Moonshining in the Blue Ridge

   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #111  
I watch that tv show "Moonshiners". They always toss a fair amount of the first liquor coming out of the still. They call it the head.
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #112  
I watch that tv show "Moonshiners". They always toss a fair amount of the first liquor coming out of the still. They call it the head.

Foreshots
Heads
Hearts
Tails

Foreshots are methanol and get tossed.
Heads are the start of the ethanol, drinkable, but off-tasting. Save those.
Bottle the hearts.
Tails are the end of the ethanol, drinkable, but again, off-tasting. Save those.

Put the heads and tails back into the next batch of mash and run again.

Repeat.
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #113  
Foreshots
Heads
Hearts
Tails

Foreshots are methanol and get tossed.
Heads are the start of the ethanol, drinkable, but off-tasting. Save those.
Bottle the hearts.
Tails are the end of the ethanol, drinkable, but again, off-tasting. Save those.

Put the heads and tails back into the next batch of mash and run again.

Repeat.

Moss . . . . ;) . . . :thumbsup:
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #114  
Foreshots
Heads
Hearts
Tails

Foreshots are methanol and get tossed.
Heads are the start of the ethanol, drinkable, but off-tasting. Save those.
Bottle the hearts.
Tails are the end of the ethanol, drinkable, but again, off-tasting. Save those.

Put the heads and tails back into the next batch of mash and run again.

Repeat.

Did you learn that from the tv or do you have a still going....:)
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #116  
Methanol boils off at a lower temperature than ethanol. That's why, when the distillation process starts, and first fluid that comes out of the condenser, you through out (the foreshots); it's methanol and poisonous.

Yep. Gotta watch your temps. We did all of this in 10th grade, and had a big thermometer stuck in the mash.
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #117  
Save those foreshots for your tires :)
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #118  
Ok...I have to tell this story, in hopes it may bring a chuckle or two.
My wife and I have been together 48 years now (don't laugh yet...that's not the funny part). In the early 70s she decided to make dandelion wine. So I helped pick dandelions and get ingredients. From memory sugar, lemons, oranges, yeast...so long ago can't remember how, but at her parents house in town they had this huge jar about 5-6 gallons at least.
We of course didn't know what we were doing, but I remember after so many days it was like a giant lava lamp, this gunk slowly floating up, bubbling, gunk sinking back down. At some point it was very full, so I tilted it over put some in a glass.
It was horrible like I would guess battery acid would be like.
One night we're watching the "lava lamp" in action and a knock at kitchen door. It was the neighborhood drunk! He says "heard you guys are makin' some hootch here!".
I stick a couple of soda straws together for him. He pokes it down in bottle...he takes a swig, pulls straw out and end was melted off! He says wow-eee that's some gooood stuff! So I helped him carry that heavy bottle down to his place.
She heard later he polished it off. I don't think he lived too long afterwards!
 
   / Moonshining in the Blue Ridge #119  
We're not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I'm pretty sure anyone can "still" make a certain amount of alcohol a year without problems. The trouble I'm thinking is selling it without Uncle Sucker getting tax revenue.

Watch "Laurel & Hardy - The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine (1937) (Colour) (HD)" on YouTube
Laurel & Hardy - The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine (1937) (Colour) (HD) - YouTube

Careful: Owning a still is legal; using it to distill alcohol as booze is not; at least not without the required Fed permit (read $$$ and PITA):

Is Making Moonshine Legal? – Clawhammer Supply

Why Is Distilling Whiskey At Home Illegal? - The Whiskey Wash
 

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