tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post5029757885574708260..comments2024-03-19T20:31:23.141-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: Also, You Can't Make Vodka in a Pot StillChuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-73563256950499650822024-01-29T16:51:45.936-06:002024-01-29T16:51:45.936-06:00The only relevant tradition is this. It's very...The only relevant tradition is this. It's very hard to achieve neutrality using alembics. It can take ten distillations or more. But you can achieve something <i>close</i> to neutrality with fewer distillations, so it wasn't so much that people <i>intended</i> flavor as that they didn't have the technology to eliminate it entirely. Alembic users will tell you alembics are superior, but they aren't, although if you want neutrality a column still will get you there much more easily. Both types, and the myriad variations of both, can get to the same place.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-55477412384371086182024-01-29T11:40:54.334-06:002024-01-29T11:40:54.334-06:00I was under the impression that the eastern tradit...I was under the impression that the eastern tradition of vodka production intends the product to retain more flavor so it can be drank straight, rather pursuing a more flavorless ideal for mixing in the western tradition, and this was achieved with a pot still, in brands like Zubrowka. Was I misinformed? What else am I missing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-23057153214858253172022-06-07T20:15:17.992-05:002022-06-07T20:15:17.992-05:00I know this is dead but I had to comment isn't...I know this is dead but I had to comment isn't, a column still essentially just a bunch of pots still on top of each other, it seems like it would be possible to just create a big chain of pot stills. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-40069977200306323952018-12-18T16:35:47.598-06:002018-12-18T16:35:47.598-06:00Let's put the NGS definitions in the US aside ...Let's put the NGS definitions in the US aside for a minute. "Vodka" - the traditional distilled spirit of "certain Eastern Slavic peoples" was being gulped long before the continuous column still was designed. It may have varied in purity, clarity and strength. Maybe it wasn't even called "vodka" centuries ago (Smirnoff's original labels in Russian stated "table wine number 21", although these numbers varied). "Bread wine" was also a term. If we assume that's where the tradition of vodka comes from, it is also important to acknowledge that flavor was never a feature - only lack thereof - smoothness, purity, lack of bad hangovers, etc. Trying to cast vodka as some premium rustic craft spirit capable of being appreciated by connoisseurs is... well, disingenuous, it just doesn't pass muster. True, vodka has rustic "craft" origins but it is much better coming from industrial quality control. Just like today's mass-produced automobiles are better than rustic wagons and buggies of centuries ago.<br /><br />Traditional vodka is all about the "chaser" foods that follow :) And yes, it's possible to enjoy it that way in moderation, as intended.<br /><br />Personally, though, I much prefer whisk(e)y :)<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-67332251929467467692017-11-16T19:25:13.499-06:002017-11-16T19:25:13.499-06:00So, what exactly is the difference between a Popov...So, what exactly is the difference between a Popov vodka and Belvedeere or Grey Goose?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-69437329218691800642017-10-31T19:20:51.675-05:002017-10-31T19:20:51.675-05:00I don't fault Tito for his success. Glad to s...I don't fault Tito for his success. Glad to see an American business do well. I do wish there was a little more truth and a lot less flannel in US marketing. But you can't blame him. Look at ads for soap. In a pinch I can use a trial size body wash to shower, wash my hair, and shave. I have done it while camping. But if you watch the ads I would need a dozen products to accomplish those three tasks. No different.Charles_in_TNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07344162091777155793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-14828169885490831852017-10-29T00:55:35.696-05:002017-10-29T00:55:35.696-05:00Tito is a mad, marketing, adult (Beveridge) genius...Tito is a mad, marketing, adult (Beveridge) genius. He's even quoted in FORBES - and cited here by Chuck C.<br /><br />"First he had to face down the law. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission told him Texas had never licensed a distillery, since the laws wouldn't permit it. So Beveridge dug into the 3-inch-thick codebook and proved there was no such statute. The state deferred to the feds, who also said no; it could license only companies. Nope, Beveridge said, citing the reg, chapter and verse, to confirm that one-man shows were okay. "It was my bible for a while," he says."<br /><br />TITO studied the Regulations like the TORAH/BIBLE and built a bleeping empire in 20 years. Son of a *****. Only in America. Only an American Entrepreneur. Only in Texas.<br />.<br />PS -- I bleeping hate vodkaMadMexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-14202267666216707912017-10-27T20:12:55.380-05:002017-10-27T20:12:55.380-05:00wow, i would have assumed much more than that. th...wow, i would have assumed much more than that. thanks for keeping it real...potsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247030727260970229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-11271959937103532112017-10-27T13:50:18.386-05:002017-10-27T13:50:18.386-05:00Not 500,000, as that one has done. Usually a coupl...Not 500,000, as that one has done. Usually a couple thousand.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-72152157059808346322017-10-27T00:29:10.223-05:002017-10-27T00:29:10.223-05:00Chuck I'm curious, how many pageviews does one...Chuck I'm curious, how many pageviews does one of your typical blog postings get?potsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02247030727260970229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-56306102674475389082017-10-25T13:39:38.411-05:002017-10-25T13:39:38.411-05:00"Well, I prefer the bouquet of Belevedere, bu..."Well, I prefer the bouquet of Belevedere, but it's a bit too pricey for me at the moment. Maybe at the end of the month."Brian McDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903146232648812210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-43957063363122966092017-10-25T09:03:33.722-05:002017-10-25T09:03:33.722-05:00There is no legal requirement for Tito's or an...There is no legal requirement for Tito's or any other Fakeillery to bring their bulk purchased NGS back up to 96%, nor could they in a pot still even at 50 passes. What they and other fakeries are doing is complying with OSHA requirements to cut their NGS with enough tap water to not blow up their buildings when they reheat their mix. In most cases the remix will come over at the same proof as would a whiskey, which is usually around 140p. Although most of the reheaters are running it so fast, that even 100p will work. They just need to bring the pot above 175degreees and "let it rip" to comply with the CFR Standards of Identity.<br /><br />The rules that allow some consumer protection against this smoke and mirror scam is governed by the labeling CFR's. The TTB requires that if a company is going to reheat/redistill already produced NGS/Vodka, the redistiller is required to put a disclaimer on the back that says some derivation of : contains/made from 100% NGS/ Netural Grain Spirits. The next time you are in your friendly liquor store , or for that matter a craft distillery, just check the back of the vodka and Gin bottles. If it says 100% NGS, then it was more than likely produced by MGP ( you know them as the makers of the infamous Templeton Rye) for roughly 44cents per 750ml bottle. <br /><br />The only difference between bottom shelf vodka and Tito's is the customer. Kind of makes you wonder how gullible people really are. We occasionally have people come into our distillery and tell us they normally drink Tito's and we always ask "why". In at least 80% of the cases, they respond "because it's cheap". We don't have the heart to tell them that if their desire is cheap NGS, they should just bend over further in the liquor store. It hard to say that to people who are already bent over, getting something stuck up their.......<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-81989018279741919152017-10-24T13:21:28.880-05:002017-10-24T13:21:28.880-05:00A lot of this stuff is marketed at the kind of pop...A lot of this stuff is marketed at the kind of pop culture fans, especially fans of rock and hip-hop, who have odd ideas about "authenticity". Odd and naïve. I know because I used to be one of them. They (we) pick it up from certain magazines and TV stations, and now web sites. Nowadays I at least realize that Old Fashioneds are GOOD when made well. With real bourbon, not "legal moonshine". :)Brian McDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00903146232648812210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-90556733672148590092017-10-24T06:33:48.691-05:002017-10-24T06:33:48.691-05:00You can get 96% alcohol from a simple pot still in...You can get 96% alcohol from a simple pot still in a single pass. <br />You can 96% from a funnel or a siphon too. <br />All you need to do is to start with 96% NGS.<br />I assume Tito's process is to dilute his store-bought NGS from it's initial strength of 96% by adding enough water to reduce the ABV to about 50%, and then to run it though a pot still with packed columns, bringing the abv back to 96% in a single pass. <br />But who knows, maybe he does not bother to bring it back all the way up to 96% abv, despite the legal requirement to do that. Since Tito'e entire business practice is to fool the consumer, it is reasonable to me that he is also fooling the regulators. <br />By the way, filling a still with a 96% abv NGS presents several practical challenges, top among which is that is would be very dangerous. Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15686105743046768902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-80439979050605945812017-10-23T13:49:33.723-05:002017-10-23T13:49:33.723-05:00Completely agree Ricky, we faced the same issue. T...Completely agree Ricky, we faced the same issue. Theoretically and technically it’s possible to achieve a pure and smooth 96% abv product, but commercially it doesn’t make any sense.Midashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10721332750011937281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-61641960699634481222017-10-23T04:10:32.525-05:002017-10-23T04:10:32.525-05:00Talk to me about it - as the founder of Valt Singl...Talk to me about it - as the founder of Valt Single Malt Vodka - I know from hard experience. Our first and original production was in a traditional copper pot still 5 times to get the strength up. It meant that our base cost was initially twice the price because of the malted barley, but then 5 times that - our cost was 10 times more expensive than the next "premium" grain vodka to produce... It was fun - but certainly not a commercial proposition and we now have an integrated pot and column still. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com