Can you put sugar wash in a pot still for distilling?
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The Answer for a (neutral) sugar wash in a pot still…
To answer this, yes you can distil a (neutral) sugar wash in a pot still if you are happy with a spirit that is not pure and rough tasting.
After fermentation and ready for your first distillation, the pot distil will be in the region of 40 to 50% ABV which means that you have 45% of the mix has other ends in it plus 5% water (Azeotrope).
In order to get the ABV up in a pot still you must do multiple distillations? Or do a Stripping then spirit run to achieve the higher purer ABV%.
But the question is why? It is like driving on a beach with a vehicle that does not have 4×4. You will get stuck in the sand.
A pot still is for making a spirit 40 > 70% ABV (no scrubbing) after multiple distillations that carry the taste (flavour) of the mash in it when distilled.
A reflux still is designed to make a product up to 90 to 95% ABV (DIY) with little or no flavour in one distillation which is perfect for vodka. The flavour is added after distillation.
The basic process from sugar wash to alcohol for the DIY distiller using a reflux still rather
As it is stated a sugar wash is made up of water, sugar, nutrients and yeast.
Step 1: Once fermentation is completed, the solution is then racked to the Kettle.
Step 2: The following step in a reflux still is to heat the solution and control the hot vapour path that travels up the reflux column that is made up of trays, scrubbers, bubble caps etc. During its path up the column, the products are separated by their boiling points and temperatures.
Step 3: The hot vapour then passes through the top reflux section of the column, where it is cooled where the purity and ABV are controlled. The hot vapour (78.2 > 84°C or 172.76>183.2°F) is then cooled (25 > 30°C or 77>86°F) with a CW condenser. The cooled distillate ABV is measured with an inline alcohol hydrometer inside of the parrot. The ABV should be 90 to 95%. The balance will be water.
So yes you can use sugar wash in a pot still if you want… But we highly recommend going through the reflux still route for a high ABV (alcohol content).
Last Updated on Aug 6, 2023 by The Brew Mechanic
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With 35 years of knowledge of being a chemical engineer in alcohol manufacturing plants, my mission is to teach the next generation of home distilling alcohol brewers at a supernatural speed.
My reviews are based on real-life experiences with reflux stills, sugar wash, troubleshooting and mystical chemical reactions.
