When distilling spirits, the first critical step is creating a wash. This mixture of water, grains, sugar, and yeast forms the foundation of your final product. If you're ready to scale up your wash recipe for a 50-gallon still run, this guide will help you adjust your ingredients properly, prepare your wash, and ensure a successful fermentation.

Understanding the Basics of Wash

Before jumping into scaling your recipe, it's essential to understand the ingredients that form a wash. Typically, a wash consists of four main components: water, grains, sugar, and yeast. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in fermentation, leading to alcohol production.

Here's a quick breakdown:

• Water: Acts as a solvent, dissolving sugars and providing a habitat for yeast.

• Grains: Supply essential starches that yeast converts into sugars during fermentation. For instance, 100 pounds of corn can yield over 7 gallons of whiskey after distillation.

• Sugar: Enhances alcohol content. Adding just 10 pounds of sugar can increase your final alcohol yield by about 1.5%.

• Yeast: The catalyst that transforms sugars into alcohol. The type of yeast can significantly affect flavor and fermentation speed.

  
  

Scaling Up Your Recipe

To create a 50-gallon batch of wash, you need to scale up your existing recipe. For example, if your current recipe for 30 gallons calls for 27 pounds of grains and 6 tablespoons of yeast, use this as a guide.

To calculate the amounts for a 50-gallon batch, multiply your original ingredients by a scaling factor of 1.67. Here’s how that looks:

• Grains: 27 pounds x 1.67 = approximately 45 pounds

• Yeast: 6 tablespoons x 1.67 = approximately 10 tablespoons

• Water: 50 gallons of water

  
  

By using these adjusted quantities, your wash will maintain its original flavor and fermentation characteristics.

Preparing Your Wash

With your adjusted ingredients in hand, it's time to prepare your wash. Ensure you have a container that can hold at least 50 gallons, such as a food-grade plastic or stainless steel vessel.

1. Combine the Ingredients: Begin by pouring 50 gallons of water into your container. Carefully add the 45 pounds of grains, stirring well to keep everything submerged. Finally, sprinkle in the 10 tablespoons of yeast evenly over the mixture.

   
   

2. Temperature Check: Yeast thrives best between 70°F and 85°F. If your water is too hot, it may kill the yeast; if it’s too cold, fermentation will slow down. Using a thermometer can help you maintain optimal conditions.

   
   

3. Mix Thoroughly: With a large paddle, mix the ingredients well to evenly distribute the yeast throughout the wash, encouraging a robust fermentation process.

   
   

Fermentation Process

Fermentation is the next step after preparing your wash. This process usually takes about a week but can vary based on factors like temperature and yeast strain.

1. Cover the Container: Protect your wash from contamination by covering the container with a clean cloth or lid. This setup allows gases to escape while keeping out unwanted debris.

   
   

2. Monitor Fermentation: Check your wash daily for signs of bubbling, which indicates active fermentation. You should also notice a rising aroma of alcohol after a few days. If bubbling decreases and the smell intensifies, your wash likely indicates readiness for distillation.

   
   

3. Siphoning the Wash: Once fermentation is complete, siphon the liquid (wash) into your still. Be cautious to leave behind the sediment settled at the container's bottom, as this can affect the flavor of your final product.

   
   

Distilling Your Wash

Now that your wash is siphoned into the still, it's time to distill. This crucial step separates alcohol from the wash.

1. Set Up Your Still: Ensure your still is clean and properly assembled. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for best practices.

   
   

2. Heat the Wash: Gradually heat the wash. As the temperature rises, alcohol will evaporate and travel through the still's condenser, where it cools and condenses back into liquid.

   
   

3. Collect the Distillate: Pay close attention as distillation progresses, collecting the distillate in clean containers. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a smooth flow.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Scaling up your wash recipe for a 50-gallon still run is a manageable process that requires careful measurement and attention to detail. By understanding the ingredients that make up your wash and following these detailed steps, you can create a successful batch yielding high-quality spirits.

The key to a great wash lies in balancing your ingredients and ensuring a robust fermentation process. With practice and patience, you'll soon master the art of distillation. Enjoy the journey of brewing!