DISTILLING : Give Me Advice And Also Help Others! PART 2

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  • Опубликовано: 3 фев 2025

Комментарии • 74

  • @MysticDonBlair
    @MysticDonBlair Год назад +1

    I take off 2 oz per 5 gallon wash, and 4 times that for heads.

  • @Philmoon69
    @Philmoon69 2 года назад +2

    Congratulations on achieving 2k subs

  • @iliasbres
    @iliasbres 2 года назад +1

    Very nice setup..I want to say that with the same amount of energy input the temp rising because of changing the ratio alcool/water in the vessel NOT the amount of liquid in the vessel.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Thanks and I’ll take your word for it with regards to the increase in temperature. After I said it, I wasn’t 100% sure it was right anyway 🥴

    • @iliasbres
      @iliasbres 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited think about boiling pure water.When start and remain boiling the temp not changing no mater the amount of water.(at the same pressure)
      .

  • @Jack-It-UP
    @Jack-It-UP Год назад

    Hi, If you use a PID controller to control the head temperature, you can finally adjust the ABV and pump out 95+.
    It will also improve the efficiency of the still. I use a small 6 mm solenoid valve to control the re-flux column.Cheers

  • @Dink10828
    @Dink10828 2 года назад +2

    This time of year I'd be getting a small indoor ethanol "fire" and fuel it with the stuff that you usually bin. Gets back some of the energy put into it. I've started to look into making fuel as I'll be converting a car to run flex fuel.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      I save a bit of foreshots, but I’ll just end up with bottles and bottles of it, so there’s not much point in saving all of it. Unless like you, and really are able to make use of it. I’ll have to look into something like that! I’ve mixed fores with fuel and used it in mowers, but I’m sure it never ran very well with the extra additional additive in it. Good for a laugh if nothing else 😂

  • @kevinpadoa4011
    @kevinpadoa4011 2 года назад +2

    Excellent video mate and super funny actually 😂 I run an 80 litre 100% copper pot still though a thumper and take off my foreshots, heads and hearts purely on smell, taste and feel. Tails the same but I watch the vapor temp as well, when that go's up sharply I know I am getting to the end. I do not use fixed volumes as in 150ml for foreshots etc. Sometimes I take over a litre of heads for rum for example. I mainly do bourbon and rum, occasionally gin but as I do not have a reflux column, I have to triple distill the vodka to get a high ABV.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      Good and solid process you’re doing there Kevin. Thanks for the info.
      Can I ask how you heat your Still?

    • @kevinpadoa4011
      @kevinpadoa4011 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited I use a big gas burner off a 19kg bottle.

  • @johnh7718
    @johnh7718 2 года назад +1

    Always fun to see your fancy setup. You left out the measuring of ABV for a process video, but thorough otherwise.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Thanks John. I missed out loads, like degassing the wash or not for clearing, checking ph if needed, etc. I always do these vids in a rush, so you know my format is rubbish and always flawed. But I’m sure you’re used to that by now 😂

    • @johnh7718
      @johnh7718 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited You have good videos, even if rushed.

  • @townsvillebowhunter
    @townsvillebowhunter 2 года назад +2

    same as Kevin mostly Rum pot stilled for me but I do run a reflux column for neutrals for infusions and gin bases. Everything you're doing is on point I have tried pot stilling to get low wines on multiple washes, then putting the reflux column on and doing a spirit run and what i did find was I lost alot more of my weekend for a product that blind tasting you would be hard to pick a difference I don't separate foreshots and heads as both go into a container for cleaning windows and fire lighting keep up the great work mate I love watching your infusion vid's usinng the syrup method I kocked out a white choc raspberry liqueur a few weeks back YUMM

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Nice one, thank you FD.
      I’ve just labelled up a bottle of that chocolate and raspberry for a Christmas gift. I must get around to making more of it now!

  • @Philmoon69
    @Philmoon69 2 года назад +2

    I don't take mine apart .... so I don't clean it! Most of the people I have spoken to don't clean it either but of course I understand cleaning it as you take it apart due to space

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      If you’re dirty and happy then that’s fine with me 😂 All I do with this rig is a quick rinse, but I got sick of trying to keep my copper Still clean, so I can see the advantages keeping it au natural.

  • @Steve_Wardley_G6JEF
    @Steve_Wardley_G6JEF 2 года назад +1

    Great video and great to see your setup. I think at the end of the day just do your own thing because it's so subjective, all the " I do this " and " I do that " malarkey can be a bit overwhelming. Sounds like you're on top of the job anyway.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +2

      That’s very astute of you and exactly the right attitude to have. Use the safety guide lines and cherry pick other peoples ideas/processes but ultimately it’s your decision to do what you want to do and the way you want to do it.

  • @stefanluke2771
    @stefanluke2771 2 года назад +2

    I like these videos - really helps to share data around.
    Foreshots - I'm the same as you, I chuck about 150ml for 20l wash. It's not methanol, but it's probably not only alcohol either. I throw it away (i.e. don't recycle as feints).
    Heads - I normally throw the next 500ml into feints (again on a 20L wash). I'll put the feints in the next wash.
    Speed - about 1.5l per hour on a 4" plate still. I can probably go faster but I prefer to keep maximum ABV for neutral. I distill in the daytime and have solar panels, so the power is basically free, and my cooling water comes from roof water tanks and I discard back into the tank. So, free power and no water means I don't have reason to hurry.
    Tails - column appearance a major signal, I also watch the steam rising up the windows as a tell. The only big change from you is that I use head temp readings. 79c for the run, when it climbs (even to 80c) collect to feints.
    Late tails - I agree with your comment on flavouring hiding the flaws, but the way I see it that last 100ml will be there in the next run. Putting the feints into the next wash just adds yield to that run.
    Last point is wash size. This is just efficiency, if you can do a bigger wash you get more for each time you set up/break down/clean your still. It depents on kettle size obviously, I now do 40L washes - you can do multiple ferments and just let the early ones settle out while you do the next.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      That’s an absolutely fantastic comment. Thank you!
      Amazing how you mentioned solar panels, as we’ve hopefully getting ours (and a battery) next month. And I can’t wait!

    • @Philmoon69
      @Philmoon69 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited ooh your getting a battery too .. do a quick vid to show your system if you can. We are completely off grid here but with old technology ( lead acid battery) we haven't had a electricity bill in 5 years and in the last year have increased our out put by 100 % but I still brew on gas as I can't be certain without the grid as a backup that the solar is supplying the power and not my ( expensive ) batteries

    • @Philmoon69
      @Philmoon69 2 года назад +1

      I have been sampling my wares today.... it 12 midnight here.... I think I taste some heads.... I better taste some more! It's the responsible thing to do !

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      You’ll sleep well tonight!

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      I am going to do a little mini series of vids about it all, so look out for those! We won’t be off grid with the system like you, but it’s definitely going to be a big help in the long run.

  • @daveo3122
    @daveo3122 2 года назад +1

    Another use for that 95%, or even just the fores and heads, is in a hobo stove, look it up on YT. Just in case you lose power for an extended period.
    Turbo 500 and alembic dome. 95% nearly always with the T500. 85% with a double distillation with the alembic dome. I prefer the grain based stuff (preferably a whiskey or bourbon) over sugar based, but that's me.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      I’ve seen those hobo stoves before. Not sure I’ll ever have a go a making one, or even have the need for one, but it certainly is a good idea to keep in mind. Even if it’s for a bit of entertainment.

    • @daveo3122
      @daveo3122 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited I think I didn't answer your question. For a one and done or spirit run, I run it low power at the just on drip-drip-spurt for the fores (50ml discarded) and heads, then bring it up to a steady stream for hearts through to tails. For the stripping run, I do the low and slow for just the fores (50ml) then up to production speed for the rest down to around the 5% ABV mark. This is what I've found works well for me and my 'hobby / experimentation' setup. The remainder of the new fairly optioned out column and boiler setup is on it's way (bubble plates YAY!).

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      @@daveo3122 sounds like our techniques are very similar. I also slowly take the fore’s off on a stripping Run, then go hell for leather for the rest of Run.
      Ooooh you can’t go wrong with bubble plates. Me likes them a lot 😎

    • @daveo3122
      @daveo3122 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited The setup I'll have will only have 4 plates, but as per the T500, I can have a near 2 feet of SPP for rectification/purification under those plates.. I'll be interested to see how much and how potent the 'rocket fuel' can be (ABV) using both at the same time. Might also add in the thumper system to that as a further test.
      I like having options.😇

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      @@daveo3122 wow that’s great news. I also love the way some Stills are made in a way that you can chop and change the set up to suit your needs. Makes it all the more enjoyable doesn’t it.

  • @BigEdsGuns
    @BigEdsGuns 2 года назад

    Never used a thermometer.
    Run by taste and smell, and will check abv with alcohol tralle. I collect way down 10% abv.
    I run a pot (15.5 gallon keg boiler) or thump (15.5 gallon keg) distillation.
    Also run a packed reflux column (3 inch for vodka) or 3 plates (4 inch) for whiskey/rum/scotch(style).
    Save the fores for manually starting a pellet stove.
    Age the hearts, and recycle EVERYTHING back into boiler along with fresh wash on the next when running a relfux/plates rig.
    When pot stilling with thumper. Fresh wash in boiler along with late hearts and all tails from previous run.
    Heads go into thumper with some fresh wash.
    After Three cycles with thumper it's just like doing 3 strips and spirit run.
    Except I continue recycle everything making sure I don't put more than 40% abv in the boiler.
    It's a constant spirit run...
    Cheers!

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Thanks for those details on your equipment and the Runs you do. Interesting 👍

  • @thealembicdiary1814
    @thealembicdiary1814 2 года назад +1

    Great video. I can’t help so much with your set up. It’s pretty sharp looking rig!! I run a 10 gal alembic and make all my cuts by smell and taste. Trust your senses and shine on brother ❤

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      This sounds like sage words of advice to me 😎

    • @thealembicdiary1814
      @thealembicdiary1814 2 года назад +1

      Check out One Piece At A Time Distilling Institute on RUclips. He can help

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      @@thealembicdiary1814 I did notice seeing a video by One Piece today! So I might have a poke about on the channel 👍

  • @erwinamesz7642
    @erwinamesz7642 2 года назад +4

    I never measure the volumes. I taste and rub some mls in my hands and take a deep sniff!!
    Freedom degrees are for genuine “I can hear banjo’s playing” swamp people…..

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Ooh, you can’t beat doing the old rub and sniff.

  • @thomasstadaas3599
    @thomasstadaas3599 2 года назад +1

    Great stuff Shady 😂
    Been watching your videos for some time, I must say you have your own style, much appreciated 👍👍🤣
    Did you try anything else than sugar washes? I rarely make sugar washes, I go to the feed store, and buy molasses ment for horses, makes great rum, not so much more expensive to make, but a new world of flavor 👍👍👍 they have corn to, makes bourbon 🤣🤣🤓
    Love from Norway ❤

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      Nice to hear from you, and thank you!
      You should know I’m a lazy git. But, if I ever get the rime I would like to have a crack at something different and see what results I get. In my heart I think anything traditional (corn,potato,…etc.) would make a better end product, but Sugar is very cheap, very easy and I get consistent results. One day I hope to do more experiments in this area.

  • @robertfontaine3650
    @robertfontaine3650 2 года назад

    I haven't read everyone elses comments yet... foreshots... It looks like you have the deflegmator running when you are collecting your foreshots. I believe it is more effective to just run the product condenser and collect your foreshots as the still heats up and then turn on the water on the deflegmator to compress your run.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Hey there Rob. I can’t remember anyone else pointing that out, but I know what you mean. Do you run yours that way?
      In the idea world I would think I would slowly heat the Wash in a pot Still (or just remove all the Plates) and take the foreshots and some Heads off at the lowest temperature possible. Then let it all cool and then run it with the Plates. But that’s a lot of messing about.

    • @robertfontaine3650
      @robertfontaine3650 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited I just take my fores running it like a pot still and then turn on my defleg. Getting the stuff that evaporates before ethanol (mostly) rather than waiting till my still is up to temperature and refluxing just seems like a gooder idea to me. Would have to ask a chemist/distilling enginerd if it is meaningfully better.

  • @44RobC
    @44RobC 2 года назад

    Plate columns weren't readily available (ie cheap) when I built my setup , which is 1.5M of spiral stainless packing in a 2" column on a 2kW boiler.I strip down 4 x 25ltr washes to give me a 20ltr 40% spirit run. I take off about 500ml of foreshots and heads in one jar to be used for non consumption purposes. I then use a parrot on the output and adjust the take off to give 96% which will be around 7 or 8 ml/min, but have never bothered to measure it.. I usually have to throttle the power back to around 1,7kW to avoid flooding the column. Like you when the ABV drops off and condensation appears on the glass I switch to collecting tails which I will add to the next run. Producing approx 7 or 8 ltrs of 96% at a time I don't need to do too many runs per year and with electricity prices these days will probably be putting in a few night shifts in future. Keep on shining!

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Great info, thanks.
      I bet it takes you a while to do a Spirit Run, but like you say, once it’s done you’re sorted for a long time.
      Night shift distilling……you’re going back to the origins of where the word Moonshine comes from 😎

  • @asiasmells71
    @asiasmells71 2 года назад

    Great video.. sorry I can't answer any ur questions.. when I get around to getting my still I'm sure I will be fallowing your same mistakes as I have zero clue and this seams like good place to start

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      There’s plenty of info out there. The best advice I can give you, is not to get bullied or persuaded by what other people tell you what you ‘should’ do. You’ve just got to get the basics sorted and the rest (your own technique) will soon fall into place.
      Good luck!

    • @asiasmells71
      @asiasmells71 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited WoW thank you!! I've been watching many channels on this subject and that right there is some of the best advice I have seen given yet. This community can be one of the most helpful going but at the same time one of most critical.. I will never understand how or why some people will in one breath say do it your way and in the next say but filtering or adding BLA BLA is cheating. WHY? When u don't need to step to far and see big brands will filter.. add a orange peel.. or Carmel for color.. so I say duckem and again thank you for keeping it real and doing it how you like to do it.. I enjoy all your videos and think you have lots to offer.. even the ones I say damn don't think I will like that haha 😂😂😂 cheers and keep shinning
      Ps.. was kinda refreshing to see you with out the cool rays... You owned these last two videos was cool to see the serious humble side.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      @@asiasmells71 well thank you for your kind words 🙏 I mess about doing this stuff not to teach, or preach, but just to have a little fun and enjoy a hobby. The end result is what you see….the good, the bad, and the ugly. You just wait for next weeks instalment. It’s got all 3! 😂

  • @Nomo-dayz
    @Nomo-dayz 2 года назад

    they stop selling this distiller any ideas where i can find one similar

  • @fourdeadinohio8303
    @fourdeadinohio8303 2 года назад

    got to say ..don't know squat about a reflux but I've made one or two sugar washes in my 8yrs. in this hobby. I made sugar washes for about the 1st yr. then went to grains here and there. My first was Bearded and Bored pop corn mash. both have their place. I use grains when I'm going to make whisk{E}y. it takes a lot of work converting sparging etc...so I'm not going to use it with Jolly Ranchers. sugar don't have the taste or mouth feel for whisk{E}y. my pantry mess I made last wk. is going for apple pie shine for the holidays. being I run a pot still I've found out even sugar can have a bad taste so I use a clearing agent especially when I use turbo yeast...lol

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Dare I say that there speaks the voice of some good knowledge?! Love your way you’ve worked through this and come to what I would have expected to be the ‘correct’ way to use different washes/mashes. This really shows the difference with Pot and Reflux applications as well.
      One of the best comments I’ve had! 🙏😎👍

    • @fourdeadinohio8303
      @fourdeadinohio8303 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited "good knowledge"??? over here it's called "know how"...lol

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      @@fourdeadinohio8303 well I was going to call it common sense, but I didn’t want to big you up too much lol

    • @fourdeadinohio8303
      @fourdeadinohio8303 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited nope . not that...either you know how or you don't know how..

  • @brihan24
    @brihan24 2 года назад +1

    get a hydrometer, that way you know the proof. I guess that's what important. or simple chemistry equations can help you calculate how many ML you need to get rid of everytime.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      Good advice, as it’s another helpful piece of equipment. I have several just in case, because they can be a little fragile.

  • @PSYCHOPATHiO
    @PSYCHOPATHiO 2 года назад +1

    I was planing an infusion soon from a new still I got & you came to mind.... I want to try a coconut honey, or coconut chocolate infusion :) might be a nice idea for a vid. or maybe another DATE night plus coconuts.... its all bout the COCONUTS

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      Ok, that’s interesting. I have to admit I’m not really one for coconuts, although I made a curry the other night and used coconut milk and I was pleasantly surprised. So I will make a note of this, but don’t hold your breath 😂 Thanks for the thought 👍👍😎

    • @PSYCHOPATHiO
      @PSYCHOPATHiO 2 года назад

      @@highly-spirited as I said I was preparing some recipes in my head and you came to mind, thought you might like some.

  • @per_939
    @per_939 2 года назад

    Hi, have you tried filtering your spirits with activated carbon?

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +2

      Hey there. Yes I have used active carbon to filter. I found it a lot of messing about, so I’ve only done it a few times and now I never bother with it. IF you get the process right I think there’s no need to filter it anyway.

  • @Philmoon69
    @Philmoon69 2 года назад

    I have 5 bubble plates and a 1m column filled with copper scrubbies too. Take off rate fast tbh but I have noticed my product isn't as good as it was when I take it slow ( I pull off like a tap running a constant flow rate at the min ... so 5L in 2 hrs maybe) I'm officially going to go with the weetabix brew method I used a few weeks ago as .... I thought there was next to nothing flavour wise between weetabix and turbo... but there really is with the way I run my still. I have a real issue that I buy everything in bulk so I have 14 turbo packets to use before I can swap to weetabix lol

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      Good work to find a process/recipe that you’re happy with. I know you guessed the take off rate, but what you said is about the same speed I’d do on a Stripping Run! So what yeast do you use with your weetabix Wash/mash?

    • @Philmoon69
      @Philmoon69 2 года назад +1

      @@highly-spirited normal bakers yeast

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад

      @@Philmoon69 I got some bakers yeast ages a go with the intention of using it in a wash. But as per usual I’ve not gotten around to it. You might have spurred me on with your comment now though!

  • @asiasmells71
    @asiasmells71 2 года назад

    First

  • @garrymcgaw4745
    @garrymcgaw4745 2 года назад +1

    I love your set up it's easy to drive and functional, puts out a respectable product too. Good onya mate another informative video Thank you. 🦘.

    • @highly-spirited
      @highly-spirited  2 года назад +1

      I love my set up too 😁 It’s exceeded my expectations of a ‘cheap’ product. And thanks for your comment 🙏