Bentonite Revisited. Great finings for your wash, helps create clean spirit

Bentonite is volcanic ash that has been recovered from the sea bed. Many companies give a small amount of bentonite in their wine kits so you can add it with all other ingredients.
If you are making a wash for your Air Still, T500, Love Brewing Boiler, Digi Boiler, Grain Father or really any other boiler, then this is for you!
If you want to give it a try, buy Calcium Bentonite. I buy mine from Amazon, ebay or other marketplaces. It should be available from your local brewing store, but could be 10 times the price.

[@karlosss1868]

I've discovered different types of bentonite work better than others. The grey stuff isn't as good as the brown stuff (Not sure if any of them are calcium or not as the containers don't say). I've had great results with just one application (20ml in 1 litre of boiling water in a blender then leave for 1 hr). and add to the wash, mix with a paint stirrer & drill then leaving it for 48 hrs. The wash looks virtually like water. Unfortunately my supplier has gone into liquidation so I need to find another brand that works well. I tried some from a health food shop but it didnt clear the wash at all. For me, the yeast I use won't clear by itself even if I cold crash, so for those wondering why people use it, thats why. Also from my tests, a clear wash tastes better in a "One & Done" distallation scenario.Overall, I've tried three types of bentonite with three vastly different results. I need to try your cold water method. Its got me curious.

[@brewingadvice]

Hi @karlosss1868, thank you for your message. I use 'Fullers Earth' calcium bentonite which is sort of green/brown. Sometimes I need 1 dose, other times 2. When I first tried bentonite, I did use boiling hot water to hydrate the bentonite, but I then tried cold tap water, and found that I got quicker hydration rate with cold water. I haven't though tried using a blender. Yes, am sure that will speed up the hydration time as it it being moved around so fast. I brew out of a fridge, and have tried cold crashing to 3c for 5 days, but like you, not a great deal of the yeast fell.

[@karlosss1868]

@@brewingadvice Thx... Your video has motivated me to write down some future tests to do. Will drop you another message when I have any info. I've read some people add about 2 teaspoons at the very start of a wash. I haven't tried that yet and not sure I will if I can get the results I used to. I got onto bentonite when the Turbo Clear I was using stopped being anywhere as good as it once was.

[@brewingadvice]

@@karlosss1868, you are more than welcome. Many wine kits come with a small amount of bentonite which they say to at the beginning. I have not tried it myself with a spirit wash, but it would be interesting to see if it helps, and how much.

[@karlosss1868]

@@brewingadvice I now have a new batch & will drop you a line when next do a brew with comparisons

[@brewingadvice]

@@karlosss1868 thank you very much. When I get time to, I might do some small 3 litre washes in my glass 5 litre demijohns and add varying amounts of bentonite into them to see how much it affects them.