Distiller's Gin: a step-by-step guide.

Creating delicious homemade gin is simple with our selection of specialised gin products. 

Once you've decided on the style you'd like to make, you can choose from our range of Gin Botanicals (pictured below) or, alternatively, you can create your own botanical blend based on a custom recipe.

If you are using a T500 Distilling System or the Alembic Distilling System, we recommend using our Botanical Basket. If you are using an Air Still, you should use the Air Still Infusion Basket. The Air Still Pro comes with a botanical basket. A whole pack of Gin Botanicals is used with the Botanical Basket, approximately half a pack (30-35 g) is used with the Air Still Infusion Basket or the Air Still Pro.

Now that you've chosen your botanicals, it's time to make your gin wash! So let's get started...

You will need:

• 25 L (6.6 US Gal) Fermenter with air lock
• Hydrometer

• 6 kg Sugar ((sucrose) 13 lb) or 6.6 kg Dextrose (14.5 lb)
• 20 g Distiller’s Yeast – Gin
• 150 g Distiller’s Nutrient – Light Spirits
• Turbo Carbon (Optional)
• Turbo Clear (Optional)
• Gin Botanicals 

• Distilling system

• Large collection vessel 5 L (1.3 US Gal)
• Alcometer
• Carbon filter system
• 20 Smaller collection vessels (jars) 150 ml (5 US fl oz)

Method:

Making the wash:

1. Add 21 L (5.5 US Gal) of water at approximately 30°C (86°F) to your cleaned and sanitised fermenter.
2. Add 6 kg (13 lb) sucrose or 6.6 kg (14.5 lb) dextrose to the water and stir until dissolved. You should now have approximately 25 L (6.6 US Gal) of sugar wash ready for fermentation. Add Turbo Carbon (if you wish) and stir well – this will adsorb impurities produced by the yeast during fermentation, improving the quality of your alcohol.
3. Shake the jar of Light Spirits Nutrient and measure out 150 g (5.3 oz). Add the Light Spirits Nutrient and Gin Yeast to the fermenter at the same time and stir well to dissolve. Fit your lid and airlock (half filled with previously boiled water).
4. Leave to ferment at 20-32°C (68-90°F) ambient temperature for optimum results.
5. Once your airlock stops bubbling, this indicates that fermentation is complete. This should happen within 7 days, provided the temperature has remained above 20°C (68°F) throughout fermentation. Using a hydrometer, check the Specific Gravity (SG), then check again 24 hours later to make sure it has stabilised.
6. Once the SG is stable, leave the wash to stand for 1-2 days to allow any remaining solids and yeast to settle out. Adding Turbo Clear at this stage will help speed up the clarification process.
7. Once settled, the gin wash is ready for distillation. Pour or syphon the wash into your distilling system leaving behind any sediment.

Stripping run:

Note: Alcohol by volume (ABV) indicated are a guide, this may require tweaking based on your distilling conditions.

1. For your first distillation (stripping run), we recommend using a reflux distilling system such as the T500 Distilling System or Air Still Pro. For your stripping run collect all of your distillate into the large collection vessel, collect until the spirit out is at 30% ABV. Note: Please refer to the instruction manual of your distillation unit for detailed instructions on distilling your spirit. 
2. After your first distillation, dilute your spirit to 40% ABV, you may also wish to filter your spirit through a carbon filter system to polish it for a smoother flavour.

Botanical run:

1. You are now ready for your botanical infusion distillation run. For the second distillation (botanical run), we recommend using a pot distilling system such as the Alembic Distilling System, Air Still or Air Still Pro. Note: Please refer to the instruction manuals for your distillation unit and botanical basket for detailed instructions on distilling your spirit.
2. First collect the foreshots using the recommendations in the instructions of your distilling system. This section contains the most harmful compounds present in the wash and should be discarded.
3. Then collect the heads. The heads contain a lot of the lower boiling point components as well as ethanol. As a guide the heads are spirit out above ~65% ABV. Collect these into separate small jars, and label them in an orderly fashion. Once distilling is complete decide whether they are suitable for the final spirit when blending the heads and tails into the hearts section.
4. It's time to start collecting the hearts. The hearts collected in the middle of the spirit run are the best part of the spirit and will form the base for which to blend with after distilling is complete. As a guide collect your spirit out from ~65% ABV down to ~40% ABV. This can be collected into one larger vessel.
5. Then collect the tails in separate jars, putting them to the side once full, just as was done when collecting the heads of the spirit. Collect the spirit out from ~40% ABV down to ~30% ABV.
6. The remaining spirit below 30% ABV is usually not suitable for collection due to the higher amount of botanical oils. Finish your botanical run once your spirit out is below 30% ABV. Air out your cuts for 24 hours before moving to blending.

Blending:

What you have collected are the heads, hearts and tails. The heads and the tails are stored in multiple separate jars, while the hearts are in one large container. The heads and the tails are collected in small sample fractions because not all of them will be suitable to mix with the hearts. Usually, the last few jars of the heads (closest to the hearts) and the first few jars of the tails (closest to the hearts) are good to add to the hearts, but each sample jar needs to be tasted and selected.

By collecting the heads and tails separately, less emphasis is placed on when to make the heads and tails cuts during distillation. Taste and smell each of the heads and tails fractions. You don't necessarily need to add the entire jar. Any unsatisfactory fraction samples from the heads and tails are not necessarily bad but need further refinement before being used in the final spirit.

Once you've finished blending dilute your spirit with clean drinking water down to your preferred ABV we recommend about 40% ABV and enjoy!

Head to your local Still Spirits stockist to pick up your ingredients and get distilling today.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that in certain countries alcohol distillation and the possession of distilling equipment is illegal and permits/licences may be required. For guidance or advice, contact your local relevant authorities.