[m314]

Originally Posted by BobbyIronsights

If I were to do it again, I'd probably try my hand at making clean spirit and add some commercially available rum essence to it to make over-proof rum.

If you want to make good rum, it's worth learning how to do it right. Right now I'm loosely following Buccaneer Bob's recipe:

https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewt...p?f=14&t=51286

I finished my first batch of rum last weekend. 2 8 gallon fermenting buckets, each with 9 pounds white sugar, 3 pounds brown sugar, 1/2 gallon blackstrap molasses, and baker's yeast. I ran each bucket through my pot still (discarding the foreshots), then redistilled the combined results. I saved the dunder (the rum wash leftover in the boiler after distillation) to start the next generation fermenting, along with a little for adding directly to the finished rum.

I got about 1 1/2 gallons of 120 proof finished rum, or a little over 2 gallons if I dilute it to 80 proof. This is one of the best rums I've ever had. I've only been brewing and distilling for a few months now. This is the best thing I've made so far in terms of alcohol.

If you want to make a quality neutral for vodka or flavored liqueurs, look up "Birdwatcher's sugar wash" or "Deathwish wheat germ". You'll need a reflux still for best results.

[stoned-trout]

wathc out for the caps popping off.....yeehaw

[BobbyIronsights]

Originally Posted by m314

If you want to make good rum, it's worth learning how to do it right. Right now I'm loosely following Buccaneer Bob's recipe:

https://homedistiller.org/forum/viewt...p?f=14&t=51286
.

I'm on HD, been a lurker since '13 what's your handle there?

[bigdad41296]

Whoohoo I just ran a wash for some good old shine, came out about 180 proof. Can't wait to make some more thru this new pot still.

[m314]

Originally Posted by BobbyIronsights

I'm on HD, been a lurker since '13 what's your handle there?

Same as here, m314. I haven't posted much there. I started lurking last summer. I didn't actually start distilling until maybe October last year.

I learned how to grow my own weed back in 2000 from sites like Overgrow. I knew at the time that I'd be doing it for the rest of my life. I get the same feeling now with brewing and distilling. I don't know why I waited so long to get started.

[_tessarecting]

I brew 4 gallons of kombucha every 15 days with refermentation...not as hard as you guys but still fun and healthy. I'm bottling right now with honey frozen blueberries and grated ginger...need to actually step it up to 6 gallons with my consumption.

[m314]

This might be the most full bodied rum I've ever tasted. I saved the best 3 gallons of hearts from the new batch at 156 proof. I'm doing some experiments to see how it tastes after aging with / without oak chips and dunder. I guess I missed the step where you're supposed to clarify the dunder before adding it back to the rum.

Now that I've cut back to drinking one night a week, 3 gallons of 156 proof seems like an impossible wealth of booze. Plus the 10 gallons of vodka and whiskey. I should take a break at some point.

[_tessarecting]

RSO takes a couple gallons for a couple ounces. I want to get a still for this reason.

[m314]

You can make a decent still for a small amount of money, if you're good with metalworking and follow a proven design. I have zero experience or space for metalworking. I spent probably $1000 on premade equipment for this hobby since I got into it last year. It has been fun. It will pay off economically at some point, since the ingredients are so cheap. A liter of 186 proof vodka costs something like $2 in ingredients.

All you'd need for RSO is a boiler with a reflux column, plus fermenting buckets with air locks. The reflux column will get you > 180 proof in a single run. You'd only need a pot still if you're interested in making liquor with flavor like rum or whiskey.

[TwoRedEyes]

Ive been homebrewing for a couple years and have finally developed a pretty good ale. Just added a couple kegs and kagerator to make life a little easier. I'm on my first weed grow though it seems to be going pretty well. I should be harvesting in a week or two!