Why we do a vinegar run

There is so much info out there about the vinegar run, but it's hard to find out WHY we do a vinegar run for a new moonshine still. There is a very specific reason, but you hardly ever hear it.
In this video, I go over the real reason and I show you just how important a steam clean is with video of the kind of gunk that comes out of a new still when you do a vinegar run.
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[@timothyjones9430]

This is the kind of video that is really helpful to a lot of people. Well done!

[@StillnTheClear]

Thanks for the kind words Timothy. We're glad you enjoyed it.

[@cliffp73]

I second this comment!

[@danielanthony1054]

oh yeah

[@thealembicdiary1814]

Great visual inside the bucket! That says it all. I love your set up

[@jadeholland5471]

Thank you so much! I just bought my first still and this helps so much!

[@StillnTheClear]

Jade, I'm so excited to hear that. You're going to have so much fun.

[@davidcoleman6211]

Thanks for the video. Straight forward and to the point. With the proof plain to see at the bottom of the bucket.

[@StillnTheClear]

Thanks. I'm glad you appreciate it.👍

[@terrylyn]

Just bought my first still, thank you for this advice.

[@StillnTheClear]

You bet. I'm glad you found it useful.

[@adamsoutdoors]

Working in on my first build. Good video for beginners/ first run. Thanks!

[@StillnTheClear]

Awesome. Thank you for the comment.

[@BugBooo-qr2yb]

Thank you brother!!!!!!much love ,,,,,, knowledge be given 😶💯

[@tomkat_Kansas]

Good advice on the heating element!

[@StillnTheClear]

Learned that lesson from you Tom

[@petersieben8560]

Excellent video contents and make are just great ! Thank you !

[@StillnTheClear]

Thanks Peter.

[@briand7285]

Great video for me as I got both pot and reflux to clean. Plus helps clean my 10 year old boiler. Take care Bri 🇬🇧👍

[@StillnTheClear]

Awesome, thank you for the comment.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Great vid and you are 100% correct Cheers!!

[@LWYOffGridHomestead]

Good to know...thanks

[@jamesglenn7373]

Really good info. Thanks

[@StillnTheClear]

Glad it was helpful, James!

[@billywaynehuggins8567]

Thank you for the info for a beginner I just starting and it really helps a lot thank you sir

[@StillnTheClear]

You bet, brother.

[@billywaynehuggins8567]

I am going to learn how on this one thanks to your info and I'll get a full copper still as soon as you teach me all of it hahaha but thank you very much

[@jimmelton7299]

Thanks for your reply

[@tomchristensen2914]

I would love to see a video on different setups. Like why and when you would use either a thumper, column, just a condenser etc. I get confused trying to figure if it is types of liquor you are running or what.

[@PaulJones-bo8gt]

Love it exactly what I needed

[@waynealexis7680]

Nice I'm in the middle finishing my diy still and thumper

[@dmorgan5010]

All of the people making liquor and videos you just covered the most important thing about making liquor is the cleaning process that no one covers

[@vaper6262]

Great info 👍

[@StillnTheClear]

Thank you.

[@dwilmot]

We do a vinegar run on all new coffee ☕ maker And once a month for mineral buildup.

[@jamesgrey8093]

Thanks!

[@StillnTheClear]

Thank you for the support 🙏

[@tinsoldier5621]

Very helpful information. How do you like the electric still as opposed to the propane or open fire stills

[@StillnTheClear]

My preference is propane, but it has more to do with the fact that I live off grid and produce my own electricity so watts are very valuable.

[@tinsoldier5621]

@@StillnTheClear Nice. I live in Los Angeles now but raised on a farm in Kansas. I'm set up to go off grid at any time. Thanks for responding.

[@jakeen7733]

I do a vinegar run, followed by a sacrificial alcohol run (sugar wash) followed by a straight distilled water run. The alcohol run is outside and only when breezy to be safe. Good video. Keep'em coming.

[@StillnTheClear]

Thanks. I'll keep on keep'n on.

[@dmorgan5010]

Ua I don't know if that vinegar run is the best way for vinegar is used to dissolve metal..maybe 1 gallon to ten gallon cooker anything stronger could possibly break down the copper if you are running a 50 gallon use 1 5 gallon bucket of working beer in the cooker and add everything else inside and let the beer work a few days before the run is ready this is a spray and washout method so it's ready when you are but soon as you get it cleaned dry it out to get started with assembly

[@AlvinLamkey]

Good explanation

[@bobbydavis3723]

They are asking about the condenser. To be cleaned. That's what they say is missing. ..love the show. How can I buy the grains n all you offer?

[@StillnTheClear]

Thanks. www.stillntheclear.com

[@VanillaAttila]

Should put the condenser on later on so that gets cleaned out too me thinks.

[@markell38115]

Question. Wouldn’t you want to clean the condenser pipe/line as well?

[@StillnTheClear]

This does clean the condenser. If you're talking about the water lines that cool the condenser then the answer is no, the vapor never comes into contact with the inside of the water lines..

[@kystfort]

what strenght in % would the vinager have to be? i have a 35% vinegar, or would i need a stronger one?

[@StillnTheClear]

You actually have a stronger one. A 1:1 mix of household vinegar (5% acidity) and water would be equal to a 7:1 mix of 35% vinegar and water.

[@RonGay58]

On your half, half, half rule, do you start timing the half hour from the start or when the steam is flowing? My guess would be the latter.

[@StillnTheClear]

I time it from the time the steam starts flowing.

[@dutchk9833]

If you clean a new pot still with the 551 technique, are vinegar and sacrificial runs needed?

[@StillnTheClear]

I still would because it's the steaming action that can really get the job done.

[@earlharrell8678]

I'm building a beer keg still it is stainless steel but the reflux is copper . Do I need to do a vinegar run?

[@StillnTheClear]

Yes, do a vinegar run on both stainless and copper. Thanks for the comment/question.

[@garywoody1843]

Do you have any recommendation on how to add a heating element to a pot?

[@StillnTheClear]

@@garywoody1843 are you talking about a stainless or copper pot?

[@jimmelton7299]

I've just got a 30 gal pot still bourbon ball , 10 gal thumper, an 5gal worm. What % of vinegar run to clean. I've got 3 gals of 45% acid vinegar. What % vinegar wash I need. The still is one from Copper Still Co. Added a 6in agitation port, an a heating element port. But useing a 200,000 btu gas burner till I get wired outlet for 220v.

[@StillnTheClear]

That sounds like a beautiful still. Adam is an amazing craftsman. Do a 1 to 1 ratio of water to vinegar.

[@jimmelton7299]

When I get an start the vinegar run, I send you some pictures of it.

[@freddieevansjr9623]

Would I need to do a vinegar run in a stainless steel still I got off of Amazon?

[@StillnTheClear]

Yes. Always do a vinager run and sacrificial run on a new still.

[@mikemenzies3046]

I dug out my still after a few years of not using it. 3gal mash pot. Did a vinegar run today, Could I get away without doing a sacrificial run? Or would the vinegar taste linger to much in the first real run?

[@StillnTheClear]

You should be fine without a sac run, but you may get some blue tint at the beginning of the run if you're running a copper still.

[@tomchristensen2914]

I asked the people who built my still and they said it's pretty clean and I don't need to clean it.. I'm going to follow your steps because apparently not everyone thinks it needs cleaned. But I have sweat copper before and I know it gets dirty

[@StillnTheClear]

Plus, how is cleaning it going to hurt anything, even if it's already 'pretty clean'?

[@tomchristensen2914]

@@StillnTheClear well I paid a lot of money for this so I will be doing it right.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@StillnTheClear I tried a vinegar run but was a waste of time I figure the sac run will get everything anyways, considering I washed the heck out of the still and soaked it overnight in a brewery wash solution anyways that would have dissolved any oils and crud for the most part.

[@StillnTheClear]

@@pilsplease7561 you should be fine.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@StillnTheClear Still paranoid as Im about to do a nice Rye that I would be pissed off if it got contaminated. For a small 5 gallon unit what kind of electric element would you recommend as I am trying to stick with electric for safety and ease of use.

[@elaineshoemaker8229]

Can you use oatmeal and cornmeal for some of your mix ?

[@StillnTheClear]

Sure you can.

[@user-vn6pg3dp5q]

What type of vinegar been looking for answer white vinegar or apple cider vinegar or does it matter

[@lil44haulem52]

I'd assume white would be cleaner with less additives. But that's just an assumption I'm not a likker scientist

[@matthewjmedeiros]

Do you need to rinse everything after the run is over?

[@StillnTheClear]

Not if you're going to follow up with a sacrificial run.

[@gregorymceaddy8884]

It kills the enzymes from the malt

[@KC-pj9ze]

I was wondering can you use your tails from the sacrificial run in your thumper for the next run or throw them?

[@StillnTheClear]

You can, as long as your tails are 80 proof or less.

[@KC-pj9ze]

@@StillnTheClear thank you!

[@brettsurrett4596]

Don't you need to clean the condenser too?

[@StillnTheClear]

This process does clean the condenser.

[@user-ef4ld7tg1b]

I have a 9.6 gallon vevor stainless steel still coming in. After I Do the vinegar run, do I need to do a sacrifice run if so how much wash do I put in

[@StillnTheClear]

I always recommend a vinegar run and a sac run on a new still regardless of the type of still. Ideally you would treat the sac run as a regular run. For a 9.6 gallon still this would be 7.5 to gallon run.

[@user-ef4ld7tg1b]

@@StillnTheClear thank you, and I did not know to put 7.5 for a regular run I really appreciate your help

[@StillnTheClear]

@@user-ef4ld7tg1b I did make a typo in that reply. It is 7.5 to 8 gallon.

[@user-ef4ld7tg1b]

@@StillnTheClear no problem thanks before I got your other message I had no clue how much to put, I was just gonna go an inch from the top. So your info helped me a lot

[@thenobelnatty]

I made the mistake of not cleaning and I got that crud in my moonshine...is it still safe to drink? Like will it kill me? I don't mind if it taste bad or whatever

[@StillnTheClear]

There's no telling what is in that run. That's why we call the first run a sacrificial run, because it's just a sacrifice. I would not drink it.

[@unclebuds3752]

How often should you do a vinegar run?

[@StillnTheClear]

I do a vinegar run on every new still and I do a vinegar run at the beginning of every season because my still might sit unused for 6 or 7 months collecting dust and patina.

[@brianmckibben2300]

Don't clean it out and get a pretty blue color out the other end after a while. I clean mine with water. hydrogen peroxide and citric acid called 5-5-1. It takes the Sulphur off the copper distilling leaves.

[@freddieevansjr9623]

What about the thumper?

[@orion7741]

this type of still does not use a thumper.

[@frlouiegoad4087]

Thank you: My first run was 90 proof. Just luck.

[@frlouiegoad4087]

I am no expert, I say it was just luck, luck often has nothing to do with skill. It was very good .

[@joshuajackson9118]

So, I'm going to do a vinegar run. Do i also need to do a sacrificial run?

[@StillnTheClear]

Yes, that is my recommendation.

[@joshuajackson9118]

@@StillnTheClear thank you!

[@skepticfucker280]

How many times till the vinigar taste goes away? I was given a small still and I'm trying to use for water distillation before anything else. Did vinigar wash and a rinse 3 times with water to get rid of all the build up but I've passed 2 half gallon runs of distilled water (pouring in 1 gall and distilling half) and the water coming out still has a vinigar smell, not so much taste but I don't want my "water" or "hypothetical wash" to have a vinigar smell or taste. Lol I'm thinking cheap pint of vodka test? Lol if the vodka rinse tastes like vinigar then probably the "water" will be too? I'm going to try another gallon of store bought water I think, cheaper then the cheap pint of vodka. Lol

[@StillnTheClear]

You should do a sacrificial run. Make an alcohol run to clear the smell.

[@skepticfucker280]

@@StillnTheClear ok, will do tomorrow. Thank you for the input, the "water distiller" has about a 1.5gal pot, think a pint of cheap vodka and an extra 750ml of distilled water would be good or should I juts pour the 80proof sacrifice in the pot and turn it off after distilling 40% of a pint? It's got "lab quality" controls ect, it's oil jacketed pot and says it has a 1.5° maximum temperature variation. For water I just been turning it up to 212c but the online instructions say run at 175f-185f for liquor, should I just run it as if it's water? Sry about all the questions, I'm just trying to get as much information from people that know more then I ever will as maybe to avoid some stupid mistakes before I make them (cause I will make them).

[@StillnTheClear]

@@skepticfucker280 just make a run with 80 proof and run it down as far as you like.

[@poboy942]

Every single time you make an ounce of whiskey, distilled water or whatever you might be doing ,it is a direct reflection on the operator.. If you aren't the best at following directions or arent as worried about safety as maybe you should be then this may not be the hobby for you. Sterilization and absolute cleanliness, at all times are the most, important parts of this hobby. You never want to make a batch of whatever it is you like to make and someone get sick or see debris in your finished product. It is 100% serious 100% of the time. People that mess with these distilleries and screw around doing other things worry me to death because you must be attentive to the task at hand...Never loan your distilling equipment to someone else either... that could end in disaster if they dont know what they are doing..

[@orion7741]

dude, you are thinking of beer and wine. yeah, those need sterilization in everything. but not for spirits. seriously, it really does not matter at all because the distilled spirit sterilizes everything it touches. bro, you think you know alot, but your comment just shows how ignorant you are and that you truly dont know anything about distilling. its people like you that have no business around distilling....

[@Rue2love]

Hard and fast huh ? 😂❤

[@StillnTheClear]

😂😂

[@benadams1661]

That's not the way to do it bud you should have everything attached, you want it as if you were actually going to run a regular wash

[@StillnTheClear]

I'm curious, which part do you think is missing?

[@Offishal_Lifestyle]

I have everything for an electric setup the only thing holding me back is needing a 30a 240v GFCI protected circuit (according to the manufacturer) how did you accomplish this?

[@StillnTheClear]

I used a 120v element. I had no need for a 240v breaker.

[@Offishal_Lifestyle]

@@StillnTheClear right on I think I overcommitted lol!!! Jumped in with both feet like a wise man once said on you tube 😂. I’ll get it done!!!

[@StillnTheClear]

@@Offishal_Lifestyle what size is your still? It may be simpler to change elements.