mmdistilling

if you want to make sure http://www.ttb.gov/tutorials/ic2007-4_help.shtml use the drop down menus.

Thanks John, I planned on using a bag trap filter to catch any dust. I should get my equipment in the next few weeks. I`ll let you know how it works!

I`m not a lawyer but my understanding is you pay taxes on any spirits leaving the distillery for sale. So for R&D you do not have to pay.

My experience started at a pretty young age with home brewing. Not that I condone this, but you never get carded at the homebrew shop. I spent about five years dreaming I wanted to start a brewery. I came to college as an engineer and started to take some entrepreneurship and business classes, I quickly learned that the beer market is already pretty saturated. With my new found engineering knowledge I began to research and understand beverage distillation. I met up with some great business students in my entrepreneurship classes and the rest is history. A year later we are legal and excited to join the market!

Let me add this is for taste correction only.

Classik, Any luck with the carbon pads so far? I am considering switching to a plate and frame filter for my adsorption processes. My main concern with the pads is that much less mass of activated carbon when compared to a column. I am worried that I will have to clean the pads many times to get my desired results. I`m doing 20 gallons vodka base at 50% per day.

JohninWV, New to this forum, but none the less hoping you could give me a little insight. I saw that a little while ago you posted you use a 20x20 plate and frame filter with carbon pads. I am considering pulling the trigger on this exact set up. I was thinking a 40 plate set up and I`m doing about 20 gallons vodka base at 50% per day. My only concern with the system is the fact that much less volume of carbon is used, than compared to a column. I am afraid I will be forced to clean the pads multiple times per day. I understand that I will probably have to re-filter multiple times and that is not a problem. If you could give me a feel for how long these Carbon Pads last between cleaning it would be much appreciated! Cheers, Casey

Seventh Son, Returning to your original question of packing vs plates. From my experience, I have found that good plates are expensive to produce. They can produce say 90% ABV faster than an identical packed column. When I want to produce above that level (to minimize flavor and thus time needed for adsorbtion) I chose a packed column. John mentioned that mesh is not going to work in your size, which I agree with. I too originally ran copper mesh because I read that it had the potential to improve flavor especially in a stainless still. I hate cleaning the copper so I decided to experiment with raschig rings in the same column I was using. I have found the product to be more consistent with the rings and my still maintenance to be much less time consuming. e.g. empty the rings into a a stainless drum and soak in your favorite detergent followed by a good rinse. I'm guessing, since you are operating at a lower temp you have to clean your copper a lot less often though?

Hi All, I am part of a company that has just finished federal and state licensing. Finishing up our pre COLA and COLA now. Excited to launch into the market place! Cheers, Casey