rumby wrote:Johnboy,
I have never done any stripping runs, I just run the TPW through my reflux still at 95% if you are getting 94-95 % you dont need to filter it, (just linning the HBS pockets). In saying that majority of the guys on this site do strip all their washs, which has been explained to me in a time management system, which does end up saving you time, which is what I am going to doing with my mollasses washes (pot still them) when they are ready and I can see the benefit of running them twice (cleans them up). With stripping the aim is run thewash as quick as possible dont reflux at all.
If you are mixing your neutral with essence one run will be fine. I dont take cuts of my neutrals, because unfortunately I am still using HBS rum essence and I dont need the hearts etc., but those days are nearly up (come on mollasses washs) and real rum will be consumed.
I found when sometimes I asked heaps of question, I only understood 80 % of what the guys meant, so you just keep asking, I hadnt read a post yet, that didnt keep helping explaining to someone that is starting new things.
Stripping doesn't only save you time, it also saves you energy (and there isn't to many of us around getting free energy) and it produces a better product.
Picture this;
You have 96% ethanol (for a short explanation) and 4% shit
In a stripped low wines charge that 4% consists of double distilled water. In a wash that 4% consists of...well wash and all the crap that's in it distilled once.
Not much in the scheme of things, but it's saying that you get half as much again impurities if you strip the wash first.
As for cuts, if you don't cut the heads and tails out you have to drink them. It doesn't matter whether you are flavouring with cordial or oak, the result is you are drinking garbage that you don't have to. Practising and learning cuts will be the single greatest thing you can do to improve your spirits, cordial or not. 8-)