Due to the increase in alcohol prices and a drop in its quality, as well as an increase in cases of poisoning by store products, people became more interested in home brewing and its features. This article will discuss how to separate the "head" and "tails" in moonshine.
Apparatus design
It should be noted that the methods described below are not suitable for all moonshine stills. Therefore, the device that will be discussed in the article should be described.
The design of the apparatus is a tank under the mash on fire or with a built-in electric heater, connected to a cooling cube by a transition tube.
Aluminum tank
If you decide to make a moonshine yourself, it is recommended to use a tank made of food (table aluminum). Soviet milk tanks with a volume of 15, 20 and 40 liters will come down quite like a billet. It remains to drill a hole from above, attach a cooling cube to it, and you're done. A cheap, easy-to-make “boiler” for brewing moonshine and for distilling tails and heads will last a long time.
Stainless steel tank
Also good for this purpose is food stainless steel. But stainless steel tanks have mainly industrial purposes, and therefore are expensive in themselves.
Tanks made of other metals can poison both the mash and the drink when heated, releasing heavy metals such as lead, tin, and zinc. These metals tend to accumulate in the body and harm organs and their systems, and therefore they are very dangerous for using them in the delicate process of cooking and cutting off “heads” and “tails” in moonshine.
What does separation mean?
So, for starters, we define what it means to separate the “heads” and “tails”. In fact, this is the division of the drink into fractions that are different in composition and properties. In general, the "head" and "tail" in moonshine are separated by temperature.
What is a "head"?
This fraction contains a large amount of harmful impurities, is not recommended for use and has an evaporation temperature of up to 70 degrees. While the device enters the operating mode, usually the whole “head” comes out, not amenable to filtration or distillation, since the fusel oils and other by-products contained in it have a boiling point lower than that of ethyl alcohol.
Do I need a "head"?
This term, as already mentioned, is called what comes first - a large number of fusel oils, methyl alcohol with an evaporation temperature of up to 70-72 degrees. This feature helps to understand how to cut off the "heads" and "tails" in moonshine. At one time, the "head" (otherwise it is also called the first person) was considered high-quality alcohol, as it intoxicated more. But do not be reassured by this, thinking that the stronger the “high”, the better the alcohol.
In the case of "heads", it is not alcohol that gives intoxication, but intoxication caused by fusel oils and methyl alcohol. These impurities adversely affect all body systems, and cause damage to the liver and brain. At the same time, methyl alcohol in the "head" with long-term use can lead to visual impairment or complete blindness. Experienced distillers usually simply pour out “heads” if only because of an unbearable smell, but determine that the “head” came out by smell and tasting the drink. It is by smell that one can determine the “heads” and “tails” in moonshine. Having understood that the “pervak” has come out, we will change the capacity to a larger one for the “body”.
What is a "body"?
This is 75-80% of the drink. It contains a maximum of ethyl (food) alcohol and a minimum of harmful additives. It is usable, as it is considered the cleanest part of the pasture. Regarding the "body", the calculation of the "heads" and "tails" in moonshine will begin.
A “body" is considered to have a minimum of harmful impurities, and, accordingly, a pungent odor and disgusting taste. This fraction is expelled at a temperature of 75 degrees, and it is the largest volume of the entire pasture.
What is obtained from the "body"?
Speaking of the "body", which is subject to filtering. Yes, for those who want to get moonshine of the first grade, there are 2 news: good and bad. Good: the drink can be filtered by distillation, while obtaining almost pure alcohol. And the bad news is that some of the drink will be lost (5-10% from each haul). Also, each subsequent distillation is more energy-consuming, which increases the cost of alcohol obtained. But if moonshine is chasing a loved one for itself, then what is the point of energy costs, the main thing is to get relatively cheap and high-quality alcohol? After all, the permanent advantage of home brewing is that you are 100% sure of the drink and that you won’t be poisoned.
What does tail mean?
It is customary to call this term what comes after the “head” with a fortress below 40 degrees, its composition is unpleasant: fusel oils. And also it has an unpleasant taste and smell, which is why it is also undesirable for use. But the "tail", in contrast to the "head", is suitable for driving, which we will discuss later. Now it’s clear how to separate “heads” and “tails” in moonshine.
Can tails be used?
This fraction begins to come out at a temperature of 85 ° C. How to select "heads" and "tails" in moonshine? It is possible to determine that the “tails” have gone this way: the cloudy color of the drink, low strength (less than 40%), odors similar to the smell of “heads” appear. If there is no alcohol meter, you can draw a little liquid into a tablespoon and set it on fire. If it burns with an invisible or barely visible blue flame, it means that the alcohol content is still about 40%. Thus, it becomes clear how to calculate the "head" and "tails" in moonshine. Any other burning or its absence indicates that the “tails” have gone and it is necessary to change the tank again, putting aside our cream.
By the way, the “tails”, unlike the “heads”, are amenable to filtering according to the same principle as the “body”. In general, “tails” can be added to the “body” and overtaken with it, but you should be able to cut off the unnecessary. "Tails" must be driven out to a fortress of 20%. Everything else is unsuitable for pasture, because essential and fusel oils that evaporate at temperatures above 90 ° C remain in the container. Next, add them to the "body" (or you can separately) and distill in the above way.
The feasibility of driving the tails
It is worth noting that when adding a “tail” to the “body”, we will have to breed 1 part of moonshine in 2 parts of water. And with separate filtering, the “tail” is bred 1 to 3, also remembering the fortress. And we make calculations according to the same principles. For example, we have 500 ml of “tails” with a total strength of 30%. Calculate the amount of alcohol. Divide the volume of 500 ml by 100%, and multiply the resulting 5 by 30 and get 150 ml of pure alcohol.
It can be seen with the naked eye that it is more economical to either pour out the “tails” and not suffer, wondering how to separate the “heads” and “tails” in moonshine, or overtake them together with the “body”, observing the above conditions.
How to distill moonshine?
After the end of the pasture, the apparatus must be washed and charged again, but with the “body” (in the proportion of 1 part of the “body” to 2 parts of water). By the way, it is better to use water not from the tap, but to take it from the well. There is still an opinion that it is possible to take distilled water obtained on the same apparatus, since there are no impurities in such water, and it will more actively absorb compounds unnecessary in the drink. Its boiling point is slightly higher than that of a conventional one.
We charge the device to the second round. For example, we take that we supposedly have 2 liters of “body” with a strength of 70%. We calculate how much alcohol should be output. 2 liters (this is 2000 ml) is divided by 100% and we get 20, then we multiply by the strength of the drink. In our case, it is 70%. We get 1400 ml or 1.4 l of pure 100% alcohol. Since 100% ethyl alcohol does not exist, but it does happen, 96%, we leave an error of 4% in the tank along with unnecessary impurities that give us an unpleasant odor.
Following the recipe, we add another 4 liters of water to two liters of “body” and set it to expel, gaining a temperature of up to 70-75 degrees. We expel the drink until we get the volume of alcohol that was in the "body", and in our case it is 1.4 liters. It is no longer necessary to drive out, as in the tank is what we wanted to get rid of, plus water.
So, we got 1400 ml of 90-96% alcohol, which must be diluted to obtain 40% of a drink suitable for consumption. It is strongly recommended not to dilute the alcohol that is planned to be consumed with distilled water, because it is "dead" and leaches minerals from the body, and this is very detrimental to health.
As a result, it turns out a very, very well-purified moonshine, one might say, of the first grade. The procedure can be repeated, but experienced distillers believe that one or two hauls are usually quite enough.
Alcoholometer
An alcohol meter, otherwise called a hydrometer, is used to change the percentage of alcohol in a liquid. This device can help in the matter of how to cut off the "heads" and "tails" in moonshine. Oddly enough, but if you lower it into a liquid in which there is obviously no alcohol, it will still show a certain percentage of alcohol content. The fact is that this device is based on this principle: it determines the amount of alcohol by the density of the liquid. Therefore, you need to be able to work with him correctly.
Hydrometers come in several forms. To work at home, you will need household appliances. It measures the percentage of alcohol in home vodka or in moonshine on a scale from 0 to 96. The minus of this device in a small error is 0.5%. But usually this is not of great importance, as people make moonshine for themselves, and not for sale on an industrial scale.
It should be remembered that this measuring tool should be treated with care, because any scratch or crack makes the alcohol meter unusable. You also need to know that they can measure the strength of the drink only at a temperature of 20 degrees. If the drink is hot or colder, the device will show the wrong result. A household hydrometer should not measure drinks containing impurities, such as wine, tinctures, etc., since it is designed to measure only the density of alcohol and water.
A few more recommendations. After diluting the alcohol with water, it is necessary to wait 10 minutes and only then proceed with the measurements, because immediately after dilution the liquid will generate a lot of heat. In addition, the device must be clean and dry, otherwise, again, the measurements will be incorrect.
When the temperature of moonshine reaches 20 degrees, it must be poured into a glass or flask and gently lower the alcohol meter there with the wide part down. If you work with him sharply, then you can damage him, and then you have to get a new one.
Finally
The article told how to separate the "heads" and "tails" in moonshine. It is worth adding that selling moonshine in many countries is simply forbidden, but no one spoke about moonshining for themselves. As far as we know, winemakers are not imprisoned and do not hang huge fines on them. So it is with home brewing. While you are doing this for yourself, law enforcement agencies are not interested. The constant advantage of home brewing is the cheapness of the drink and absolute confidence in its composition.