The choice between Reflux and Pot Still Mode for your spirit run on the Air Still Pro depends on the type of spirit you're making and the desired outcome. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you decide:
- Pot Still Mode:
- Recommended for: Dark spirits from flavoured washes
- Examples: Rum (from molasses wash), whiskey (from grain wash)
- Setup: Use Pot Still Mode with the column empty
- Benefit: Preserves more flavour compounds from the wash
- Reflux Mode:
- Recommended for: Neutral spirits from simple sugar washes
- Goal: Produce a clean, neutral spirit with minimal flavour from the wash
- Benefits:
- Helps remove unwanted flavours
- Facilitates easier separation of heads (early distillate)
- Produces a higher alcohol content in the final product
- Making Cuts:
- Regardless of mode, making proper cuts (separating heads, hearts, and tails) is crucial for quality
- Reflux mode can make this process easier, especially for beginners
- Double Distillation:
- Recommended for achieving a cleaner neutral spirit
- Process: Perform an initial distillation, then redistill the result
- Benefit: Further removes impurities and unwanted flavours
- Carbon Filtering:
- An additional step for even cleaner spirits
- Can be used after distillation to further polish your product
- Especially useful for vodka and other neutral spirits
- Considerations for Flavour Profile:
- Pot Still Mode: Retains more flavours, ideal for characteristic spirits like rum or whiskey
- Reflux Mode: Strips away more flavours, better for vodka or as a base for liqueurs
- Experimentation:
- Don't be afraid to experiment with both modes
- You might find that a combination approach (e.g., starting in Reflux and finishing in Pot Still) works for your specific recipe
Remember, the choice between Reflux and Pot Still Mode is just one factor in creating your desired spirit. Proper fermentation, careful distillation techniques, and appropriate aging (if applicable) all contribute to the final quality of your product.