Devious

Yes, it is a single hearts run. I agree, far too many variables.

How are you running your column/pot hybrid? I run 4 - 55 gallon column/pot hybrids with four plates. I have independent cooling control on both the dephlegmator and condenser. I do one pass on everything I make, whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin. The key that I have found is deciding what proof you want to pull at. This will dictate your initial flavor profile. There are two ways to effect the proof, heat source and cooling water. So for example, my bourbon. I bring the pot up to temp, dephlegmator is shut off and condenser is wide open (always wide open), heads proof is about 120. This allows most of the heads to leave the still without getting caught up on the plates. When I decide that heads are done I open upen up the cooling water to dephlegmator just a touch. This should bring the proof up to 130 and that is where I keep it for the entire run. I do this by periodically increasing cooling water flow to dephlegmator. Toward the end of the run the dephlegmator will be wide open and my proof will start dropping so I decrease the heat on the still periodically to keep my proof at 130. When distillate is just barely dripping from the line I start my tails by turning the heat back up and shutting off the dephlegmator. 55 gallons takes 6 hours. Depending on mash alc content yield is approximately 8 gallons at 130 proof. The flavor has always been far stronger (corn) and more complex than our pot still (stripping/spirit run) experiments. I like the stronger flavors it allows for more interesting things to happen in the barrel. As a side note my plates are never bubbling at this proof. They don't start to fill until I get over 150 proof. I'm just curious how others run their pot/column hybrid still. I think there are many ways to do so which could have an impact on this discussion. Thanks for all the info. I have been discussing this with other distillers for quite a while and experimenting with it and the pot/column hybrid SEEMS more efficient (time wise and total distillate collected), is more versatile, and yields a more complex product than a pot still (in my experience).