This is one of the questions we often get from our Whiskey Still customers: how much alcohol can I expect my copper whiskey still to yield? It is, of course, very difficult to offer an exact answer. Quantity depends on a number of factors: ingredients, amount of sugar, type of yeast or final proof. Before hitting the copper whiskey still, the amount of alcohol present in your starting wash can impact the final yield, as you can obtain more from a stronger wash. This is influenced by two main factors: the amount of sugar present in the mash and the type of yeast you choose to use.
- You will generally add different amounts of sugar, depending on recipe and personal preference, but what is important is that there is enough sugar for yeast to turn into alcohol.
- Whether you obtain it through fermentation or add it yourself, sugar is essential for a strong starting alcohol, which, as I already said, is important for a good yield.
This doesn’t mean you should overdo it on the sugar, just that correctly following a good recipe is always a good idea. For 10 lb of sugar, you should be able to get somewhere between 1.5 – 2 gallons of pure ethanol. The type of yeast you choose is also very important.
- Bakers yeast can produce around 10% alcohol, while stronger distillers yeast or “turbos” can take it up to about 20%.
- But choose your yeast carefully, also considering other factors, such as your fermenting conditions, ingredients or distillate you want to obtain.
- Good yeast will help you get a higher final yield thanks to having generated a higher starting alcohol.
I also mentioned final proof among the relevant factors on which alcohol yield is dependant because strength is directly related to quantity. Only about half of the final spirit leaving your copper whiskey still will be pure alcohol though so your yield is actually double than the ethanol you calculate depending on your sugar input.
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How much alcohol does mash yield?
1. How much shine can I expect to produce when I run my still? – This is the question on everybody’s mind when they purchase a still. It is all mathematics, and some people give answers based on “funny” math. The truth is dependent upon your mash. The fermentation process, prior to the distillation process, will REALLY determine how much you should expect to yield.
- On average, a decent ABV (alcohol by volume) during the fermentation process should be around 10% to 15%.
- We have heard of people boasting about upwards of 20% ABV, but in reality you are shooting for somewhere between 10% & 15% ABV, and here’s why: alcohol & carbon dioxide are by products of the fermentation process (when yeast eat sugars).
The higher the ABV the yeast has to live in, the more stressed they get, and eventually will die off. At about 18% ABV, for most yeast strands, they become very stressed due to their living conditions. They will give off foul smells and flavors around this ABV.
The trade off for really high ABV (16% or higher) is, higher alcohol/shine that isn’t worth drinking from a taste perspective. We recommend shooting for an ABV of 10% to 15%. At this range you get a great tasting, smooth shine. While there are always exceptions to the rule, and other minor variables, the easiest method is to multiply whatever size still you want by 10% and then 15%.
You will then have an honest answer on how much shine to expect. So for example: A 10 gallon still filled with your wash that is 10% ABV will yield you about 1 gallon of shine. If your ABV is 15% it will be 1.5 gallons. No matter what still you put it in to extract the alcohol out during the distilling process, you can’t argue with the math.
How much sugar do you need for 5 gallons of moonshine?
For a 5 gallon mash: (201) 6-8 pieces/kernel is the proper crack. If using bird feed, make sure it is perishable, or in other words is free of preservatives.7 lbs (3.2kg) of granulated sugar.
How much alcohol is in a 20 Litre wash?
Re: Expected yield from 20 liters of wash with 10.5% ABV On the stripping run 20L of 10.5% has a theoretical 2.1L of pure alcohol, of which you’ll recover at about 80% for 1.68L, so you’d probably see around 4.2L of 40% low wines.
What percent alcohol is in wash?
Wash (distilling) Term used in the production of distilled beverages Term used in the production of, Wash is the finished product of destined to be distilled for the first time. Distillation being the removal of impurities or purification of the spirit (alcoholic liquor), hence it is being washed.
How much alcohol is 25 ml?
Spirit measures and wine glass sizes – Pubs and bars used to commonly serve spirits (like vodka, gin, rum or whisky) in 25ml measures – that’s about one unit of alcohol per measure. But these days many pubs and bars have switched to 35ml or 50ml measures – meaning you might be having a lot more alcohol without realising.
If you drink at home, a good way to avoid accidentally pouring too much and limit how many units of alcohol you have is with a measuring cup. Get one from the Drinkaware shop today. There has been a trend towards larger servings for wine too. If you order a large glass of wine, that means you’re having 250ml – and that is likely to contain at least three units of alcohol in a single glass.
So, drinking three large glasses of wine is the same as drinking a whole bottle (750ml), which, like any binge drinking, can have serious consequences for your health. Binge drinking in the UK, as defined by the NHS, is drinking more than eight units of alcohol in a single session for men, and more than six units of alcohol in a single session for women. 
