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Alcohol Yields
How Much Alcohol Will a Still Produce?
The amount of alcohol produced by a still depends on starting alcohol and final proof. In this article we'll explain how a commercial distiller would determine how much alcohol to expect from a run.
For the instant gratification seekers in the crowd, here's the short answer:
- A 1 gallon run will yield 3-6 cups of alcohol
- A 5 gallon run will yield 1-2 gallons of alcohol
- A 8 gallon run will yield 1.5-3 gallons of alcohol
- A 10 gallon run will yield 2-4 gallons of alcohol
For the researchers, science nerds, alchemists, and truth seekers, here's why:
Starting Alcohol
Starting alcohol can vary significantly, having a big impact on the final yield. Starting alcohol is generally expressed as "alcohol by volume" or ABV. It's simply the percentage of alcohol in a solution of alcohol wash. For example a 10 gallon wash that contains 1 gallon of pure alcohol will have an ABV of 10%. The higher the starting alcohol, the higher the potential yield.
The starting alcohol of a wash is dependent on two things: the amount of fermentable sugar produced by the mash, or added in lieu of making a mash, and the type of yeast used.
Fermentable sugar
Fermentable sugar is exactly what it sounds like - the amount of sugar available to be eaten by yeast that can later be turned into alcohol. If there isn't very much sugar then there won't be much alcohol. However, too much sugar is wasteful. The amount of sugar needed depends on the recipe, the size of the batch, and the potential alcohol production by the yeast. Though, in general, the more fermentable sugar there is in the mash, the higher the potential starting alcohol and the higher the yield.
Yeast
The type of yeast used is very important as well. Bread yeast (the kind that can be purchased at a grocery store) will produce starting alcohol in the 10% range, whereas a strong distillers yeast may produce starting alcohol as high as 20%. This is due to two factors. First, distillers yeast has been bred to withstand higher concentrations of ambient alcohol. Where a bread yeast might die off once starting alcohol has reached 10 or 12%, a distillers yeast will still thrive, and will do so until ambient alcohol has increased to a much higher level (20% or so). Second, some distillers yeasts are packaged with loads of yeast nutrients i.e. Turbo 24, 48, etc. This can actually be a bad thing, as the excess nutrients contained in turbo yeasts can cause off flavors in the final product. Checkout our article "Bourbon, Whiskey, Vodka and Moonshine - How Much Yeast?" for more information on yeast.
In short, good yeast will allow for a higher starting alcohol and a greater final yield without producing off flavors.
Final Proof
Final proof can also have a significant impact on yield. If 10 gallons (with a starting alcohol of 10%) is distilled, the amount of pure alcohol collected will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1 gallon. However, the collected spirit won't be 100% pure (200 proof). It usually gets proofed down to somewhere around 100 proof, or 50% pure alcohol. While the total amount of alcohol collected remains the same, there is now twice as much "product" and the "yield" is doubled. The higher the final proof, the lower the final yield, the lower the final proof, the higher the final yield.
Collection efficiency
One final note is that all of the alcohol produced during fermentation will not be collected during the run. Generally only about 85 or 90% is collected because it takes too much time and energy to get the last little bit...and it isn't the good stuff anyway. For example, if there is 1 gallon of pure alcohol in a wash and it is distilled with a collection efficiency of 85%, then .85 gallons will be collected.
Here are a few examples of yields that a commercial distiller can expect when running 1, 5, or 10 gallon test batches:
- A 1 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 10%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 2.72 cups.
- A 1 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 20%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 5.44 cups.
- A 5 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 10%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield .85 gallons.
- A 5 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 20%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 1.7 gallons.
- A 8 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 10%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 0.89 gallons.
A 8 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 20%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 1.79 gallons. - A 10 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 10%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 1.7 gallons.
- A 10 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 20%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 3.4 gallons.
I just finished running my first batch of corn mash, 4lbs corn mash, 4lbs sugar 4.5 gallons water, 3 teaspoons analyse ensyme, 4 of the small packages of bread yeast. my question is if can you let the mash set up to long to where the yield is low? I checked with a hydrometer each quart as the run was being run the first qt was 140, 2nd qt 110, 3rd 90 then the proof fell way off below 20 however there was still approximately 3 gallons of mash left, is it possible that the mash set to long prior to being able to run the mash? due to uncontrollable circumstances the mash had to set for a month prior to being able to run it.
I tried to make a corn mash first time 5 lbs. of cracked corn 4gal. Water 4 lbs. super but yeast seemed to of died very soon maybe by first day can I add more yeast an start fermentation over again
Looking at purchasing a 120 gal electric moonshine still. I am figuring I will get around 35-40 gallons of nice shine. We don’t have a lot of money as we r a small family farm and was wondering do I need to buy a separate still for making essential cannabis oils? Or Can I use one still to make oils and shine? Do u ever have any deals or sales on 120 gal moonshine and esential oil stills? I wish ur answers to all the other peoples questions were on here. Please get back with me as soon as u can. Thank u
I just got my 5 gal still and going to make a sugar mash with 15lbs of sugar to 5 gallons of water, I realize with so much sugar i will need good yeast but to stop fermentation will i need an additive so it will not taste like yeast,?? and do i need a clearing agent.??
There are a lot of questions here I would love to know the answers to, but I don’t see any replies, where do I go to see the replies?
What exactly should moonshine taste like, ive done three batches the first batch tasted like hell, the sexond batch tasted like hell the yhird batch i added some cherry koolaide and you got a very small hint of cherry.can i add apples or anything that will make ittaste better.
5-GALLON COPPER MOONSHINE STILL: POURED 5 GALLONS OF FILTERED CORN MASH INTO STILL, STARTED A RUN AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A RUSH OF LIQUID MASH THAT FILLED TWO QUART JARS WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. THE TEMP WAS NOT OVER 173 YET. LOWERED THE TEMP AND RE-HEATED THE STILL AND THEN PRODUCED A GOOD RUN. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SUDDEN OVER-FLOW?
Thanks
I have a question for you. I bought a 1 gallon still from your company and am currently assembling it. I have a small problem though, I very little use of my left hand due to a gunshot wound I received in Afghanistan. The soldering is very difficult for me. My question is can I use an electric soldering gun to solder the still together or will I not get the same outcome than if I used the torch and solder?
Thank you for you time and help
Sgt Gerard Miller
1/504 parachute infantry regiment
I feel This is not a complete answer, because you only want to use the Hearts of what is produced which is 30% – 40% of your run, not the heads or the tails. also the size of the still may be 10 gallons, but that is the maximum capacity not the operating capacity which is approximately 80% of the maximum capacity.
That means your amount of hearts will be 2.4 -3.2 gallons in a 10 gallon still.
how much will 50.gallons of mash make into shine?
I am New to shining and currently running about 2.5 gals of mash at a time. Roughly how much foreshot and head should I get off a run. I been throwing out about 4 oz just to be sure as far as the foreshot but I am still trying out figure out how much head I will get from the run so I am not throwing out good liquor
Hi..I live in Brisbane Australia and want to buy some of your Oak Barrel Kits.
For me to determine shipping costs to Australia from a USA Address (Relative living in Hanford CA)I need to know the weight of the package shipped from Clawhammer and also the Package dimensions.
My sister in CA will then ship to Brisbane when I can determine the shipping cost to Australia based on weight and dimensions of the article,
Thanks Guys….your products are brilliant!
Mike
Question to all you veteran shinners.
I have a 55 gal. Plastic drum like the ones josh uses on moonshinners.
What size bag of corn and sugar do I use assuming I’m filling the drum 85% full with water.
Also how much distiller yeast should be added
Much thanks in advance to how can help me out
God bless
Hit me up at:
mussman63@aol.com
When and how does proofed down happen ??
First timer looking to make vodka, looking to buy USA built.
all this information is really for new distillers or dummys. if some people can’t understand some sites that tries to explain how moonshine or the mash works this is the perfect site for them to read because it in layman’s terms and not in some lingo that new distillers don’t understand. great work on this web site, and thank you so much…
As I understand it, mash is basically the same as wine’—same process anyway. I’ve heard you can’t make wine over 18% alcohol so the 20% isn’t realistic although it still gives a good idea.
I really like all the info on the how to section, information is so hard to find… From what I see your site is above the rest and what makes it so nice is that you kept it simple… Are there any plans of producing a 20 or 30 gallon set up???
Thanks
I Watched your assembly video for a 5 gal. Still a cpl times. How do you fill the boiler with mash? What did I miss ?
Totally different.. If a person uses a ss pressure cooker.. Would adding a sheet of coper around the inside of the pressure cooker do anything to help with the sulfities.
Thank you.