WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF STILLDRAGON An introductory guide to the assembly and use of StillDragon’s modular distillation components By Crozdog© 1 Version 1.2 16 Jan 2014 Contents Figures ....................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .............................................................................................. 6 Guarantee ................................................................................................. 7 Legal Considerations ................................................................................. 7 Thanks ....................................................................................................... 7 Glossary ..................................................................................................... 8 Safety in the Distillery ............................................................................. 10 CO2 ...................................................................................................... 10 Harm minimisation .......................................................................... 10 Intoxication .......................................................................................... 11 Harm minimisation .......................................................................... 11 Fire risk ................................................................................................ 11 Harm minimisation .......................................................................... 11 Water & Electricity .............................................................................. 11 Physical Injury ...................................................................................... 12 Harm minimisation .......................................................................... 12 Storage ................................................................................................ 12 Boilers ..................................................................................................... 14 Heat ..................................................................................................... 14 Draining ............................................................................................... 14 Still Mounting ...................................................................................... 15 Options ................................................................................................ 16 Heat control......................................................................................... 16 What are all these bits? .......................................................................... 17 Pre-Assembly .......................................................................................... 21 Bubble plates ....................................................................................... 21 Sight Glasses ........................................................................................ 22 Condensors .......................................................................................... 23 Parrot ................................................................................................... 24 Assembly ................................................................................................. 25 Pot still ................................................................................................. 25 Alternate ConFigurations ................................................................. 25 Plated column still ............................................................................... 28 Hybrid column still .............................................................................. 30 Alternate ConFigurations ................................................................. 31 Plumbing ................................................................................................. 32 Overview ............................................................................................. 32 2 Version 1.2 16 Jan 2014 Condenser Connections ...................................................................... 33 Quick Connect Fittings ........................................................................ 33 Connection ....................................................................................... 33 Disconnection .................................................................................. 33 Needle Valves ...................................................................................... 34 Counter Flow or not? .......................................................................... 35 Connections ......................................................................................... 35 Operation ................................................................................................ 39 Cleaning Run ........................................................................................ 39 Pot still mode ...................................................................................... 40 Stripping Run Operation .................................................................. 40 Spirit Run Operation ........................................................................ 41 Plated Column mode and Hybrid mode .............................................. 43 Recipes .................................................................................................... 46 Fermentation ....................................................................................... 46 Yeast .................................................................................................... 46 Nutrients.............................................................................................. 46 Cleanliness ........................................................................................... 47 Sanitation ............................................................................................ 47 Temperature Control .......................................................................... 47 Vodka ................................................................................................... 48 Rum ..................................................................................................... 50 Bourbon Style Whiskey ....................................................................... 51 Theory .............................................................................................. 51 First Fermentation ........................................................................... 51 Airing ................................................................................................... 53 Tips & Tricks ............................................................................................ 55 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 56 Wash Record ........................................................................................... 57 Run Record .......................................................................................... 58 3 Version 1.2 16 Jan 2014 Figures Figure 1: An installed Element Guard ..................................................... 14 Figure 2: Keg Drain .................................................................................. 14 Figure 3: Low ProFile Drain on what was the top oF the keg .................. 15 Figure 4: A 4" Ferrule welded onto what was the bottom oF a keg. A Fill port can also be seen. ..................................................................... 15 Figure 5: Just out oF the box - Partially assembled ................................. 20 Figure 6: Blank Plates .............................................................................. 21 Figure 7: Bubble Caps ............................................................................. 21 Figure 8: Downcomers ............................................................................ 21 Figure 9: Plate Assebbly .......................................................................... 22 Figure 10: Sight Glass Assembly .............................................................. 23 Figure 11: Sight Glass Kits (Brass rings not shown) ................................ 23 Figure 12: 90o Quick Connect Fittings ..................................................... 24 Figure 13: Straight Quick Connect Fittings ............................................. 24 Figure 14: A Disassembled Parrot - As Shipped ...................................... 24 Figure 15: An Assembled Parrot ............................................................. 24 Figure 16: A 2" Pot Shot .......................................................................... 26 Figure 17: 2" pot stills made From extensions ........................................ 26 Figure 18: The Authors 4" Pot Still using a 510mm Extension............... 26 Figure 19: Extensions Used to Move Location oF Parrot ........................ 27 Figure 20: Bubble Tee's Being Run Without Plates ................................ 27 Figure 22: Magic Happens in there!........... Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 21: A 2 Plater using Torpedos ...................................................... 29 Figure 23: A 4 Plate Dash 1 ..................................................................... 30 Figure 24: A 6 Plate Dash 2 ..................................................................... 30 Figure 25: The Author's Hybrid