spagyria alembic

[callemann]

of course, i only needed some experienced thoughts on the versatility of the two stills, and the rubber gasket which i fear will decay with time. I was also worried about the spagrias ability to make flavored spirits concerning the double thumper and if it would retain most of its flavour after the distillation. I am very interested in making som real dark and strong rum, to be drunk bare or with ice, and of course whiskey. I have gotten the impression that the whiskey stillo would be best for both.

[HookLine]

You can just ditch the rubber seal and use flour paste. A lot of people here use it.

The 'whiskey' still would probably give you the most flexibility.

[callemann]

I see. Why exactly is it more flexible? would like to understand it better, sorry if i´m nagging, but just very curious.

[HookLine]

Because with the whiskey version you can choose how many 'distillations' you want, from one upwards. With the double thumper version you are getting a minimum of roughly 2-2.5 every time you run it. (Though you could just leave one or both thumpers empty I guess.)

I have no experience with thumpers. So I may be off the mark a bit here.

But I know you will not go wrong with the whiskey version. The worst you have to do is two runs to get what you are after. You are probably better off doing 2-3 stripping (low wines) runs, then combining them for a final spirit run. More efficient overall use of time and heat energy anyway.

Also, that whiskey version has an expansion chamber, and a taller column, which give some extra reflux and separation, so it should do okay with brandies anyway.

Can only say what I would choose, and why. Others may have a different view.

[Hack]

If you have the option to run without the thumpers that would be the most flexible. However with the small main boiler the thumpers will make cuts more difficult because they concentrate and reduce the final volume. I use a single thumper and am very happy with it, getting a full second plate of distillation from it, but I'm also running a 15 gallon keg boiler in front of it that I never run less than half full.