Achieving 95% without NGS

[souschefdude]

I have contacted at least 2 still manufacturers who have told me I could not make Vodka from grain with a multi-plate (6 or 7) reflux still, unless I was starting with Neutral Grain Spirit.

What I don't understand is don't you have to cut the NGS down below 50% to run it through to make Vodka? Shouldn't a reflux still be able to handle a 50% output?

Thank you for answering my noob questions.

[Artisan Still Design]

it is possible to achieve 95% on a 6 plate column, however it will take at minimum 3 passes, or 2 with a very slow spirit run

but it will be chocked full of flavor, not ideal for vodka.

in order to call it vodka you must achieve a average of 95% in your collected spirits, this is then diluted down for bottling, coming off the parrot at 50% will not qualify.

realistically in order to produce Vodka you will want 20 plates or more. with such a system you can achieve 95% in a single pass, however you will still be more efficient doing a seperate strip to low wines then spirit run to achieve your 95%.

[souschefdude]

I reread my original post. My last question should have read 95%, not 50.

My point is, if it is possible to dilute ngs to 50 and get an output of 95 on a 6 plate, why would it not be possible to do it from grain?

Thank you for your reply, ASD.

[Scrounge]

You could probably get the 95% with 6 plates, depending on exactly how your still runs. It's gonna be coming off very very slow though. Your product is not going to be very "neutral" though. To get to a good quality vodka product, you would need to run it several times, taking up lots of your time and $. You don't want a vodka to taste like young whiskey. The point of a large column with many plates is to achieve a neutral, quality distillate, in a single pass, in an manner that is manageable, time and resource wise. (After u pay for that tower of a still that is) Vodka=clean 6plates=not clean enough. Of course don't let me tell you what you can or can't do! If your trying to make an easy vodka, you could just charcoal filter and proof some NGS, but then you'd have a product just like most of the other vodkas on the shelf at my local liquor stop. Not to original or exciting. If you wanna make a quality vodka from grain, you need a lot of plates. Just my opinion though. Scrounge

[HedgeBird]

My point is, if it is possible to dilute ngs to 50 and get an output of 95 on a 6 plate, why would it not be possible to do it from grain?

I think I understand what you are asking, and what needs clarified.

Anything is "possible" with enough time/energy; but what we really care about is the "practical".

Even starting with NGS diluted down to 50% abv it is still not practical to to get an average 95% output on a 6 plate still. I think the key to your question is that by starting with 95% nsg, that you then dilute down to 50% and re-distill, you do not need to hit the 95% on that final pass. Because it started at 95% it has already passed the legal threshold to call it vodka.

[souschefdude]

I think I understand what you are asking, and what needs clarified.

Anything is "possible" with enough time/energy; but what we really care about is the "practical".

Even starting with NGS diluted down to 50% abv it is still not practical to to get an average 95% output on a 6 plate still. I think the key to your question is that by starting with 95% nsg, that you then dilute down to 50% and re-distill, you do not need to hit the 95% on that final pass. Because it started at 95% it has already passed the legal threshold to call it vodka.

Ahh. Yes! Thank you Hedgebird.

[Scrounge]

You make an interesting point there, Hedgebird.

[Dehner Distillery]

you need more plates!!

The stills I make can make vodka easy. Just saying.