml (3.1%)
Heads 1357ml (17.4%)
Middle Run 4453ml (57.1%)
Tails 1747ml (22.4%)

APLF

Sorry boys just realised there was an error on one of the figures, corrected in red
APLF