Hi all, new member here. Amazing content and knowledge posted here, much appreciated.
So I've read through all the recommended sections, including a bunch of threads on this specific topic, namely @MtRainier viewtopic.php?p=7540136.
My new setup: 55L boiler w/ single 5500w heating element & variable controller. Still is modular and can run either as pot still or bolt on 4" bubble plates & dephlegmator for CM setup. I've about 10 runs through it.
Product is all brandy so far, been making hard ciders for years (apple, pear, blackberry ciders) generally fermenting w/S04 and long cool ferments over the winter months. The ciders are really good, problem is I hate cider, so brandy it is...
Observations:
Still: The still is VERY easy to run. Once the plates are full, a few minor adjustments to heat or cooling flow = manageable changes to take off with full control.
1. All of the brandies I've run have a very distinct tails flavors appearing pretty early in my runs. Too early IMO
2. Similar to MtRainier, I've been running at 2400w, I'm taking off +/- 1L hr.
3. Similar to MtRainier, I've experimented with heat/speed, reflux, as well as managing my cuts to keep the tails completely separate.
3. Comparing my notes with the various other threads I've read, my sense is I'm heating up the wash too fast and smearing in tails very early.
4. My assumption has been that the plates would clean this up, allowing me to run fast and make cleaner cuts? That has not proven out.
5. I have tried choking things off at the first sign of tails and letting the reflux run for a bit to condense, then opening back up and taking off at similar rates. This works well, but seems counterintuitive and less efficient.
Questions:
1. If the intent is capture all the best flavor by separating and cutting good from bad (In one run), is slower better, even with a CM still? Particularly during the initial heating stage?
2. Does it makes sense to choke things off at various points allowing the reflux to condense sections, or keep it steady as MtRainier discovered later on?
3. What are disadvantages of slowing things down other then time it takes to run a wash?
4. I understand that old school brandy makers use a very different still design, is there something inherent with brandies that require a different process to capture best flavors? I've tasted some really good cheap (white) brandies distilled using functionally similar stills as my own.
Thanks all!
Your assumption that the plates would clean up your premature tails funk is wrong as you have observed. With a plated column you can certainly boost your abv by running heavier reflux ratios, but once you drag the funk up into the plates on a short spirit column it's not going to go away.
This by the way is why short plated columns are very popular for making brandies. It's just that the run speeds (and vapor speed) needs to be painfully slow compared to some other spirits.
The goal being to drag the fruit notes onto the plates and allow forthcoming vapor to mingle with the fruit notes trapped on the plates. Have you ever wondered why you may have seen an 18" short column plopped onto a relatively small 750L kettle at those famous Eastern block distilleries that make the fruit spirits? Slow vapor speed.
I would experiment with reduced heat input as well as minimizing the RR to get the results you are looking for.Trample the injured and hurdle the dead.
I've seriously read every thread I could find on this topic, you are the first person to acknowledge what I have experienced, super helpful! Coincidently, this is why I moved away from pure pot still mode. Again, far too easy to over heat and run times take forevvvveerrrrrrr. Guess this is why the Calvados distillers use preheaters.
When you say RR, I'm assuming you mean reflux ratio?
The plates/column I'm using is modular so I can reduce or add plates as needed. My experience is that the column runs very stable assuming a minimum level of fluid/reflux. Not sure where that line is but reducing the reflux rate too far is likely to see the plates simply drain. I'll play with it though to see what I can find.
Post time 2022-9-8 16:42:53
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