Brewing Master

Question:

Hello,    I am interested ,for educstion purposes only, on any protocols which would outline the distillation process. I would like to see the type of equipment that is needed and how much the cost would be to assemble such a device. Single malt scotch is very costly and I was wondering how much profit these companies are actually making on me every week. Thankyou for any responses.       Brian

Response:

: Hello, :    I am interested ,for educstion purposes only, on any protocols : which would outline the distillation process. I would like to see : the type of equipment that is needed and how much the cost would be : to assemble such a device. Single malt scotch is very costly and I : was wondering how much profit these companies are actually making on : me every week. Thankyou for any responses. :       Brian Well, as a chemical engineer, I could go on about distillation till the cows came home.  Basically, distillation works when a mixture of components of different vapor pressures (boiling points) is to be separated.  When the mixture is heated, the lowest boiling components will vaporize first.  The vapor is then cooled an collected (you ever see pictures of moonshiners with that big coil of copper tubing at the top of their still – that is to condense the hot vapor).  Distillation setups can run from cheap to outlandishly expensive.  Your best bet – you’re a U Wisconsin – drop by the Chemical engineering department and talk to people there (some of the best in the business). -john p.s. you’ll probably find that a large number of chemical engineers you run into home brew, so that should help.

Response:

: Hello, :    I am interested ,for educstion purposes only, on any protocols : which would outline the distillation process. I would like to see : the type of equipment that is needed and how much the cost would be : to assemble such a device. Single malt scotch is very costly and I : was wondering how much profit these companies are actually making on : me every week. Thankyou for any responses. :       Brian

Two important considerations here.  The first is that it is illegal to distill spirits in the US.  You will go to jail!  However since you will have to age the spirits for a minimum of 12 years or more likely 30 years to make them resemble those single malts you so dearly cherish, they should about be ready when you get out.  Hope you are not in a hurry.    I drink therefore I am!         -Shakespeare’s Pub    Brad Heath    Process Engineer by Day    Alcohol Engineer by Night

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