Making your own charcoal moonshine filters is a fairly straightforward process that requires some basic supplies and a bit of DIY know-how. To start off, you’ll need a couple of pieces of mesh material such as window screen.
This mesh material will act as the base to construct the moonshine filter, so make sure it is strong and will be able to handle the pressure of the liquid running through it. You can also make use of any food-grade plastic material, such as a piece of tubing, to form the filter.
Once you have these materials ready, the next step is to gather your charcoal. The charcoal used in these filters should be of a high grade and not the common BBQ briquettes. This is to make sure that no impurities are released into your moonshine as it passes through the filter.
Charcoal granules, pellets, and powder can all work, but the granules will last the longest.
Once you have the granules, you need to place them into the mesh material or plastic tubing, making sure to layer them in an alternating pattern. This should involve creating a layer of the charcoal granules, followed by a layer of the mesh material, and so on.
Keep layering the charcoal and mesh until the filter reaches the desired height, making sure not to compress the charcoal too much. Finally, you can bind the two ends of the filter together with some strong string or tape, and you’re good to go!.
Your charcoal filter is now ready to use. The number of layers and the amount of charcoal used will depend on the type of moonshine you’re distilling. The more layers or amount of charcoal you use, the finer the filtration will be and the higher quality spirit you should end up with.
Be sure to test and adjust your filter depending on what you’re distilling.
What kind of charcoal is used to filter moonshine?
Activated charcoal is typically used to filter moonshine. Activated charcoal is made from charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to make it porous, which increases its surface area and makes it more efficient at filtering impurities.
It can be used to filter out impurities in moonshine and increase its clarity, as well as remove any unpleasant tastes and odors from the product. Additionally, activated charcoal can help remove trace metals such as lead, iron, and zinc, which can be found in some homemade moonshine.
Activated charcoal is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, making it a popular choice for filtering. It is also an environmentally friendly and natural option, as it is made from a renewable source and can be reused multiple times.
Can you run moonshine through a Brita filter?
No, it is not recommended to run moonshine through a Brita filter. Although the Brita filter does remove some impurities, it is not designed for more serious filtration needs, such as for moonshine. To properly filter moonshine, one should invest in a dedicated moonshine still, which utilizes a much more intensive type of filtration than a Brita filter.
These stills remove not only impurities, but also some of the flavors and colors, allowing for a much smoother and clear final product. Additionally, the filters in a moonshine still are made of an activated carbon which has a higher filtering power than Brita filters.
Therefore, it is not recommended to run moonshine through a Brita filter.
How do you strain moonshine?
Straining moonshine involves the use of a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth, and a funnel. To begin, line a strainer or funnel with the cheesecloth, and then place it over a large container. Slowly pour your moonshine through the cloth and strainer -be sure to give it enough time to completely strain out any impurities or sediment.
Once the moonshine has been strained, you can discard the cloth used to strain it out or save it for reuse. If you are narrowing down batches of moonshine, you can also use a more specialized device like aHydraCell to remove particles as small as 5 microns.
Just add the moonshine to the top of the HydraCell and it will come out of the bottom, filtered and ready for use.
Make sure to use the proper tools to strain your moonshine, as this could greatly affect the taste of your final product. Cleanliness is essential when making moonshine, so make sure to wash your tools and equipment before using them.
If done properly, the end result should be a smooth and crystal-clear moonshine.
Should you filter mash before distilling?
Yes, it is important to filter mash before distilling. Filtration helps you ensure that there are no solids or extraneous particles in the mash that can potentially be carried over into the final product, causing off flavors or foreign matter.
Filtration also helps to reduce the size of the suspended particles. This will allow the alcohol vapor to move through the mash more efficiently, reducing distillation time and increasing yield. The type of filter you use can vary depending on the type of material that you are distilling and the desired level of filtration for your product.
For example, organic materials may require stronger filtration, such as a multi-media filter system, or sentinel filter, to remove any microbes or particles that may remain. Other forms of filtration, such as sieving, can be used to quickly remove large pieces of particulate matter, but may not be able to remove the small particulates that can affect the flavor of the final product.
What happens when you put charcoal in water?
When you put charcoal in water, it can act as a filter, as the tiny pores of the charcoal trap sediment, bacteria, and other particles inside and absorb water-soluble molecules and ions. Charcoal also reduces the acidity of water, making it more alkaline.
Charcoal can also absorb toxins, such as heavy metals, and organic compounds, such as chlorine, from the water. In addition, it helps to remove odors, making the water taste better. Charcoal is also capable of removing some harmful gases from the water, improving the air quality too.
Finally, as charcoal particles dissolve in the water, it can release small amounts of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, improving the quality of the water and promoting general good health.
Do you have to filter distilled alcohol?
Yes, distilled alcohol needs to be filtered before it can be consumed. This is because during the distillation process, impurities and sediments can be left behind in the final product. These impurities can give the distilled alcohol a bad taste or make it unsafe to drink.
Filtering the distilled alcohol removes these impurities, making it taste better and safer to drink.
Does vodka need to be filtered?
Yes, vodka usually needs to be filtered to remove impurities that could affect the quality of the spirit or its taste. Vodka is usually filtered several times during the production process to ensure it meets certain criteria.
Depending on the vodka, it is sometimes filtered through charcoal, a variety of natural minerals, or synthetic materials. This process helps neutralize undesirable flavors and odors, and also removes any sediment from the vodka.
The degree of filtration also depends on the brand of vodka and varies from one distillery to another. It is important to note that some vodka does not undergo the filtering process, going straight from the still to the bottle.
This type of vodka is generally considered to be of lower quality.
How many times is Tito’s vodka filtered?
Tito’s vodka is filtered a total of 6 times. This multi-step process begins with the distillation of corn mash, followed by filtration through continuous carbon filtering and filtering again over loose charcoal.
The vodka is then distilled again, this time using a copper still called “Old Hank,” and then filtered a fourth time. The vodka is then run through another distillation process in a still called “Little Thumper” to increase the proof and to make the flavor more palatable.
Finally, the vodka is filtered a sixth time through a porous ceramic filter to attain Tito’s signature smoothness.
