A simple still is a type of distillation device used to separate substances from liquids, most commonly for the creation of alcoholic spirits. It typically consists of two main parts: a pot to boil the liquid, and a condenser to catch and separate the vapors produced.
The liquid is boiled in the pot until it vaporizes, and the vapors then travel up a tube and into the condenser. There, the vapors cool and turn back into liquid, and a collection chamber is used to separate the newly formed liquid, which contains the desired substances, from the other leftover materials.
In order for a still to work properly, a controlled environment and precise measurements must be used in order to ensure desired qualities and concentrations in the finished product. There are both large and small stills available, and they come in several different shapes and sizes.
A simple still can be used to create anything from whiskey and vodka to essential oils and herbal tinctures.
What is the still to make moonshine?
The still used to make moonshine consists of a number of essential components, such as a heat source, a condensing system, a fermentation container, and a spirit safe. A basic model of a still is composed of a kettle, usually made of stainless steel, with a lid, and a series of pipes that transfer the vapor from the vessel where the mash is cooked, to the condenser and collection vessel.
The heat source for the still could be a gas burner, an electric element, or a wood stove.
The condensing system of a still is one of its most important components, and is what separates the moonshine from other types of alcohol. It is composed of a series of pipes and coils, which cool the vapor from the mash vessel and condense it, forcing it to pass through a loophole and through the spirit safe, where the final product of moonshine collects.
The fermenting container is the vessel in which the mash is made, usually a large pot made of copper, stainless steel, or ceramic, including a tube for the vapor to pass through. The base of the pot is heated to create the distillation process and extract the alcohol essence.
Here, the mash – usually a combination of grains and fruits, with yeast, water and sugar – gets cooked and the water starts to evaporate and produce the vapor that travels to the condenser.
Finally, the spirit safe is a container where the moonshine is collected after traveling through the condenser. It’s composed of a number of pipes, a trap and a valve. This device allows the alcohol to cool further and purify a little bit more, before leaving it collected in the spirit safe.
What do you use a still for?
A still is a type of apparatus used to distill liquids such as water or alcohol. It typically consists of a container of the liquid, a method of heating it, and a condenser to separate the distilled liquid from any impurities still in the original liquid.
Stills can be used to produce distilled or purified liquids by boiling off the original and then cooling and condensing the vapor. This is done to remove any impurities in the original liquid and to increase the concentration of any existing components for uses such as drinking, natural medicine and even for industrial purposes.
Stills can also be fed a combination of liquids to separate out and collect different chemical components from the mixture. For example, sailors of the 18th century would distill seawater to collect the drinking-quality water.
Stills can also be used to create essential oils from plants such as lavender, rosemary and chamomile.
How do you make a basic still?
Making a basic still involves distilling water or alcohol using heat and condensation. The process begins by constructing the actual still. It must contain a frame to safely conduct the heating process and a condenser for collecting the distilled liquid.
Next, assemble the components necessary for the distillation. These include a heat source (a stove or a propane burner), the still itself (which includes a pot, a thermometer, and a cooling system, usually made of copper or stainless steel), and a collection container.
The heat source is used to boil the water or alcohol and convert it into steam. As the steam rises up, it passes through the still, cooling off and condensing in the condenser as it goes. Once it reaches the condenser, it turns back into liquid form, much of its impurities removed through the distillation process, and is collected in the collection container below.
This distilled liquid can then be used for a variety of purposes such as in the manufacture of essential oils, alcoholic beverages, and medical tinctures.
How much moonshine does a 5 gallon still make?
On average, a 5 gallon still will produce 3-6 gallons of distilled liquor per 8-10 hours of distilling. The amount of moonshine you will produce depends on the quality of ingredients used and the efficiency of your equipment.
Higher proof liquors can also reduce the amount of finished product produced. Additionally, the amount of moonshine produced will vary depending on the type of fermenting and distilling technique used.
For example, “Rapid” or “Quick” runs can yield greater production volumes due to faster distillation times. Furthermore, if your still is equipped with a reflux column you will be able to generate even more distillate.
Ultimately, if you’re running a 5 gallon still with a reflux column and using high-quality ingredients for fermentation you can expect to yield roughly 3-5 gallons of moonshine per 8-10 hour distillation.
How thick is the copper on a moonshine still?
The thickness of copper used to make a moonshine still depends on several factors, including the size of the still and the type of still it is. Generally, the copper thickness needed for a still is at least 20-22 gauge copper.
Thicknesses of 18 to 20 gauge copper are recommended for the head, thumpers/doubler, or columns. It’s important to use copper of consistent gauge throughout the still. Thicker copper will allow for a slower production time and an increased refinement, while thinner copper increases the production time and cuts down on the refinement ability.
It’s important to choose the thickness of copper carefully depending on the amount of production desired. Ultimately, the copper thickness needed for a moonshine still will depend on the size of the still and the production goals of the individual distiller.
What do you need for home distilling?
To distill alcohol at home, you need a few key pieces of equipment:
-A distilling vessel or pot. This is where you will boiling the mixture of water and alcohol.
-A condensing system. This is how you will cool the vaporized alcohol so that it becomes a liquid again.
-A heat source. This is how you will boil the mixture.
You will also need some other supplies and ingredients, like:
-Water
-Alcohol (You can use grain alcohol, like vodka, or fruit like wine or cider.)
-Yeast (This is what creates the alcoholic fermentation.)
-Sugar (This is what the yeast will eat to create alcohol.)
Optional but recommended supplies:
-A hydrometer (This helps you measure the alcohol content of your final product.)
-A thermometer (This helps you make sure your mixture is boiling at the right temperature.)
-An airlock (This helps keep water and contaminants out of your distilling vessel while still allowing fermentation gases to escape.)
How do you distill alcohol step by step?
Distilling alcohol involves several steps. Before you get started, though, you should make sure that you are following all applicable federal, state, and local laws regulating the distillation of alcohol.
Step 1: Gather the supplies. You will need a pot still, also known as an alembic, to do the distillation. You will also need a heat source, such as a stove or hot plate; a thermometer; a hydrometer; collection containers; and absorbent material such as distiller’s yeast (not baker’s yeast) or activated charcoal to assist in purifying the alcohol.
Step 2: Prepare your mixture. This is typically referred to as the wash. You can use either sugar or grains to make the wash. For sugar, dissolve it in water and allow it to ferment, typically for two to three weeks.
For grains, steep the grains in hot water to extract the sugars and then add yeast to start fermentation. Again, let the mixture sit for two to three weeks to allow enough time for fermentation.
Step 3: Heat up the still. This can be done on a gas or electric stove. Make sure that the still is placed on a stable platform, such as a stove or workbench, and then start heating the contents.
Step 4: Set the thermometer. You should attach the thermometer to the side of the still and monitor the temperature closely. This will tell you when the alcohol is at a suitable temperature for distillation.
Step 5: Collect the distillate. Put a collection container under the spout on the still, and once the alcohol has reached the correct temperature, the liquid will begin to flow. Use the hydrometer to check the alcohol content of the distillate and collect all of the distillate until the alcohol content drops below 20%.
Step 6: Purify the alcohol. Transfer the distillate to a separate container and then add the absorbent material, like yeast or activated charcoal. Allow the mixture to sit for variable amounts of time until the absorbent material has had the desired effect on the alcohol and the flavors have matured.
Step 7: Bottle and store the finished product. Once you are satisfied with the flavor of the alcohol, bottle it and store it in a cool, dark place.
And that’s it! You have just successfully distilled your own alcohol. Always handle and store alcohol with caution and remember to remain compliant with applicable laws.
How do you make homemade moonshine?
Making homemade moonshine is a task that requires patience, knowledge, and dedication. It is also important to recognize that distilling alcohol at home is illegal in many parts of the world and can be dangerous.
With that being said, if you are intent on trying to make your own moonshine, here is an outline of the steps to follow.
1. Gather all the supplies necessary for distilling. The most important pieces of equipment include a still (or a large pot to hold the mash in), a heat source, a set of tubing, a cooler of some kind, a fermentation bucket, and a thermometer.
2. Find a good mash recipe that you like. The most popular recipes include corn and/or grain, yeast, and sugar. The yeast helps to convert the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
3. Sterilize all of your materials and mix the mash according to the recipes. Place the mash in the still and bring the temperature up to between 145-155°F (63-68°C). Make sure to monitor the temperature and adjust the heat.
4. Collect the moonshine. After the temperature stabilizes at 155°F (68°C), remove the heat and begin to collect your moonshine. The vapor that you collect is the alcohol and this is what you will use to make your moonshine.
Condense the vapor through by running it through the tubing and cooling it back into liquid form.
5. Filter and age the moonshine. It is important to filter your moonshine with a cotton filter or with activated charcoal to remove any sediment or impurities. From there, you can age your moonshine by adding some sugar, fruit, or spices to give it more flavor.
6. Enjoy your Moonshine. After all that hard work you can safely enjoy the fruits of your labor. Make sure to always drink your moonshine responsibly!
What are the main ingredients in moonshine?
Moonshine is an alcoholic beverage that is typically made in an informal or underground setting using a variety of different ingredients. Generally, the base ingredient used in moonshine is a grain mash, which can contain malted barley, malted rye, malted wheat, oats, corn, or even sugar.
The grain mash is mixed with water and then heated, creating a wort that contains fermentable sugars. After the wort is cooled, yeast is added, and the mixture is allowed to ferment for several days.
During this process, the yeast converts the sugars into ethanol, producing a high proof alcohol. Lastly, the moonshine is distilled, usually multiple times, for a higher proof, resulting in a much stronger beverage.
Depending on the type of mash used and the length of the distillation process, the alcohol content in moonshine can vary from 20-90% ABV. Common flavorings such as fruit or spices may also be added to the moonshine in order to impart a unique taste to the drink.
What alcohol do you use to make moonshine?
Moonshine is an unaged distilled spirit, made from a variety of fermentable ingredients including grain, sugar, corn, fruits, and even potatoes. The fermentable ingredients are combined with water and then heated to distill the liquid.
The resulting moonshine can be aged or unaged, and can range in potency from 10 to 80 percent alcohol by volume. For unaged moonshine, the most common types of alcohol used are grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol, which is often made from fermented grain or corn.
Grain alcohol (also known as neutral grain spirits or NGS) must have a minimum 95% alcohol content and can be purchased from most homebrew stores or online retailers. Ethyl alcohol, on the other hand, is more commonly called vodka, and is most commonly produced from maize, sugar cane, sugar beets, and potatoes.
Additionally, some distillers may use a combination of both grain alcohol and vodka. In certain regions, like parts of Appalachia and the Southeastern United States, you may still find moonshine being made with illicit moonshine stills that use fruit, particularly peaches, and sugar or molasses as the fermentable ingredients.
Can you make your own moonshine at home?
Yes, you can make moonshine at home. In fact, moonshine is technically any type of alcohol that is made without a license. So, as long as you have the supplies and know-how, you can make moonshine at home.
The supplies you’ll need include a large pot or kettle, a six-gallon carboy or jug, a funnel, a coffee filter, a thermometer, and some fermentation lock stoppers. You’ll also need some sort of heat source, like a hot plate or stove.
As for the alcohol, you can use distiller’s yeast to make moonshine from almost any type of sugar.
Once you have all of your supplies, the process of making moonshine is actually pretty simple. The first step is to sterilize all of your equipment. This is important because you don’t want your moonshine to be contaminated with bacteria.
After that, you’ll need to make a sugar wash. This is simply a mixture of sugar and water that the yeast will feed on to produce alcohol.
To make the sugar wash, heat up some water in your kettle or pot and dissolve the sugar into it. Once the sugar is dissolved, let the mixture cool to room temperature. Once it’s cool, add the yeast and stir it in.
Then, pour the sugar wash into your carboy or jug and screw on the fermentation lock.
The fermentation process will take anywhere from one to two weeks. During this time, you’ll see bubbles forming in the sugar wash as the yeast eats the sugar and produces alcohol. Once the fermentation process is complete, it’s time to distill the moonshine.
To distill the moonshine, you’ll need to set up your distillation apparatus. This is simply a pot or kettle with a tube coming out of the top that goes into a container of cold water. The cold water will help to condense the alcohol vapor into a liquid.
Heat up the moonshine in the pot or kettle until it starts to boil. As it boils, the alcohol will vaporize and travel up the tube. The cold water will condense the vapor into a liquid, and that liquid will drip into your container.
Once all of the moonshine has been distilled, you can bottle it and enjoy!.
How long does it take to make a gallon of moonshine?
Making a gallon of moonshine typically takes about 8 to 10 hours, depending on the method used. The time it takes to make moonshine can vary based on the recipe and the equipment used. First, the grains are mashed and dissolved in hot water.
Then, they are boiled down to concentrate the sugar and extract the flavor. After this, the mash is transferred to a fermenter, where it is sealed and left to ferment for 2-3 days. After fermentation is complete, the mash is strained and put into a still, where it is heated and the alcohol vapor is condensed and collected.
As a last step, the alcohol is filtered and further distilled and proofed until it reaches the desired ABV level. At this point, the moonshine is bottled and ready to drink.
What’s a gallon of moonshine worth?
The worth of a gallon of moonshine can vary greatly depending several factors, such as where it is produced, the quality and purity of the product, and the legal ramifications of selling or consuming it.
From an illegal perspective, a gallon of moonshine can usually be purchased for between $50 to $150 USD, but it can be much more expensive depending on the circumstances and the people involved. From a legal perspective, a gallon of moonshine can also vary widely in price and is usually highly regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).
Generally speaking, a legal gallon of moonshine can cost anywhere from $60 to over $200 USD.
How much head do you throw away when distilling?
When it comes to distilling, the amount of head that is thrown away varies depending on the type of still being used and the type of distillation being carried out. In traditional copper pot stills, typically a minimum of 30-50 mL of spirit is lost to the head during a standard batch distillation.
This amount of spirit varies depending on the type of potstill, the shape and size of the still, and the characteristics of the mash or wash being distilled. In column stills, the amount of head usually varies between 50-200 mL depending on the number of plates in the column, the type of distillation, the type of spirit being distilled, and the quality of the fermented wash.
In addition, the amount of head that is carried away is also affected by the rate of distillation and the amount of moisture or steam being used throughout the distillation process.
How full do I fill my moonshine still?
The amount of liquid that you fill your moonshine still with will vary depending on the size of your still, the type of still, and what type of spirits you are trying to make. Generally, the still should be filled to approximately ¾ capacity.
If you are making a single malt whiskey, for example, you can fill the still to just over 50 percent capacity as high liquid levels in the still can be detrimental to the final taste of the whiskey. If you have a larger still, you can fill up to three-quarters full.
If you are using a diethyl ether still, it’s best to fill it no more than halfway to ensure that the volatile ether does not escape. If you are using a stainless steel still, you should fill the still anywhere between three-quarters for a whiskey of higher alcohol by volume and about halfway for flavoring ingredients requiring higher temperatures.
When filling the still, you will want to ensure that the liquid is not too low to the point of it burning off during the distillation process and also not too high that it introduces an off-flavor or leaves you with an overflow.
How many pounds of grain are in a 5 gallon mash tun?
A 5-gallon mash tun typically holds around 25-30 pounds of grain, depending on the type and size of grain used. Additionally, the amount of grain used can vary depending on the target OG and batch size of the beer being brewed.
Generally, it is recommended to use 2.25-3 pounds of grain per gallon of water to achieve a typical OG of around 1.050. Therefore, for a 5-gallon mash tun, it is recommended to use around 11-15 pounds of grain to reach the desired OG.
It is also important to keep in mind that dry grains, such as wheat and oats, will occupy more space in the 5-gallon mash tun compared to base malts such as 2-row pale malt, which are more compact. It is recommended to adjust the grain bill accordingly, as to not overload the mash tun.