In the process of moonshine it is very important to cook the mash properly. The quality of the final product and its output depends on it. With this in mind, some moonshiners have resorted to a technique that suggests that mash bentonite will be cleaned. As a result, a lot of problems that can arise during distillation are eliminated. Therefore, it is worth considering such a technology in more detail.
What is bentonite?
First of all, you need to understand what is bentonite and what is the principle of its effect on solutions similar to Braga. For many, this substance is ordinary clay, which is sold in dry form. In fact, this is a separate mineral extracted from sedimentary rock. It reacts with water, swelling and increasing in volume.
However, cleaning with mash bentonite is carried out for concentrated accumulation of dry particles in the form of a yeast residue. In fact, this mineral is an absorbent that absorbs them and precipitates.
This mineral received its name in honor of the city of Benton (USA), where its deposit is located. Therefore, ordinary clay is not suitable for such work.
Why make such a cleaning
- Typically, mash cleaning with bentonite is performed in order to reduce the accumulation of insoluble particles in the liquid. The fact is that during distillation, they often precipitate and begin to burn. This greatly affects the taste of the final product and serves as a source of unnecessary and harmful impurities getting into the moonshine.
- When using this process in moonshining, you can almost completely get rid of the nasty smell of mash. For many manufacturers, this is very important, since the preparation of the drink does not interfere with others.
- The finished product is superior in quality to the moonshine obtained from untreated mash. However, its amount can be slightly reduced, which in this case is even better, since it was this percentage of the liquid that was harmful or spoiled the taste.
Where to get it?
This question is very interesting to those moonshiners who decided to use such a process as cleaning mash with bentonite. A natural-based cat litter gives us the answer. The fact is that it is made from such an absorbent, using the properties of the substance to absorb moisture and even odors.
However, it must be remembered that not all cat-pot formulations are suitable for cleaning. Some manufacturers of such fillers use artificial substances that are completely unsuitable. Therefore, acquiring such compounds, you should make sure that they are made specifically on the basis of bentonite.
Some companies sell this mineral for household or industrial needs. However, finding such products can be very difficult, and cat litter is ubiquitous.
Substance preparation
- For starters, you should dry. The substance is poured onto a baking sheet, which is previously covered with parchment. Next, the mineral is placed in the oven, where it is kept for about 40 minutes at a temperature of 120 degrees.
- Then cleaning the mash with bentonite involves grinding. The substance is placed in a coffee grinder, where it is processed practically into dust.
- The next stage is very important, since it depends on whether the substance will stick together. Experts recommend taking a half-liter of hot water, which is constantly stirred, forming a kind of funnel. After that, a tablespoon of the resulting powder is introduced into the liquid without stopping the mixing work.
- It is worth noting that the cleaning of the mash with bentonite proportions involves calculating based on the amount of dry component. Therefore, usually take one tablespoon of powder per ten liters of mash.
When to enter
When is the substance to be administered so that complete cleaning of the mash with bentonite is performed? The technology of moonshining answers this question ambiguously. However, experts argue that this process is best started only when the mash fermented. There are several methods for determining this condition:
- Sugar-based mash usually roams for about two weeks. This method should not be considered ideal, but for home conditions it is quite suitable.
- When the liquid fermented, then it ceases to foam. This artisanal method does not require special equipment and is often used by moonshiners.
- When fermented, sugar should completely disappear from the liquid. Therefore, the taste should not be sweet. Usually it has a certain bitterness.
- There is a special device - a hydrometer. It is used by professional craftsmen to determine the remaining amount of sugar. For work, two liters of liquid are cast, which is filtered and placed in a measuring cup. The hydrometer is also lowered into it. It should show a value of 1.002, which indicates that 1% sugar is left and that distillation can begin.
Cleaning process
At this stage, the mash is cleaned with bentonite. The methods used are very different, but the general principle is to maintain the solution and maintain it for a certain time.
- A solution of bentonite is poured into a container with a Braga, constantly stirring the contents. Recall that a tablespoon of dry mix needs 10 liters of liquid.
- Next, the container is left for 15-30 hours to precipitate. As a result, the liquid should acquire transparency and almost completely lose dry particles.
- When the cleaning comes to an end, it is necessary to drain the mash. Some moonshiners prefer to do this through gauze, but it is best to use a special tube or hose. This reduces the likelihood that the precipitate will begin to mix with the rest of the liquid.
- At the final stage of the process, distillation is started.
Warning
It is very important to mention that cleaning mash with bentonite is a fairly simple and affordable method, but when using it, you need to be very careful when choosing components. It is strictly forbidden to use flavored fillers or ingredients that react with sugar. When purchasing bentonite, carefully read the instructions, where the composition should be described in detail.
It is also necessary to remember that in some regions or countries the production of moonshine is illegal. The same can apply to the Brag itself. Therefore, before planning your actions, you should first familiarize yourself with the current legislation.
You should be aware that such cleaning cannot guarantee that the resulting product will be safe. Its purpose is only to save the moonshiner from problems with burning mash. That is why for the manufacture it is necessary to use only proven recipes and strictly follow the technical processes for the production of alcoholic beverages.
Recommendations of specialists
- When cleaning mash with bentonite, gelatin (this product also contains adsorbents that bind yeast), it is very important to clarify that it does not include flavors or other components that can affect the taste or smell of the final product.
- If you start the cleaning process before the mash is fermented, then the liquid will turn out less and the sugar level will drop. It must be remembered that this procedure is performed only to remove excess impurities and it does not participate in the fermentation process. However, some amateurs try using bentonite to stop this reaction on their own, reducing the time for preparing the drink.
- After cleaning, the sediment should not be poured into the sewer. This will almost immediately lead to blockage, which will subsequently be very difficult to eliminate.
- It should be remembered that this process takes at least 15 hours and can last a whole day. Therefore, this must be taken into account immediately in order to understand your time frame.
- It is better to drain the mash from the tank using a special hose, which allows the selection of liquid from the surface. So the sediment will not be disturbed and it is not necessary to lift heavy containers.
- Even when cleaning, it is worth maintaining the temperature of the liquid at 30 degrees. This will contribute to the final suspension of the fermentation process. However, such temperature limits are optional.
- Before adding bentonite to the liquid, it is worth moving the container to a convenient place where the mash will be selected. This will reduce the chance of sediment mixing. Real professionals plan all their actions in advance in accordance with the technology, so as not to accidentally spoil the finished product.
Conclusion
Based on the above material, we can conclude that the cleaning of mash with bentonite significantly affects the quality of the final product. At the same time, this process is not mandatory in moonshining, and it can be circumvented. However, sometimes it’s worth spending a small amount of time to get a really tasty drink without additional impurities and smell. Especially when you consider that the costs in this area are minimal.