Making Fine Whiskey from Grains using the Still Spirits Alembic Pot Condenser

This recipe has been updated, please click below to see the blog post for the latest recipe: How to make Malt Whiskey from Grain

Use the grains appropriate to the style of whisky you want to make. There are hundreds of recipes on the web, but having selected your recipe ignore web instructions and follow the below when using the Still Spirits Alembic Pot Condenser and Whiskey Distillery Yeast. 

Instructions:

1. All grains used must be crushed or finely cracked. Add 4kg grain into a suitable large pan and add cold water to final volume of 15 litres, then bring to the boil. Add contents of the Still Spirits 4g amylase sachet (do not use standard brewers amylase because it won’t be temperature tolerant) and gently simmer for 30 mins stirring frequently. Remove from heat then add 5.5kg of dextrose or refined sugar, stir to dissolve and allow to cool to between 50-60 degrees celsius.
2. Transfer the entire contents into a fermentation bucket (no need to strain) then top up to 25 Litres with cold water, stir to mix and allow to cool to below 25 degrees celsius. 
3. Add Turbo Carbon – this is important to absorb impurities produced by the yeast during fermentation.
4. Add the Whisky Yeast and leave to ferment for 7 days at ideally 22 - 28 degrees celsius. Higher temperatures should be avoided. Using grain will create excessive foaming so place somewhere appropriate and don’t use an airlock (just rest fermenter lid loosely on bucket). During fermentation the AG enzyme (already contained within the Whisky Yeast sachet) will finish the job of converting the starch into fermentable sugars to maximise your yield.
5. After fermentation, add Turbo Clear to remove >99% of the solids (spent carbon / yeast cells and other fermentation solids). Don’t worry if the wash remains hazy after treatment with Turbo clear – it’s more important that the wash doesn’t sit on the spent yeast and solids for >24hrs rather than trying to remove the last 1% solids...so go ahead and distil the wash 1 day after adding Turbo clear even if still hazy.
6. Transfer the clear wash into the Turbo 500 boiler. It's important to use a the Still Spirits Alembic Pot Still to ensure the distillate is between 60% and 75% abv.
7. Once you’ve collected your distillate, dilute to 50% abv with good quality water then hold for three days in your fermentation bucket (make sure it's been thoroughly cleaned) adding one further sachet of Turbo Carbon. Stir twice daily then allow the activated carbon to settle on day 3 before fine filtering through a coffee or wine filter. Do not pass through activated carbon column filter as this will remove too much of the character from your whisky.
8. Dilute to 40% abv with good quality water, bottle with oak chips, cubes or chunks to allow oak flavour development and leave to smooth for at least 12 months. The addition of SS Classic Whiskey essence will also produce a much richer whiskey style.

Please note: It’s illegal to distil alcohol for consumption in Australia without a license from the Customs & Excise Department.