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"Still Spirits" a review.

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  • "Still Spirits" a review.

    Ok, so if anyone had said that I'd be making my own spirits I'd have told them to "F.O." - even after I decided to have a proper go at this home brewing "lark".

    I've just finished bottling my first "batch", using the flavourings of 2 different rums (dark jamaican and dark navy) and "American Bourbon".

    I've become more of a wine/spirits drinker over the years - I think that by the time I left the navy (about 11 years ago), I found that beer was giving me a bloated feeling (well more than about 2 or 3 pints anyway).

    I've always preferred either rum, brandy or "American" whisky (also partial to a G & T or a VAT when the weathers warm).

    With that in mind, I discovered that the various HBS (both online and real) sell "water purifiers" (a still in everything but name, as they can be used for water, "essential" oils and alcohol) and kits that make up the initial "wash" i.e. a specialised, if low grade wine.

    The kit is made up of a "turbo" yeast, which also seems to contain the various nutrients that it (the yeast) requires and the activated carbon mixture that seems to be required to make such material safely (the old "moonshiners" of US history and others around the world seem to have found that if the distilled alcohol becomes "Methanol" as opposed to Ethanol, it can be quite dodgy/hazardous).

    The recommendations are that the "Triple Distilled" yeast mixture is used as it produces the best quality wash/distillate. The pack is enough to produce 25 litres of "wash" at 14% abv. Which, when run through the "water purifier" is enough to produce 5 litres of distillate at 60% abv. As most "spirits" are produced to 70% "proof" (the "proof" alcohol is 57.1% abv, so "70% proof" is 70% of 57.1% abv i.e 40% abv).

    The water purifier is the quickest of machines, as it seems to take about an hour to heat up, and I found another hour and a quarter to actually produce the 800ml's of distillate (a yeild of 20% of the 4 litres that the machine can handle). To reduce the strength of the distillate half it's volume of water is added i.e. 800ml's of distillate plus 400mls of water, gives 1.2 litres of finished "raw" spirit.

    The flavourings are liquid, the packets contain 2 sachets, each sachet capable of producing 1.125 litres of finished, flavoured product i.e. 1 complete packet produces enough finished product to fill 3 x 750ml bottles ("standard" bottles).

    To have got this far without screwing up has been amazing. When bottling my own wines, I get quite a kick when it's all finished, with the corks in, the labels on and the bottles sealed with either wax or heat shrink seals.

    During the mixing of the spirit and the flavouring, I've found it nothing short of incredible. I had less than 100ml's of raw spirit left, after using the 3 different flavourings mentioned above, but I also have 3 bottles of Dark Jamaican Rum, 3 of Dark Navy and 3 of the "American" Bourbon. Whether I just "managed to get it right" or not isn't the point, it seems, to me, that the accuracy of the development of these products has to be bordering on miraculous.

    I did have just the tiniest amount of each of the flavoured mixes left over after the bottling. This has, of course, become "cooks perks". The American bourbon isn't quite as good as the major commercial labels, but it's still eminently drinkable (especially if you like it mixed with coke or whatever).

    The two rums ? well I can't hold back my amazement. Even an idiot like me could smell and taste the difference. The "Jamaican" being more of a "burnt" taste (albeit a very nice "burnt" taste ) whereas the "Dark Navy", had the distinct taste/aroma of vanilla found in rums produced in Tortolla (where the original supplier of rum to the RN is based). Unbelievable.

    The kit ?

    Well, the machine is about the £150/300$(US) mark. The kit i.e. yeast mix/carbon mix, sugar and the finings work out about £10/20$(US).

    The flavourings are either about £4.50 or £2.50 depending on which range you want (didn't check to see how much they work out in US$'a).

    So I'd say that it's a "value for money" experiment to try, even if the initial outlay seems high.

    Theres a couple of caveats though. You'd have to check on the legality of distilling for home use in your location, lots of places around the world, it's a complete "no-no". While others are OK about it (you'd definitely have to check your local regs if you wanted to consider doing this kind of thing commercially anyway!).

    Also, distillation, particularly of products as flammable as alcohol, should be done with care.

    Finally, yes, I know that doing this kind of thing with a "system" like Still Spirits products, may well seem to some like a "cop out". But to me, it's quick, easy, intuitive to those of us who make their own wines and beers, and it removes all of the long term hassle of distilling, with the associated ageing processes that, combined with the relative difficulties of obtaining oak barrels and the incredibly long periods needed to mellow stuff to make a "proper" spirit of whatever kind you happen to like.

    For a "marks out of ten" score, it'd give it 9 plus. It's been a very enjoyable experiment to try.

    Cheers all.

    fatbloke

    p.s. sorry if this seems a bit "rambling", but 3 shots of "cooks perks" on an empty stomach has given me slight numbing of the tongue and a noticeable fuziness of the "barnet"
    Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

    Some blog ramblings

  • #2
    Brilliant review FB!

    I've been quite tempted with one of these.. Might be on my xmas list! (if the wife lets me!)

    Some suppliers were doing a speacial kit with the machines a while ago, with some flavours. Any still doing this does anyone know?

    Rich

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    • #3
      You boys do know that this activity is illegal right?

      You may purchase one of these machines and own it, but using it to distill spirits is highly illegal
      N.G.W.B.J.
      Member of 5 Towns Wine and Beer Makers Society (Yorkshire's newest)
      Wine, mead and beer maker

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      • #4
        I only want some pure water..

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        • #5
          Originally posted by lockwood1956 View Post
          You boys do know that this activity is illegal right?

          You may purchase one of these machines and own it, but using it to distill spirits is highly illegal
          not with an excise licence it isn't!

          regards

          fatbloke
          Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

          Some blog ramblings

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Rich View Post
            Brilliant review FB!

            I've been quite tempted with one of these.. Might be on my xmas list! (if the wife lets me!)

            Some suppliers were doing a speacial kit with the machines a while ago, with some flavours. Any still doing this does anyone know?

            Rich
            The setup I got included the machine, the yeast/nutrient/activated charcoal mix, the finings, 3 flavouring packets (in my case I went for the 2 rums and the bourbon) all for "one and a half"!

            It's sold as a beginners kit.

            I think the "ban" on distillation is to do with how much you might "gain" if you were selling it. I'm just experimenting, purely for home use (not being a big beer fan).

            Besides, I also wanted to make some spirit to see if I can do anything with it, in conjunction with used cooking oil for car fuel. Still only an experiment.

            The bit that Bob is referring to, is, as I understand, where the "grey area" lies i.e. you can own a device that is capable of distilling alcohol, for other purposes i.e. water/essential oils/etc etc but you're supposed to have a licence before you make alcohol with it. Like saying that you can own a kitchen knife, but it's only when you stick it into someone, that it becomes an offensive weapon (personally, for my offensive weapons, I'll stick to cocktail sausages then I can eat the evidence).

            Don't get me wrong. The resulting product of the device/kit/etc etc isn't as good as any of the proprietary brands, but it's fine for mixing/cooking and I'm sure I could get used to it!

            Of course, what I've posted is available on plenty of websites across the net, though if anyone feels that my review might attract unwarranted attention, by all means please delete it. It's just my take on whats openly available (hell, you can get the kit to make a "proper" still from the nearest plumbers merchant - with some excellent instructions available online).

            OK that's my point!

            regards

            fatbloke
            Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

            Some blog ramblings

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Rich View Post
              -----%<-----
              Some suppliers were doing a speacial kit with the machines a while ago, with some flavours. Any still doing this does anyone know?
              Rich
              PM me and I'll send you the link to the HBS where I got mine. Only thing is that I don't know how much postage/shipping would cost!

              regards

              fatbloke
              Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

              Some blog ramblings

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by fatbloke View Post
                not with an excise licence it isn't!

                regards

                fatbloke

                lol


                good point....well made
                N.G.W.B.J.
                Member of 5 Towns Wine and Beer Makers Society (Yorkshire's newest)
                Wine, mead and beer maker

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by fatbloke View Post
                  PM me and I'll send you the link to the HBS where I got mine. Only thing is that I don't know how much postage/shipping would cost!

                  regards

                  fatbloke
                  When I popped into my local Homebrew shop (I'm sure the same one as you FB), they told me that the customs and excise had relaxed the laws (or maybe the enforcement of the law) regarding home distillation, which was what made it now possible.

                  I had a look at the kits they sell, very nice. Has anyone tried making Gin with one of these?

                  Kieron.
                  Visit my Gold Panning Blog

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                  • #10
                    The law is still (pardon the pun) VERY much in place, and the HBS are trying to sell you it remember......

                    A HBS that I visit sells them, but funnily enough was due a vat inspection, so put all of the still spirits stuff out of sight....interesting


                    they do make very good quality distilled water though, that I use for acid titration
                    N.G.W.B.J.
                    Member of 5 Towns Wine and Beer Makers Society (Yorkshire's newest)
                    Wine, mead and beer maker

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Nah! never mind
                      Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

                      Some blog ramblings

                      Comment

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