Bolverk

Me too

Very steam punky

Nice thanks! Definitely an option

Thanks, Alex, I understand 1. I don't have this problem yet... I'm just trying to get in front of it in case I do... you know what they say, failing to plan, is planning to fail. 2. I do see what you're saying, and i appreciate your advice, but vacuum just isn't where I want to go.... it's not my style, not part of my story, and historically, it wasn't used to create the product I want to make. I guess I'll be just another shiny tank distillery.

Thanks all. Vacuum distillation doesn't really fit they style I'm going for, but I appreciate the comments.

Thanks for that, it makes a lot of sense I'm working on a new place, and I'll reach out when I'm closer to getting it nailed down. The perfect spot I working on was leased as I'm still trying to secure funds. I see what you're saying about dont skimp on the still. But man, if I were to go with the big well known Kentucky still builder, my equipment costs would be 5 times higher. As it is getting funding for the $400k I think I need using SD gear is already challenging enough, if I bump that up to $650k I'll never get the distillery off the ground. In the back of my head it was always to plan to get up and going with good affordable gear, then upgrade once the business could pay for the expansion.

I meant for things like agitators, pumps, etc. I get that the amp draw is still the same overall.

Yeah, that's something that someone else just kinda put in my ear as well. You can make damn near anything on a pot, but a column is more more limited. So the column of off the table for now. In thinking about this id only be at full power during warm up (which I could do early AM) then dial back power by for the run and that would give me more availability on the smaller 200a service. NG is still the goal, just exploring options. As for 3ph, does anyone know if a phase converter can be used or is that entirely up to the jurisdiction?

I use coconut oil as an anti foam for rum, it works great.

100% agreed, that is the goal. Just looking at options in case less than ideal becomes the only way.

Thanks all

It's low-pressure and it could be 100ft+ away in some places. I dont have the place yet, the one place i had in the works got leased out from under me, so im back to looking. I'm in AZ. Gas would absolutely be the preferable option, its just looking like the hardest one if I want a place that has any foot traffic.

The gas service to most of these places is either 1/2 or 3/4 (depending). I'm finding that most of them don't have gas at all, and propane and wood would be a hard no. A 10 hour run for 250g is the exactly the reason I'm questioning this, that is wildly inefficient. At the correct power that 250g run should only take like 5-6 hours including heat up. Yeah, the 250g has a track record of success. Everything I've read here on ADI, SD, and my own analysis supports that. Yeah you can do smaller, and there are success storys for sure. BUT everyone I've spoken with that started smaller (and is still around) wishes they started with at least a 250g. If my forecasts are accurate and I can make it to year 6, then I can build my own building and put in whatever services I want and then upgrade to 500g+

I ran the 100 gal with two batches per shift through my calculator and the scenario works, but just barely. I'd need to do 2.5-3 batches to meet my break even and put enough away for aging. This is less than ideal, but it'll at least get things off the ground. Or I do something like the SD 4" column that runs on the same power as a 100 gal pot and I can hit the production volume of a 250 gal still in an 8 hr period. I guess what I don't know is if I can get similar pot whiskey profiles pulling product lower on a column (think coffey style but with draw points on every level of the rectifier side).

I see what you're saying and that's a good idea. 250 a week gets me through my first year, then as business gets up and going it scales really well. Year 1, 1 run a week, year 2, 2 a week, etc... The other benefit to the 250 is it covers the 14 gal I'll need a week to break even, and leaves just enough to put away in barrels without more shifts (I'll still be working my day job for the first few years). If i do the 100 gal ill have maxed out my capabilities before the bulk of my aged product is really selling and I won't have the money to upgrade yet.