The production of home-made strong drinks in Russia has a long tradition - it was already successfully implemented long before the appearance of the water supply system, therefore, running water cooling systems appeared relatively recently. Our ancestors quite successfully used the moonshine still, where the cooling was established without running water.
If you are interested in just such products, we advise you to read our article, which describes the design, principle of operation, advantages and disadvantages, as well as tips on choosing similar devices for the production of strong drinks at home.
Content
Principle of operation
Separation of alcohol-containing fractions during their cooling is the principle of operation of any distiller. Therefore, to get any strong home-made drink, you need an effective cooling system, for example, products that work without running water have larger refrigerators in their assets, with a capacity of at least 5 liters.
A coil of copper or tempered glass is placed in the water tank, through which alcohol vapors pass, cooling occurs quickly, and if a large amount is distilled, the heated water can be replaced with colder water. This method is less convenient, but allows you to complete the distillation process even in the country without a water supply.
Such products are produced with a sukhoparnik - this is a metal filler located between the distillation tank and the cooler, where fusel oils are deposited, as well as other unnecessary and harmful impurities. Slow-flowing products must be equipped with a thermometer, which is installed on a distillation cube in order to record the process of boiling mash at different stages.
The water in the refrigerator must be replaced if the final product begins to arrive in a warm state, the ideal process is the yield of cold alcohol.
Design
A classic device for a summer cottage consists of such mandatory elements:
- Capacity for mash is the basis. The contents are heated to the boiling point of ethyl alcohol, and then the alcohol-containing vapors are sent through a piping system to a dry steam tank and then to a refrigerator.
- Sukhoparnik - here there is a partial condensation of the vapors, undesirable impurities precipitate, because their weight is much larger, and the purified alcohol vapors go into the refrigerator.
- A refrigerator or a container where the condensation of alcohol-containing vapors occurs is a mandatory attribute of any moonshine. The difference is that the vapors pass through a special design, which is immersed in running water, where cooling takes place.
- The coil is also the main part, without which any moonshine still cannot function normally, and if it is a suburban or city one, there is no difference. The main task is to cool moonshine quickly and efficiently, it depends on the thickness of the tube: the thinner it is, the faster the cooling process takes place. Material - aluminum, copper and its alloys, stainless steel.
- Additional equipment is used to obtain better moonshine. A thermometer helps to monitor the temperature of the mash. Many distilleries with great experience add natural flavors to the sucker to get not just moonshine, but homemade brandy or whiskey.
If the device is in the country, then you can prepare several options for a strong drink using berries or fruits, which adds flavor and aromatic properties to simple moonshine.
Pros and cons of a non-flow type
Each device has its own disadvantages and positive properties, and for products of a non-flowing type, such advantages are characteristic:
- moonshines with a cooler in the form of a separate container with standing water can be used anywhere, regardless of the presence of the benefits of civilization;
- the coil in such a cooler does not become clogged, because steam passes through it, and tap water does not run, sometimes containing small impurities;
- Well water, even on a hot summer day, is much colder than liquid from a water pipe.
Disadvantages:
- perhaps a slight decrease in productivity due to the rapid heating of water in the refrigerator;
- additional efforts of the distillery aimed at replacing water;
- large sizes of the tank, because the higher they are, the greater the productivity of the refrigerator.
Many distilleries argue that the refrigerator must have a container of running water - this is a prerequisite for beginners in this complex production, who take only the first steps. Experienced pros can brew excellent quality home-made strong drink without a freezer.
How to choose
Fans of home brewing today can choose an incredible amount of excellent quality models for their needs, they differ: flowing or non-flowing type of cooling, tank capacity, neck width, the presence of thermometers, steam generators and other important details.
Specialists advise to focus on the material of all details: the best samples are made of food or medical stainless steel, steel + copper combined products are found, but they are much more expensive.
Volume
In specialized stores you will find tanks of 9 liters and above, but it must be remembered that such containers are filled only by 2/3 of the total volume, so that during the active boiling process there is no emission of spray into the pipeline going to the dry tank. Judging by the reviews of experienced distillers, 20 liters of mash are three times faster to distill into moonshine than twice in 10 liters. About 12 liters of moonshine are obtained from 12 liters of alcohol-containing product per distillation.
Neck
The hole in the tank should be such as to ensure not only the laying of ingredients, but also a convenient washing of the insides. With a narrow hole, it is not possible to qualitatively wash the inside of the distillation cube, where scale may form on the walls during operation.
Silicone gaskets
Inert to the effects of alcohol vapor, they do not emit any odors, and also they do not have deformation during prolonged use. Rubber similar products, when heated, emit a rather persistent odor and can spoil the entire final product.
Thermometer
It helps to accurately establish the boiling temperature of the mash and keep it constant, which positively affects the overall distillation process and improves the properties of the final product.
Sukhoparnik
This design allows you to significantly optimize the process, improve the separation of unnecessary fractions, as well as aromatize moonshine to get original elite alcohol drinks.
Performance
This parameter must be indicated in the technical passport for any model, so each user can buy a device with high similar characteristics.
Fulfilling the rules specified by the manufacturer in the instructions for use of the product, users will receive a high-quality high-quality product as a result. And what is the best device will fulfill its purpose, practice will show, any forecasts can be made here.
Rating of the best moonshines for summer cottages 2019
MAGARYCH Premium BKDR 12
- Material: AISI 304 Steel
- Productivity: up to 1.4 l / h
- Distillation cube volume: 12 l
- Wall thickness: 1mm
- Neck Diameter: 80 mm
- Dimensions: 220x220x530 mm
- Weight: 3.6 kg
- Product strength: up to 70%
- excellent compactness
- German-made bimetal thermometer
- silicone pads
- wash without any problems
- not found
Good Heat Homemade 12 liters
- All parts are made of stainless steel.
- Productivity: 4 L / h
- Distillation tank volume: 12 l
- Wall thickness: 1.5-2.0 mm
- Neck Diameter: 170 mm
- Thermometer: built into the tube
- Dimensions: 230x230x590 mm
- Coil: diameter 10 mm, length 180 mm, 5 turns
- Empty weight: 5 kg
- high quality workmanship
- easy assembly
- full set
- perfect tightness
- when heated, the throats of the neck get very hot
Pervach Economy 12
- Material: steel 08X18H10T
- Productivity: up to 2 l / h
- Distillation cube volume: 12 l
- Walls of capacity 1 mm thick
- Throat Diameter: 40 mm
- Dimensions: 230x230x380 mm
- Weight: 4.3 kg
- Warranty: 12 months
- high reliability
- excellent value for money
- pressure relief valve and bimetal thermometer
- very narrow neck
This model of production of the Ural plant of household goods in Chelyabinsk is budgetary, with high-quality cooling it guarantees high quality of the final product.
Moonshine Ural Economy 12TBK
- All parts are made of food grade stainless steel.
- Productivity: 3.0 L / h
- Re-distillation: 6.0 l / h
- Distillation tank volume: 12 l
- Wall thickness: 1.0 mm
- Throat Diameter: 35-40 mm
- Dimensions: 220x220x560 mm
- Empty weight: 2.8 kg
- compactness
- high quality materials
- hoses for cooling system not included
- narrow neck for cleaning the inside of the tank
MAGARYCH Village 20
- Material of all parts: AISI 340 steel
- Productivity: up to 2.5 l / h
- Distillation cube volume: 20 l
- 1.0 mm thick walls
- Neck diameter: up to 35 mm
- Dimensions: 270x270x550 mm
- Weight: 3.8 kg
- high mobility
- light weight
- cooling tube length
- only FUM tape is used for tightness
- no steamer
- risk of damage to coil tubes in the field
findings
Domestic manufacturers produce excellent quality moonshine both budget and premium. The main disadvantage is often that there are no inlet and outlet cooling hoses, which must be purchased separately. Some budget models have a very narrow neck, which makes it difficult to wash the internal volume.
The reliability of use and the quality of the material is always at its best, besides, consumables for domestic products are easy to purchase in special stores, which cannot be said about imported analogues.
