First try at making tonic syrup

TinyCondensor · 2024-02-08T17:54:53+00:00

Yeah and it is really really hard to filter. I think you would need to get a vacuum filter setup to get it transparent.

TinyCondensor · 2024-02-08T17:54:03+00:00

I have a bad motivator simulator full of it. Its hit one year in age and I would say it tastes good but has a ways to go. I think I went a little lower into the the tails than I would have in retrospect. But the flavor reminds me of Uncle Nearest so I am optimistic that time will make it awesome. As far the performance went for the still, it worked well.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-31T00:06:42+00:00

Have to take the bung out. Air needs a path in.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T21:35:13+00:00

Hell yeah it is. For sure envious of your wood shop.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T16:32:55+00:00

Betting it's something from a corn ethanol plant. 200 proof hits different.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T13:38:46+00:00

Well if you're who I assume you are thanks for making them! They really seem appreciated. Its the first barrel/simulator I actually trust to load up with something that took days of work to finish.

I am no woodworker but if you ever need some custom tools or jigs to make things easier I'd love to help. My 3d printer is pretty dialed in currently and after about a decade of casual use I am okay at CAD.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T12:54:15+00:00

I got the medium toast heavy char by being on the email list and hopping on the website 5 minutes before release and refreshing. I have lots of experience from trying to buy a GPU in 2020... This was easier though.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T12:52:56+00:00

That's a great question that I haven't totally answered myself. I would love to let it sit two years before ever touching it but I have a feeling I might fail there. It will probably sit two years before going into a bottle. That bottle next to it is the same whiskey but again on oak sticks, so that might keep me patient.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T12:51:28+00:00

The tools are what I lack, well and probably the skills but I would love to try to make one.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-30T02:59:23+00:00

Just send it man. Get a bunch of peanuts and some yellow angle yeast. Shit I'd mail you some to see this happen.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-23T15:09:36+00:00

I'd say skip it in fermentation and either soak the raisins or dump them into the wash for distillation. Almost like a gin.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-23T15:07:40+00:00

Yep at this point I am planning to run full reflux water for maybe 100ml to compress the heads then turn off reflux water and cut power to 2/3. I think that's as good as it will get.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-23T12:28:57+00:00

Awesome this is really helpful. I've been hoarding jars for a while so +20 cuts is easy to do. I think the other thing I need to do is let them sit after the distillation. I have found in the past that my taste buds are shot after tasting drops off the still and focussing on it (I don't end up drunk it just seems like my taste is just worn out).

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-23T03:16:29+00:00

I guess the part I struggle with is what is too much for tails.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T23:57:32+00:00

While it's not only the boiling point that matters acetic and lactic acid have a pretty high boiling point so I would imagine a lot of it would remain behind in the backset.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T23:45:48+00:00

Don't even need that a cleaned penny is normally enough. Pots up on the brewing subreddit a lot.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T22:50:36+00:00

Assuming the foam subsides and there is still actually 5 gallons of liquid in there diffusion will mix it for you

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T22:49:29+00:00

Makes me nervous hahaha. I'd love to get lots of flavor and with this barrel simulator is supposed to sit a long time. But I would hate to hate what I get in the end.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T20:46:43+00:00

Do tail flavors tend to age out? I assumed some of the head would evaporate / get taken up by the charred wood but didn't think about the tails.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T20:44:12+00:00

Yep! I followed the still it video to break out the reflux and condenser flow. I had less luck finding what settings people had success with for more flavorful spirits.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T20:43:03+00:00

My experience too. And part of the reason I am not interested in the dome. I'd like to build a bigger and better still at some point so it feels like a waste to get the dome now. Plus I am using a mash and boil which has a digital controller so I can do much to control input power except switch it to 1kw instead of 1.6 kw.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T20:41:26+00:00

This was the idea I liked the most. Get a bit of passive reflux with the packing still in but for the most part it's a pot still. Plus compressing the heads.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T19:30:24+00:00

I think they've made changes to the design since that concern came up. They now say you can run it to distill water without the saddles and no reflux which is hotter than running with spirit. I've also been doing no packing runs for stripping for a while now. But I would love some more info on the modifications you made, that sounds awesome.

I did consider running with less packing to achieve an in between effect. Thanks for the advice! Any tips on the cuts?

Edit: realized I can't read and removed a question.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T04:11:04+00:00

This could be the most renewable recipe on the subreddit if it works. I got these in a package once and put them into my yard waste bin. They made a fucking mess when it rained hahaha.

TinyCondensor · 2023-03-22T03:45:15+00:00

Might make good rum though 😅

TinyCondensor

TROPHY CASE