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Post by templeton on Apr 12, 2014 23:19:10 GMT -5
I've been making some bitters recipes, steeping a range of concoctions in vodka. Extraction of essential oils and other tasty fractions would be improved if I could get stronger spirits, but anything above 37% alcohol is not readily available over the counter in Australia. I happen to believe that 37% is way strong enough for imbibing, but I would like to find out if it's possible to easily make higher alcohol percentages with an easy stovetop setup to improve my bitters. Might have to invest in an electrical hotplate first, tho. Any suggestions?
T
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Post by longhorngardens on Apr 13, 2014 11:30:12 GMT -5
I don't know anything about bitters, but I know a whole lot about making moonshine if that is what you are trying to do. How much are you trying to make a month if that is what you are looking to do?
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Post by templeton on Apr 13, 2014 16:32:55 GMT -5
long, I really am only trying to make small amounts of more concentrated alcohol to make bitters - my guess is I buy some cheap vodka, then do a small stovetop distillation to up the alcohol content. I'm only fooling with the bitters for myself and as christmas gifts for my family. 3 or 4 litres would make heaps of bitters. It is legal here to own a still - for the purposes of 'essential oil extraction' but it's funny, they seem to only be sold through home brew shops, who also carry a whole lot of flavouring essences that sound suspiciously like famous brands of spirits. Go figure. And I don't want to fork out the several hundred dollars to buy one. Maybe I could hire one for a weekend. As for moonshine, I've been tempted, merely for the purposes of research, of course, but I figure I won't ever be able to replicate the water, peat, and malt of the Island of Islay, the home of my favourite spirits.  T |
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Post by longhorngardens on Apr 13, 2014 21:12:41 GMT -5
Stills are pretty expensive to buy. If you have any mechanical ability they are easy to build however. For what you are trying to do, I have seen many stainless steel pots being used. You drill a hole in the top and run copper tubing or pipe out of it. The copper has to be in the vapor path. You will also have to rig a way to keep the lid on. Making the mash is also easy and cheap and let's you have a lot of control on what you end up with. Triple distilled mash can end up around 160 proof. I like to distill twice to about 120 proof and then water it down a little. If you resort to buying a bottle you will only have to run it once, but water it down to about 40 proof or your neighbors will see you go up in a big fireball.
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Post by steev on Apr 13, 2014 21:49:52 GMT -5
Hotplate; Erlenmeyer flask with ground-glass mouth to fit; a water-bathed condensation column; that's the fancy version.
Simple version (though not less spendy/difficult to find): a small pyrex alembic; you load it with cheap vodka, set it in a pot of boiling water (the hot plate is still good, being flame-less; wrap the spout in a cold cloth.
For really making fine extracts, you want to score a Soxhlet extractor (a truly fine piece of glassware, suitable for mantle display, when not being used).
Sometimes I miss lab work, but I'm so glad I didn't get cancer doing it.
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Post by spacecase0 on Apr 15, 2014 19:51:34 GMT -5
also try freezing your 37% in ice cube trays, then pour off what does not freeze, that will be your more pure alcohol, the water freezes first. I forget what you have to have the freezer set to in order for it to work the best, but most of the time it is going to work.
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Post by templeton on Apr 15, 2014 20:30:56 GMT -5
also try freezing your 37% in ice cube trays, then pour off what does not freeze, that will be your more pure alcohol, the water freezes first. I forget what you have to have the freezer set to in order for it to work the best, but most of the time it is going to work. Thanks, I'd forgotten that technique. T |
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Post by steev on Apr 15, 2014 21:51:37 GMT -5
Yes; the jug of hard cider outside the window to freeze for applejack technique; very New England.
I'm starting to fear that will work no more for me than for thee, T.
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Post by templeton on Apr 16, 2014 4:29:01 GMT -5
Tried the freezer technique, but seems my freezer wasn't cold enough.
I've just cranked it down to -23C. will see if that is cold enough.
T
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 16, 2014 13:38:15 GMT -5
www.copper-alembic.com/ns/They have some pretty inexpensive stills that work on the stovetop, or separate appliance stills...for small items. I am also going to buy a still this year. For all my "Essential Oils". There's some good info on this site.
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Post by templeton on Apr 16, 2014 19:20:08 GMT -5
Some lovely stuff there Holly, but the postage is a killer.
T
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 16, 2014 21:28:10 GMT -5
Yeah, for me too, but I figure, I'm only going to buy this once. How in the heck will I make disinfectant when shtf happens? I think of it as one more tool in the box.
Canning jars - check
Grinding Mill - check
Ph Meter - Check
Solar Oven - We'll be posting on this one...but we have the stuff.
Still - for medicinal medicines....working on it.
Water? Oh where or where did the water go? How in the heck will I wash my neck?
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Post by steev on Apr 17, 2014 0:25:13 GMT -5
There are more important parts to wash than your neck.
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Post by templeton on Apr 17, 2014 6:36:33 GMT -5
Friend has a solar oven, reckons it works well.
My still needs are more experimental than utilitarian. Might just go with a big gallon jar and some tubing, sealed up with dough, and a thermometer in the top. shove the jar in a pot of hot water.
T
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Post by woodsygardener on May 5, 2014 8:12:52 GMT -5
Buy a used pressure cooker. Run copper tubing from the pressure outlet for a condenser. Punch out the pressure safety release and install a thermometer sealed with high temperature silicon glue.
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