daveflintstone

I have not.  Continuous still from stilldragon, I'm going with their recommendation for packing.  24 liters of SPP required.

Anyone have a source for stainless SPP?  I've got an info request in to Manu at stainlessstuff.net already.  Looking for all sources.

On 6/2/2022 at 7:23 AM, Thatch said:

https://ferromit.com/

good luck with that.  I had mine, along with a continuous finishing still, for a few years.  Ended up just throwing it away, because it never worked correctly.  Even after bringing Alex all the way to my distillery.  He's a really smart, really nice guy, so I hope he has figured this out now.

I will trade you an opened 1969 bottle of Bacardi Silver, just a few sips gone but refilled with tap water from Three Mile Island.  This is BEFORE the meltdown, before even the beginning operation; I can't stress enough, BEFORE the meltdown.  This collector's bottle is from Richard Nixon's inauguration, part of his personal stash from the evening's festivities.  It's believed this was the last bottle he drank from before losing his virginity to his wife of 29 years in the Oval Office during a game of 7 Minutes In Heaven attended by the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff, and vomiting immediately after.  The provenance on this is impeccable, and admittedly written by me.  Straight up trade, no backsies.

200 bucks per placement is something to think about.

anyone, Bueller...Bueller...

Anyone else received an email from these folks?  Rokit Launch.

They are basically a broker/sales company that coordinates with their chosen distributor in 4 states.  Low margins, high placement fee.  

Wondering about anyone's experience with them.

cheap juice thoughts?  If you're in the US you're on the wrong forum doofus.  And if you're trolling, go fish.

dismal indeed

run run far away

On 2/4/2022 at 2:38 AM, niyoc382 said:

Since I just bought my digital camera, I'm looking to print up my own photos. A friend suggested to me Sony's dye sublimation printers. Any suggestions or should I go with the regular printer line.

He told me the dye sublimation printers do not need inkjets.

Since I just bought my fax machine, I'm looking to fax my own documents and photos of my ass.  A friend suggested to me that no one wants to receive a fax and haven't I heard of email and why the hell do I keep talking about my ass.  Any suggestions or should I get a new friend.

Seriously?  No one producing or selling in CA going to chime in with an answer?  wowza

Again, how does California classify hard seltzer type products and canned cocktails for state tax purposes?  A link to the correct state info would be helpful too.  I can't find it for some reason.

Hmmm, that's exactly how I would describe some Maui rum.

A cursory search finds the principle was previously Pearson & Pearson, and also Boffo Brands.

Nothing wrong with changing your company name, but...I'd think most would want to parlay a successful reputation into more business.  So perhaps not a successful reputation...?

Bumping this after cold email.  Anyone, anyone, Bueller, anyone?

Using the helpful example above, blending with water to obtain the finished spirit, eg. 190 to 80, is processing.  Adding water to adjust bottling proof, eg 81 to 80, is not.

The guidance seems fairly clear to me, except as JNorris stated TTB is "working on further defining the addition of water..." .  I think this obviously means they will at some point supply a more exact minimum proof adjustment that would meet processing requirements.

But this is really moot isn't it?  Just filter tank to tank and call it a day if you are in the water addition business.

I read that guidance differently than you.  I read it as a clear YES.

Quote

mixes distilled spirits with materials including flavors, wines, water (except that the addition of water during the normal process of bottling for the purpose of ensuring label proof does not constitute “processing” for reduced rate purposes)

To me this means that blending high proof spirits with water does count as processing, just as it says.  The bold disclaimer in parentheses refers to "the normal process of bottling".  That is clearly not the same as blending down high proof spirits, that is referring to minor adjustments to proof during the bottling process.

BY MYSELF:

The Mori 6 spout filler fills my 750ml in about 25 seconds.  Air sparging 2 bottles at a time and inserting on Mori filler 10 seconds for 6 bottles.  Removing 6 bottles from the filler is 8 seconds.  Total to fill is 45 seconds for 6 bottles.  Keep in mind that the Mori filler is never empty of bottles: for maximum efficiency that is filling while the other tasks (inserting bartop corks, applying and shrinking capsules, labeling, sealing and stacking carton) are done.  So when the 12 bottles are in the carton, the filler has 6 full bottles on it.  One does not simply add up the total time for all tasks and multiply, this is multitasking for speed and efficiency.  You should see how fast I can go when I do my product that has screen printed bottles, so no labeling required.  And yes bottling is non stop.  Why wouldn't it be?  With my 3 person bottling line we go as fast as the Mori filler can fill.  The only additional time is moving pallets of finished cases and empty bottles in and out, unsealing new boxes of bartops, and changing label rolls.

I've been doing this for 12 years, I know exactly how to bottle for maximum efficiency with my semi automatic system.  Clearly you did not.  You were slow in loading and unloading your Mori filler.  Your choice of heat gun was woefully inadequate for speed.  Your hand cork press was unnecessary for other than wine bottles.  Your labeler was second tier (I know because I used the same one for years).  If you chose to lollygag around with your bottling, that's up to you.  If you chose to hand write on labels, draw doodles on the caps, kiss each bottle before lovingly placing in the carton, that's up to you.  But quite frankly, F*** your doubting acceptance of my highly efficient system. 

The OP asked for the "best and efficient bottling equipment set up" that wasn't fully automatic, was reasonably priced, and mindful of a high labor cost.  I described exactly that in a real world setting, that could literally complete his estimated monthly starting volume in 10 total hours with one person; he could just do it himself and never worry.  Your system used 4 people in a slow and inefficient manner.  It's a good thing you upgraded to an automated line.

9 hours ago, Golden Beaver Distillery said:

This line will allow you label 300 - 500 per day with 4 people working the line.

Bottles or cases?  Hope you mean cases because that would be an absurdly slow rate for bottles.

I use a sterile compressed air blower, two bottles at a time. (Balston 3 stage sterile air filter)

Mori 6 spout filler. 

Hand apply bartop corks. 

Shrink capsule placed by hand, shrunk with heat gun from St. Pats. Yeah St. Pats sucks but there is absolutely no comparison to their professional heat gun, and I haven't found it anywhere else.

Benchmax labeler.

3 people can do 200 cases 750ml in 6 hours.  By myself I can do about 17 cases/hour.  This is super easy, and obviously a single person could do your monthly volume without issue.  When I started my distillery 12 years ago it took me 4 hours to do 14 cases; there was no one providing advice and I thought I was doing great.  You're welcome.

I picked a bad time to switch from a European ceramic bottle to glass for one of my products.  I figured a decorated common stock bottle, readily available, would make things easier.  Now my packaging cost has more than doubled.  $4.50 per bottle.  How's $9000 to ship 10 pallets from West Coast to Hawaii?  FANTASTIC

I'll go halfsies on a bottle of Jim Beam with you.  Then we can get the big 1.75 L size.

Ask you bottle supplier if you haven't already.

7 years later...

Logged in no problem.