Pachasius Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 I'm wondering when is the best time to filter your vodka over activated charcoal? Fresh of the still at high proof, right after dilution to 40% abv with water or a few weeks after dilution? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 After dilution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestar Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 yes, after dilution, but you might want to dilute to higher than final proof, and adjust to final proof afterwards, in case your filtration process or evaporation results in a drop in proof. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captnKB Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 we filter around 120 proof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pachasius Posted July 25, 2015 Author Share Posted July 25, 2015 Thanks for your reactions! Could someone explain me brief what the theory behind diluting first is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBDistiller Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 In my thought process, there may be another reason, but you would want to filter after dilution so you were filtering the water you added as well. You run the risk of accidentally adding something with the water and if you filtered prior to adding diluting you wouldnt catch that before bottling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skaalvenn Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 accidentally adding something with the water and if you filtered prior to adding diluting you wouldnt catch that before bottling. Having a filter (doesn't need to be carbon) in line with the bottler will basically eliminate the chance of foreign debris entering the spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie@tamworthgarden.com Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 We have found that there are some solvent dissolved components that filter out better at a lower proof. If you have time, perhaps run it at a high (65%) and lower proof.(45%) There can be some shift in post-filtration proof readings, so we make sure to keep it higher than 40% abv to have that buffer. Better safe than watery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rum Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Might want to ask your activated carbon supplier that question also. Most work better at a lower abv threshold. 60% or lower is probably a good place to begin testing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pachasius Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Thanks for all the feedback guys! We did some tests and filtering at 50% gave us the best results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountySeat Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 Does anyone do a grain to glass (I'm not sure if NGS is filtered before people buy it) vodka without carbon filtering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhdunbar Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I hadn't seen this thread before. Whatever the quality considerations may be, the regulation is specific. You have to do the gauge for bottling after you filter. Sec. 19.353 Bottling tank gauge. - When a distilled spirits product is to be bottled or packaged, the proprietor must gauge the product after any filtering, reduction, or other treatment, and before bottling or packaging begins. The gauge must be made at labeling or package marking proof, and the details of the gauge must be entered on the bottling and packaging record required in Sec. 19.599. Now, for purposes of the records, that means that the dump and batch record that shows the addition of water is going to have to show that the filtration took place before cutting to bottling proof. Then the gauge is made at bottling proof and recorded in the bottling record. [Don't forget that after bottling begins you are supposed to do a proof and fill check and record that too - see Sec. 19.600 Alcohol content and fill test record.]. If you don't know know what I'm talking about, take another look at the record requirements. This is one of those times when I fly the "don't shoot the messenger flag." Will TTB object if they find you are doing otherwise? Those who have gone through an audit can tell you that better than I can. It is not going to be a hanging offense. If they find that you are outside of the tolerance of .15% allowed for a drop in proof on bottling (there is no tolerance for over-proof) they may formally cite you. But even then, it is not a hanging offense. Take a look at their market basket statistics - they buy products off the shelf and test them - and you'll see that year after year 20% of the products sampled are not in compliance in some way and the majority of those are alcohol content or fill errors, yet you do not see a lot of offers-in-compromise over proof issues. Actually, you don't see any, but you don't want to be the first! Do your best do to do what is required. It minimizes angst if you are prone to it. This suggests that the cut close to, but over, then filter, and make the final cut scenario is probably the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountySeat Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 For those that carbon filter - What ratio of carbon (in grams) are you using per gallon spirit (at lets say 90 proof)? Are you reusing the carbon is running it once and discarding the carbon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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