Turning Your Wash into Alcohol: A Beginner’s First Distillation

Introduction

You’ve fermented your sugar wash and it’s cleared and ready. Now comes the fun part: turning that wash into real, drinkable alcohol. In this guide, we’ll walk you through your first distillation using the AirMax Pure Fan Cooled Distillation System. Don’t worry — it’s easier than you think, and by the end, you’ll be collecting your first clean batch of homemade spirit.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Safety First: What You Must Know Before Distilling
• How Distillation Works (The Basics)
• Setting Up Your AirMax Pure
• Running Your First Distillation
• Collecting Alcohol: Heads, Hearts and Tails
• Clean-Up and Storage
• Next Steps and What Comes After

Safety First: What You Must Know Before Distilling

Distillation is perfectly safe when done correctly, but it involves heat, pressure, and alcohol vapours. Here are a few key safety tips:

• Always use your AirMax Pure in a well-ventilated area, on a stable, heat-safe surface.
• Never distil indoors without proper ventilation.
• Don’t leave the unit unattended while in operation.
• Keep away from open flames or smoking.

How Distillation Works (The Basics)

Distillation is the process of heating a liquid to create vapour and then cooling that vapour back into a liquid — in this case, alcohol. Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water, so by carefully controlling the heat, we can collect the alcohol as it separates from the wash.

Setting Up Your AirMax Pure

Before you begin, make sure everything is clean and ready. Here’s what to do:

• Ensure your AirMax Pure has been properly cleaned and rinsed after your last use.
• Place the distillation unit on a level surface and ensure the cooling fan is working.
• Fill the boiler with your cleared sugar wash (never overfill).
• Seal the lid and double check all connections.
• Plug the unit in and turn on the fan and heater as per the user manual.

Running Your First Distillation

Once the unit is heating, the wash will begin to boil and produce vapour. The AirMax Pure will condense this vapour back into liquid, which will drip steadily into your collection container. Here’s what to expect:

• After about 20–30 minutes, you’ll start to see the first drops.
• Use a thermometer if available to monitor vapour temperature.
• The first portion to come out is called the "heads" and can be redistilled in a future run.
• After that, collect the "hearts" — the cleanest, most drinkable part.
• The final portion, the "tails," may contain off-flavours and can be reused or discarded.

Collecting Alcohol: Heads, Hearts and Tails

Understanding the cuts is key to a clean spirit:

• Heads: The first 50–150ml (depending on batch size). Contains volatile compounds. Discard.
• Hearts: The good stuff — smooth, clean and desirable. Collect and store separately.
• Tails: The end run — oily, less clean. Stop collecting when the output smells off or drops below 20% ABV.

Make clean cuts and label your jars. Taste and smell will guide you more than anything.

Clean-Up and Storage

After distilling:

• Turn off and unplug the unit. Let it cool before opening and cleaning.
• Rinse all parts with warm water (no harsh chemicals).
• Dry thoroughly and store with the lid off to prevent condensation.
• Store your spirit in a sealed, food-grade bottle. Let it air for 24–48 hours before tasting or blending.

Next Steps and What Comes After

Now that you’ve successfully distilled your first batch, you can start exploring flavours, infusions, ageing, or even crafting liqueurs. We’ll cover all that in future articles. For now, enjoy the clean taste of your first homemade spirit.