How can you tell hearts from heads?

One can tell when a still starts producing hearts because the harshness of the heads has dissipated and the smell is no longer harsh. This is the “sweet spot,” which isn’t just a metaphor. The whiskey produced during this phase is very flavorful, but also very smooth and, (depending on the recipe) slightly sweet.

How do you know when the heads are done?

Heads. Next up is the heads, which you can save for blending or for re-distilling later. The vapor temperature will be over 175°F (80°C) when the heads start coming, and it will continue up until the vapor temp reads about 196°F (91°C). Heads usually clock in at around 80% abv (160 proof) and above.

What do distilleries do with heads and tails?

Many companies sell the heads and tails to industrial distillers who make pure spirit, cosmetics, and other products. Some use this alcohol as fuel to heat their distilleries in winter.

How can you tell if moonshine is poisonous?

Folklore tells us one way to test the purity of moonshine is to pour some in a metal spoon and set it on fire. 6 If it burns with a blue flame it is safe, but if it burns with a yellow or red flame, it contains lead, prompting the old saying, “Lead burns red and makes you dead.”

Can you Redistill heads and tails?

Many other distilleries recycle the whiskey heads and tails by adding them to the next batch of fermenting mash. In addition to funky, solventy stuff we don’t want to drink, there’s plenty of desirable ethanol mixed into the heads and tails, so re-distilling them allows distilleries to maximize yield.

How much moonshine do you get out of 5 gallons of mash?

A 5 gallon run will yield 1-2 gallons of alcohol. A 8 gallon run will yield 1.5-3 gallons of alcohol. A 10 gallon run will yield 2-4 gallons of alcohol.

How much moonshine do you throw away?

The rule of thumb is to discard 1/3 of a pint jar for every 5 gallons of wash being distilled. How much initial product to discard: 1 gallon batch – discard the first 2/3 of a shot glass. 5 gallon batch – discard the first 1/3 of a pint jar.

Which is first the heads or the tails?

The Heads are what comes out first. The Hearts are what comes out midway through the run. And the Tails are the last to come out. The Heart of the run is what you will want to keep. You do NOT want to keep the Heads or the Tails.

When do the heads and the hearts come out?

The Heads are what comes out first. The Hearts are what comes out midway through the run. And the Tails are the last to come out. The Heart of the run is what you will want to keep. You do NOT want to keep the Heads or the Tails. So how can you tell the difference between the heads, hearts, and tails?

When to cut heads Hearts and tails in stilldragon?

There are not equal amounts of heads, hearts, and tails volume. Therefore, the distiller will need to pay close attention throughout the duration of the distillation run to determine when the “heads cut” or the “tails cut” needs to be made. For more information on this or any other distilling topic, visit the StillDragon forum at stilldragon.org.

When to heat heads, Hearts, and tails?

To ensure optimal separation between heads, hearts, and tails, the distiller will typically apply a minimal to moderate amount of heat to the kettle once running temperatures are achieved.