Do fusel oils freeze? The effect of fusel oils on moonshine, wine and other drinks

Fusel oils are the main substance in any alcoholic beverage. It is they who affect the aroma, shade, taste, as well as how strong the hangover will be after drinking such a drink.

Many people believe that such impurities are considered an undesirable component of alcohol, as they harm human health and spoil the taste.

In fact, everything is much more complicated - in some cases, their presence, on the contrary, is considered necessary. In addition, if you properly clean it, then you can get rid of harmful compounds.

Fusel oils

Fusel oils are a group of compounds of a toxic type that have a light yellowish or reddish brownish tint. They have an oily texture. They are a by-product from the fermentation of starchy, sugar or fruit raw materials in alcohol.

Fusel oils are a by-product that must be removed.

To get such compounds at home, you just need to pour moonshine into a spoon that has not been cleaned. Then set fire to it and wait until the burning stops. A small amount of liquid will remain in the spoon. It has an unpleasant odor. In the people it is called - sivuha. You can also notice oils if you use a special steamer in a moonshine still.

Those substances that are filtered out during rectification (that is, during the industrial production of alcohol and similar drinks) are not waste.

They are then used in the production of amyl alcohol, which is used as a solvent in the confectionery and dairy industries. About what fusel oils are, see this useful and interesting video:

In the finished drink, the concentration of fusel oils differs depending on the raw materials, yeast used, fermentation, temperature conditions, and production technology. Such substances are present in a certain concentration in any drink, they affect its taste. For example, in vodka their concentration is from 5 to 15 mg/l. In beer, the indicator is approximately from 25 to 100 mg / l. For wine, the norm is from 100 to 650 mg / l. In cognac, the indicator is 2 thousand mg / l, and in whiskey - in general 6 thousand mg / l. But without fusel oils, all these products are not considered alcoholic beverages - these are just ordinary alcohol solutions. On the other hand, with an excessively large number of such compounds, severe poisoning occurs and, as a result, a hangover.

It is difficult to single out the benefits and harms of fusel oils, as it depends on their content in moonshine.

It is harmful substances that need to be removed from alcohol, and safe ones should be left, because it is they that give the drink a recognizable taste and aroma.

Cleaning moonshine with potassium permanganate

Many people who are engaged in moonshine are interested in the question of how to clean moonshine from fusel oils. The most popular method is the use of potassium permanganate. There are 2 main methods, but not all people consider potassium permanganate to be a harmless and effective remedy. The fact is that manganese then precipitates along with other impurities, so that it does not take away all the harmful substances. However, this is not the most terrible moment.

Cleaning moonshine with manganese is not the safest way

Scientists have proven that potassium permanganate is considered an oxidizing agent that reacts with ethanol and releases dangerous alkalis and substances. When the oxidative process of potassium permanganate in moonshine is activated, a very complex alkali begins to form. Such a tool in the food industry is called additive E 525, or potassium hydroxide. This compound regulates acidity and is considered a very effective preservative.

In addition, during a chemical reaction, a precipitate of manganese oxide and acetaldehyde (also called acetaldehyde) appears. The latter substance is considered a dangerous carcinogen, which is contained in tobacco smoke. It causes addiction in people. Chemists believe that from moonshine, which is prepared with the use of potassium permanganate as a purifying agent, a real poison comes out that harms a person. So before using this option, you need to think about the benefits and consequences. For more information about the pros and cons of the tool, see this video:

The recipe itself is as follows: for 1 liter of moonshine 40% vol. you will need 2 g of potassium permanganate, 300 ml of ordinary clean hot water. You will also need 1 tbsp. l. ordinary baking soda and salt (iodized should never be used).

This cleaning method involves the following steps:

1. Dilute potassium permanganate in water, stirring well.
2. Mix water tinted with potassium permanganate with moonshine. Mix everything using a wooden spoon. All metal utensils are prohibited. Leave all night.
3. Filter everything in the morning. Gauze, which is folded in several layers, is suitable as a filter.

Purification of alcoholic beverages with charcoal

People are looking for a method on how to properly clean moonshine. Moreover, it is necessary to choose not only a method that removes harmful substances, but also does not worsen the smell, color of the drink. One such option would be coal. This is another old and proven method that is safe and effective.

Charcoal cleaning is effective and safe

The properties of wood ash are compared with activated carbon in tablet form. It is an excellent adsorbent that effectively absorbs harmful compounds and removes them.

Cleaning with charcoal for barbecue (as it is popularly called) has another advantage - this is the speed of the procedure. The process is very fast.

In addition, coking coal is also suitable, since there is no difference in what specific type of product will be used to clean moonshine - all products will be equally effective.

You will need to prepare in advance the recently cut stump of any young tree that is not yet 50 years old. Best suited wood birch, beech, cedar. Moonshine take 1 liter.

The charcoal cleaning process itself is as follows:

1. First you need to remove the bark from the tree and cut out the knots and core.
2. Kindle a fire. Pull out the coals, and you need to do this while the heat itself is there. Remove the ashes from them. Close the charred wood pieces and wait until they die out.
3. The resulting coals should be rubbed through a sieve.
4. Dissolve the powder in moonshine and leave the container for three days.
5. Filter at the end.

Coal can be used in other ways. A special carbon filter is used. The result will be excellent, and the distillate can be drunk immediately. At home, a filter column is quite simple to make. To do this, you need a 5 liter plastic bottle, as well as 2 plastic bottle necks and 2 caps, one of which must have a spout. See more in this video:

Additionally, a saw, scissors, electrical tape, a drill, coal are needed to clean the drink, and a plastic pipe with a diameter of 32 cm.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. First you need to cut off the bottom of the bottle with a volume of 5 liters and remove it.
2. Take the tube and insert one end into the neck of the bottle. Fix with tape.
3. Next, the plastic necks need to be inserted into each other. A hole should be made in the lid using a drill. Screw on the neck and insert into the second. Fix all elements with electrical tape. The second cap from the drinker should close the second neck of the bottle. First, you need to lay cotton wool there (namely, in the outermost neck).
4. The part that was eventually received must be fixed to the other end of the tube using electrical tape.
5. The pipe must be hung by the handle of the bottle. As a result, the eggplant itself is at the top.
6. Place a container on the bottom.
7. Then pour coal into the tube through a five-liter eggplant. Its neck should be covered with a cotton pad.
8. Now you can use the filter itself directly, pouring moonshine there.

Purification with milk and rye bread

These methods of cleaning moonshine are also very effective. It is best to do them one by one. First you need to clean the moonshine from the smell with the help of milk powder. Only after that you need to use rye bread as a filter.

Milk and bread are used alternately for filtering

The first stage is the use of powdered milk. This process is called coagulation, that is, the oils bind to casein and albumin, which are found in milk. When milk and alcohol react, a precipitate is formed in the form of flakes, and the drink itself becomes very soft. If earlier the aroma was unpleasant, now it will be neutral. It is best to use powdered milk, as it is skimmed, and alcohol will not become cloudy during a chemical reaction. It will take 10 liters of moonshine 40% vol. 10 liters of pure water (it should be warm) and 6 g of powdered milk.

The cleaning process itself is as follows:

1. Dissolve dry milk in warm water. Mix thoroughly to break up lumps. Further, the resulting liquid should be infused for 3 hours.
2. Mix milk with moonshine. The remedy should be infused for a week.
3. All the precipitate that eventually formed must be removed by filtering the liquid.

After that, fusel oils can be removed by additionally using rye bread. Of course, this method can also be used on its own.

Bread contains gluten. It perfectly removes various debris and impurities from vodka.

But you need to use only a very fresh product so as not to impair the smell and taste of the liquid. It will take 100 g of rye bread for 1 liter of drink. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Break the bread into small pieces.
2. Drop them into the liquid and stir.
3. Wait 2 days.
4. Remove sediment by filtering the drink.

Cleaning alcohol with improvised means

Purification of moonshine from fusel oils can be carried out using other means that are available in almost any kitchen:

1. The use of protein from chicken eggs. It has a good coagulating effect. As a result, harmful compounds simply fall off as a precipitate when the protein enters into a reaction with an alcoholic beverage. People compare this technique with the effect of using milk. This method is considered very effective, but you need to act strictly according to the instructions. It will take 2 eggs for 1 liter of moonshine. First you need to separate the whites from the yolks. Only proteins will be used. They need to be beaten, but make sure that foam does not form. Then pour into alcohol and mix. Almost immediately, flakes fall out that need to be removed.
2. The use of salt and soda. Harmful oils can be removed with salt and soda. This method is considered not only simple, but also affordable, since both ingredients can always be found in the kitchen. Moreover, it is also low cost. You will need 1 tbsp. l. soda and salt per 1 liter of moonshine. First, dissolve the salt and soda directly in the liquid and wait half an hour. Then you need to mix the drink and put the container with it in a dark place for 12 hours. During this time, the cloudy liquid will exfoliate. The top layer must be carefully drained. As a result, harmful substances and unpleasant odors disappear.
3. Use of vegetable oil. Another method of cleansing alcohol from harmful compounds is the use of vegetable oil. This technique is good because it is not only effective, but also environmentally friendly. For 1 liter of moonshine you will need 80 ml of refined oil (it should not have aroma) and 3 liters of water. And only sunflower or olive oil is used. First you need to dilute alcohol with water. Pour in the oil and shake the container. Continue this for several minutes. Then moonshine should be infused for 3 minutes. Shake the container again for 60 seconds. Now put the container in a darkened room for a day, where the temperature should be no more than 16 ° C. During this time, an oily film will form on the surface of the liquid, in which all harmful compounds are collected. In the film itself, you need to make a funnel, without damaging it, lower the tube there (while not touching the film itself). Now drain all the drink. Homemade vodka remains filtered by a double method to remove all drops of oil.

Other cleaning methods

If you need to get a completely pure alcoholic drink in home production, then it is best to do a secondary distillation. This is an inevitable process, thanks to which all heavy elements and extraneous aroma can be removed from the drink. As a result, it comes out softer and more pleasant in taste.

Even if the best distilling apparatus is used, the excellent result is worth a second treatment.

Sometimes even a third distillation is required. This is the only way to achieve the desired results, and the quality of the drink will be much better. For information on which cleaning method is best, see this video:

If there is no desire to carry out complex cleaning using chemicals (for example, using betonite), then you can use the simplest home filter. For example, Aquaphor or Barrier is perfect. Such purification of moonshine allows you to remove heavy substances and cloudy sediment. Such filters contain carbon, calcium, soda and other components that are used in the standard cleaning of alcoholic beverages at home. The procedure itself is very simple. You just need to pass the drink through a container with a filter.

When freezing, all harmful substances settle on the walls of the vessel

Another good way is freezing. The method is distinguished by its availability, simplicity and low cost. Perfect for those people for whom chemical treatment of the liquid is not suitable. During the freezing process, all toxic compounds first freeze and then fall on the walls of the container containing the drink. Alcohol itself will not be able to freeze in the freezer, even if the temperature drops to -13 ° C, so fusel oils can be easily removed, as well as various impurities. About the old grandfather's method of freezing moonshine, see this video:

The method is as follows:

1. It is necessary to prepare in advance a freezer, a saucepan and moonshine directly.
2. Pour the liquid into a saucepan and place in the freezer or outside if the weather is frosty.
3. Wait until part of the contents of the container freezes. It will take at least 3 - 4 hours. It is best to leave the dishes with liquid overnight.
4. Drain any remaining liquid that has not frozen into a clean bowl.

Conclusion

Fusel oils in moonshine affect its shade, taste, and aroma. Such substances are considered toxic, so it is preferable to remove them from the drink. Although in some cases they are, on the contrary, needed. There are many methods that allow you to clean the drink from such compounds. At home, coal, potassium permanganate, salt, soda, eggs, bread, milk, vegetable oil and other methods are suitable for this.

From fusel oils, not only novice alcohol manufacturers are interested, but also very experienced moonshiners. To date, distillers know several effective methods that can be used without fear.

Fusel oils are a kind of mixture - this is not one substance, but several. They are often referred to by one term, since there are more than 40 varieties of elements that fall under the concept of "fuel".

Purification of moonshine with coal

These substances are part of the distillate, they do not evaporate during the manufacture of moonshine, it can be difficult to get rid of them. Sivukha is the main cause of intoxication, it is the presence of aldehydes, oils and esters in alcohol that leads to a severe hangover in a person.

However, not all elements are so harmful, some oils give alcohol a pleasant smell, for this reason fruit distillates are not re-distilled. Recycling will remove the smell from moonshine, make it cleaner, but at the same time eliminate all the attractiveness of the drink in terms of aroma and taste.

Without a doubt, a high concentration of fusel oils in moonshine is a sign of poor quality. Such a drink is dangerous to use, it can be used for technical needs.

How to get rid of fusel oils at home?

Purification of distillate from fusel oils can be carried out using various components. Certain substances react with molecules of oils, aldehydes and neutralize or attract them. All cleaning methods are aimed at improving the quality of alcohol, eliminating unpleasant odors and tastes.

So, what can be used to improve the quality of the drink:

1. Activated charcoal, as well as coke or wood, will help remove the fuselage.
2. You can clean alcohol with soda and salt.
3. Purification of moonshine is carried out using rye or white bread.
4. Potassium permanganate will help eliminate the unpleasant odor.
5. Milk and egg white will help improve the quality of moonshine.

It is not difficult to determine that there is fuselage in moonshine, just smell it before use. If alcohol has an unpleasant pungent odor, and after drinking it, an unpleasant aftertaste remains, then you should not drink such a drink.

Fusel oils, such as acetone, aldehyde and others, can spoil not only the quality of moonshine, but also cause severe poisoning.

Purification will help get rid of harmful impurities and significantly improve home-made alcohol. But it is not necessary to filter the moonshine, using various methods, you can simply overtake the distillate. The moonshine still will remove a significant amount of impurities during re-distillation. The device will make the drink suitable for consumption, and at the same time improve its quality, make it stronger.

But do not rush to pour moonshine into the distiller, reprocessing is carried out only after cleaning.

Coal will remove harmful impurities

How to clean moonshine from smell and fusel oils using coal? There are several ways to help purify the drink and improve its quality.

So, what kind of coal can be used:

• activated in tablets, it is crushed into powder, a filter is made with it;
• charcoal is suitable, you can make it yourself or use charcoal for barbecue;
• some fans of making distillate at home prefer carbon water filters.

Purification of moonshine from fusel oils using activated or any other coal begins with grinding the material. Simply put, coal is turned into powder, then you can either immerse it in distillate so that the drink is infused and gets rid of impurities, or a filter is made from cotton pads.

The substance acts as an absorbent, it absorbs all fusel oils, aldehydes and esters - this helps to rid the drink of a strange taste and smell.

You need to insist moonshine for at least 2 hours, some fans of making distillate argue that alcohol should be settled for at least 12 hours. But in crushed or other form, coal absorbs impurities rather quickly, and after absorbing it, it begins to give them back.

For this reason, you should not insist the drink on coal for a long time, 2-3 hours will be enough. After the liquid will need to be filtered with a cotton pad or gauze folded into several layers.

Cleaning with coal from aldehydes and esters can also take place according to another scheme. Tablets or coals are crushed, then a funnel is made from a plastic bottle. A small hole is made in the lid, first the smallest particles of coal are placed on a cotton wool disk, covered with another disk. This continues until even the largest particles of coal are stacked. The structure is covered with a layer of gauze or several cotton pads.

Moonshine is passed through the filter. Such a device will help filter from 5 to 10 liters of alcohol. After a single use, the device is dismantled and a new one is constructed.

You can also use a water filter pitcher, the cartridges of which contain charcoal.

Moonshine is passed through the filter, it will help to clean about 5 liters of the drink from impurities. If you plan to re-distill the product, then it will be enough to pass the alcohol through the filter 1-2 times, and then send it to the distiller.

If there is no desire to recycle alcohol, then you will have to pass the drink through the jug from 3 to 5 times. This will help eliminate the unpleasant odor and improve the taste of alcohol several times over.

There is another way that will help rid the drink of fuselage. But for this you have to find and burn a small log. It is better to use birch or beech. The log is burned on fire, then the coals are collected while they are still warm, crushed into powder and dipped into distillate.

Cleaning will have to be done for about 12 hours, alcohol should be in a dark, cool place. After the specified time, the alcohol is filtered by passing it through a dense cloth or gauze folded in several layers.

Salt and soda for moonshine

To rid alcohol of impurities, you can use ordinary salt and soda. The recipe is quite simple, it includes only 3 components:

1. Edible salt, but not iodized.
2. Soda.
3. Moonshine with a strength of 40 degrees.

Cleaning moonshine with soda

We calculate the proportions as follows: for 1 liter of alcohol you need 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of soda.

Soda and salt are added to alcohol, everything is thoroughly mixed using a wooden spoon. The solution is left for 30 minutes, then closed with a lid and sent to a dark place. The drink will stand for at least 12 hours. During the cleaning process, it should delaminate into several parts, the first part must be carefully drained.

Bread and potassium permanganate for alcohol

If you want to correct the taste characteristics of alcohol, then you can use bread. It is cut into slices, the crusts are cut off, the crumb is crushed by hand and sent to a container with distillate.

Cleaning moonshine with potassium permanganate

Since the bread has a porous structure, it will absorb all impurities without much effort and at the same time improve the flavor of the drink. It is advisable to use rye bread, as long as it is fresh and soft.

Moonshine is insisted on bread for at least 12 hours, then filtered. If white bread was used in the cleaning process, then the crusts can not be cut off. But it will take longer to insist the drink - 3 days.

After purification, alcohol may become cloudy; filtration or re-distillation will help restore its transparency.

This method of improving the quality of the drink has a number of advantages, since bread is a natural product, it will not spoil the moonshine, it will not change its taste. If everything is done correctly, then after 12 hours the drink will be ready for consumption, in addition, the consumer will be pleased with the aroma of alcohol. The smell of fresh baking, however, can be removed.

It is not difficult to clean moonshine with potassium permanganate - 3 grams of crystals are dissolved in 300 milliliters of warm water. After the solution is poured into the distillate.

Potassium permanganate works like this:

1. It reacts with certain substances.
2. It attracts aldehydes and esters.
3. It falls out.

The chemical reaction causes the moonshine to be purified. But potassium permanganate is an oxidizing agent, it is not recommended to use it if in the future it is planned to make cognac or another noble drink from alcohol.

Egg white and milk

Methods for purifying alcohol from impurities using protein and milk have a certain similarity. Powdered milk is required, but pasteurized milk can also be used.

Action algorithm:

• powdered milk in a volume of 60 grams is diluted with warm water (10 liters);
• stir thoroughly so that no lumps remain;
• pour milk into moonshine.

First, we dilute milk in water, then wait 3 hours, pour the mixture into a container with alcohol and leave it in a dark place for 7-10 days.

During this time, the milk will react with some substances in the distillate and precipitate. White flakes will appear at the bottom of the container. They can be removed using a filter, just pass the drink through a cloth, cotton pad or gauze, rolled up in several layers.

If we talk about egg white, then before proceeding, the proteins must be separated from the yolks, beat them, and then pour them into alcohol.

Whipped proteins will instantly precipitate, attracting harmful impurities to themselves. Flakes can also be eliminated by filtration. In order to clean 1 liter of drink, you need 2 proteins.

These two methods are notable for their good performance, but they will not be able to turn an outright surrogate into a noble drink. For this reason, it is recommended to re-distill the moonshine.

Fusel oils are a by-product of fermentation. They are contained as an impurity in raw alcohol and have a very unpleasant characteristic odor. They are an oily liquid, which can have a color from light yellow to red-brown. The main component of this substance are C3-C9 alcohols, as well as aldehydes, furfunol and fatty acids.

Aldehydes and saturated alcohols appear during the metabolism of amino acids by yeast. Fusel oils are present, for example, in beer, as well as in moonshine, and in fairly large quantities.

When home-brewing drinks with a high alcohol content, the problem of these impurities is quite acute. Distillation of moonshine is carried out using special equipment. Braga is pre-prepared. Further, it is heated to As a result, alcohol vapors begin to be released. When cooled, the latter condense and drain into a pre-prepared container.

When distilling, it is very important to observe the heating mode. Light impurities contained in the mash begin to boil at a temperature of about 68 degrees. Further, at a temperature of 78 o C, intensive evaporation occurs. At subsequent heating to 85 o C, actually undesirable fusel oils begin to stand out from the original product.

Therefore, it is believed that the faster the heating occurs in the moonshine still, the more efficient its operation. When distilled at temperatures up to 78 ° C, the so-called pervach is obtained, which contains a lot of harmful light impurities. In no case should you take such a product inside, as well as use it for external use, for example, in colognes or lotions. When the initial product reaches a temperature of 78 ° C., it is necessary to reduce the intensity of heating. Otherwise, mash may be ejected. With subsequent heating, the main process of moonshine distillation itself occurs.

At this stage, you need to be extremely careful. Firstly, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the temperature of the mash does not rise above 83 ° C. Otherwise, as mentioned above, fusel oils will begin to stand out from it. Secondly, at this stage, the evaporation of ethyl alcohol occurs, as a result of which its content in the mash gradually decreases.

Ultimately, the initial product will have a minimum amount of it that can only be extracted at a higher temperature. However, at the same time, the quality of moonshine will drop sharply, since the content of such harmful substances as fusel oils will increase in it. Therefore, after reaching a temperature of 85 ° C, the distillation must be stopped. The amount of ethereal alcohol vapor can be checked in a simple way. To do this, in the resulting moonshine, a piece of paper is moistened and set on fire. If it burns with a blue-tinted flame, alcohol is still present in sufficient quantities. If the paper does not light up, then its amount is small. In this case, the process can be continued only for subsequent mixing with mash and re-distillation.

Subsequently, the resulting moonshine can be further cleaned to remove the oils that have got into it. A variety of methods can be used for this. The simplest is considered potassium permanganate. To do this, it is pre-diluted in water. Approximately 1-2 grams are needed per liter of moonshine. The resulting solution is poured into moonshine and left to stand for 10-12 hours. After clarification and precipitation, the liquid is filtered through a cloth.

Fusel oils can be called the "soul" of any alcoholic beverage. In many ways, they determine the taste, smell, color and strength of a hangover. The inhabitants believe that these impurities are undesirable, harmful to health and spoil the taste. In fact, everything is much more complicated, in most cases their presence is vital, and proper cleaning eliminates problems.

Fusel oils- a group of substances of an oily consistency of light yellow or red-brown color with an unpleasant odor, which is a by-product of alcoholic fermentation of sugar, fruit or starch-containing raw materials. In one concentration or another, they are contained in every alcoholic drink (an exception is pure rectified alcohol).

To get fusel oil at home, it is enough to pour unrefined moonshine into a spoon, set it on fire and wait until the burning is over. The bad-smelling liquid remaining in the spoon will be “fussy” (popular name). Still similar substances can be seen in the steamer of the moonshine still after distillation.

Fusel oils filtered during rectification (industrial production of alcohol) are not waste, but are used to produce amyl alcohol, which in turn is used as a solvent in the confectionery and dairy industries.

Dark concentrated fusel oil And lighter

The composition of fusel oils includes about 40 substances, conventionally divided into two groups. The first group contains liquids whose boiling point is lower than that of ethyl alcohol (78.4°C), these are acetic-butyric ester, acetaldehyde and acetone. The second group is represented by substances with a boiling point above 78.4°C: propyl, isopropyl, amyl, isoamyl, isobutyl alcohols, furfural, acetyl and other toxic compounds. The most dangerous is isoamyl alcohol (C5H4OH), which accounts for up to 60% of the volume of fusel oil. When concentrated isoamyl alcohol gets on the skin, the affected area first turns red and itches, then bubbles appear filled with a clear liquid.

The benefits and harms of fusel oils

The composition and concentration of fusel oils are influenced by: raw materials, type of yeast, fermentation temperature and preparation technology (distillation, rectification or lack of distillation). From this point of view, the purest drink is vodka, poorly purified - whiskey.

The problem is that it is fusel oils that endow spirits with characteristic organoleptic properties. Without these substances, cognac and whiskey will turn into alcohol diluted with water (the effect of aging in oak barrels is also significant, but less), and the taste of wine or beer will change beyond recognition. On the other hand, an excessive amount of fuselage causes intoxication of the body, poisoning, and a severe hangover.

The harm and benefits of fusel oils are relative - they are determined by the composition and (or) concentration of substances in the drink. Every self-respecting manufacturer tries to remove toxic impurities as much as possible, leaving only the necessary and harmless ones that determine the organoleptic properties. Therefore, the technology for the production of vodka, wine, beer, cognac, whiskey and tequila is different, and the quality of drinks depends on the purification methods used.

Without fusel oils there would be no cognac

For example, it is incorrect to compare harm from whiskey and vodka. At first glance, it seems that whiskey, initially containing 260-400 times more fusel oils, is much more dangerous. But with proper cleaning, whiskey will be even more harmless than vodka (argument in the next paragraph). It is possible to compare the quality of alcohol of the same type, for example, two manufacturers of cognac, but when assessing the danger of different alcohol, it is difficult to draw the right conclusions.

Until recently, vodka was considered the most harmless alcoholic drink, since due to rectification it contains a minimum of fusel oils. But at the same time, it remained unclear why 70% of people suffering from alcohol addiction are vodka alcoholics. A study by Vladimir Pavlovich, a professor at the Narcology Research Institute of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, shed light on this issue.

It turns out that some fusel oils protect the body from the harmful effects of alcohol by causing the liver to become more active before the alcohol begins its destructive effects. The purer the poison (in our case, ethyl alcohol), the more dangerous and addictive it is. It is a pity that few people know about these findings.

Purification of fusel oils

Any homemade alcoholic drink contains some amount of harmful fusel oils. But it is impossible to clean wine, beer or liquor from them without losing the taste. In this case, the only option is to use high-quality raw materials and strictly adhere to the cooking technology. For example, Isabella grapes release a lot of hydrocyanic acid during fermentation, therefore it is better not to drink a lot of such wine at a time or mix the must before fermentation with other varieties.

Sugar, fruit and malt distillates are well refined. To begin with, I advise you to familiarize yourself with the six best ones that are used for sugar and grain raw materials.

The most effective method will help to remove fusel oils from fruit distillate (apple, grape, pear, plum, etc.) - double distillation of moonshine with separation of the output into fractions (“head”, “body” and “tails”), which is used in preparation of cognac, whiskey, Calvados and other spirits.

Experienced moonshiners agree that the most effective and fastest purification of moonshine from fusel oils is the method using activated or charcoal. This is not surprising, because coal particles have large pores that are able to absorb not only small elements of impurities, but also large ones.

So, how to clean moonshine at home so that the filtration takes place with maximum effect. Consider 2 effective ways:

1. Express method. During distillation, a funnel is placed in the container into which the distillate will be collected. One layer of cotton wool is placed in it, small fractions of coal are poured on top, then larger ones and at the end they are covered with 2 cotton pads. Everything needs to be pressed tight. As a result, it will not be necessary to spend additional time on cleaning moonshine from fuselage, since the product is filtered right at the outlet of the moonshine still.
2. Infusion. After distillation, alcohol is poured into a glass jar, crushed coal is also placed there. Everything is thoroughly mixed and left in a cool place for 5-14 days. At the end of exposure, the consistency must be filtered through a multilayer gauze.

This is one of the best options on how to quickly clean moonshine before the second distillation. It is preferable to use coal from birch. No less effective will be the component from the water filter. Silver is often present in its composition, which will only improve the quality of filtration.

Use coal in the following proportions: 50 gr. for every liter of alcohol. This calculation is suitable for both the first and second cleaning methods. Therefore, when filtering moonshine through a funnel, cotton wool with filler will periodically need to be changed to a new one.

Vegetable oil

Not all moonshiners know that fusel impurities and other harmful components are perfectly neutralized in vegetable oils. Therefore, moonshine can be cleaned with olive or sunflower oil. The main thing here is to use an odorless product, that is, refined, otherwise the concentrated flavor will be transferred to the drink.

With this method of cleaning moonshine at home, part of the vegetable oil remains in alcohol even with high-quality filtration. Therefore, the second distillation in this case is a mandatory step.

How to clean moonshine after the first distillation with vegetable oil:

1. Dilute the moonshine with water to a fortress of 20o. For every liter of alcohol, 20 ml of oil will be required. For example, in 5 liters you need to mix 100 ml of cleaner.
2. Stir the ingredients for 1-2 minutes, then leave for 5 minutes, and shake everything thoroughly again.
3. Put the jar in a dark place with a constant temperature of 6-15 ° C, the lower the indicator, the better.
4. After the infusion is completed, the liquid will become slightly cloudy, and an oily film will form on its surface. It is necessary to drain pure alcohol through a tube. Try to do it in such a way as not to hurt the film.

Milk

Filtration of moonshine with milk is very popular among experienced craftsmen - this is how the “soul” of the drink is preserved and its taste softens. The principle is based on the binding of harmful impurities by the molecules of casein and albumin, which are part of the milk protein. As a result, a flaky sediment appears, due to gravity falling to the bottom. It takes about a week to filter, after which the distillate is removed from the sediment and run again. After cleaning, the moonshine acquires a clean structure, and also becomes soft in taste.

Milk is a simple, effective and completely safe way to make high-quality alcohol.

It should be borne in mind that milk contains fats, they make the drink cloudy. Therefore, in moonshine there are 2 cleaning recipes. In the first one, skim milk is used, and re-distillation is not provided, in the second - the percentage of fat content of the product is not important, since secondary distillation will help to clean the structure.

Method for cleaning moonshine with milk without distillation

The advantages of this filtration of moonshine are obvious, the method is absolutely safe, does not need secondary distillation and makes it possible to combine alcohol purification with other methods. But it also has disadvantages, in rare cases, the structure of the liquid may become cloudy.

Cleaning steps:

• prepare a skimmed pasteurized dairy product with the calculation of 150 ml per 10 liters of fortified drink with a strength of 50%;

Instead of pasteurized milk, in this case it is allowed to use dry milk. But first, 3 hours before cleaning the moonshine from fusel oils, it will need to be diluted in warm water.

• mix the dairy product with a fortified drink, tightly close the jar and leave for 5-6 days in a dark place with a temperature regime of 20-25 ° C;
• every day during infusion, the container must be shaken well;

From the very first minutes, a precipitate will begin to form in the liquid in the form of large white flakes. This milk protein enters into a chemical reaction and precipitates harmful impurities.

• at the end of exposure, alcohol is drained from the sediment and filtered several times through a multilayer gauze with a cotton pad.

If, after cleaning at home, moonshine has acquired a cloudy structure, it should be filtered through a charcoal filter.

VIDEO: What is the best way to clean distillate - coal, butter or milk?

How to properly clean the moonshine with subsequent distillation

In this case, the fat content of the dairy product does not matter, the main thing is that the milk is fresh. The process of removing harmful impurities is as follows:

• 100 ml of a homemade dairy product is mixed into 1 liter of alcohol, but the alcohol is first diluted to obtain a strength of 45-55 °;
• all components are well mixed, tightly closed with a lid;
• the container is placed for 4-6 days in a dark place, while the first 3 days the contents must be shaken for better cleaning;
• Moonshine is drained from the sediment and diluted with water by 20%, after which it is sent for secondary distillation with separation into fractions - heads, body, tails.

These methods can be used to check the quality of store-bought vodka. Sometimes the result is shocking by the amount of sediment.

Egg protein

Purification of moonshine at home using protein from chicken eggs allows you to eliminate not only harmful components in the drink, but also an unpleasant odor. This method works best when filtering a distillate prepared with wheat or sugar mash. But if alcohol was prepared on berries or fruits, it is not recommended to use egg white for cleaning.

The composition of the cleaning product includes casein and albumin, in fact, due to which all impurities are deposited on the bottom. In terms of absorption, this method of cleaning moonshine at home is not inferior to coal. In addition, it should be noted the minimum loss of distillate - only up to 5%.

Consider the steps on how to clean and filter moonshine from fusel oils and unpleasant odors using egg white:

• dilute the distillate to a strength of 45-55 °, but at the same time leave 20% free space in the container;
• separate the protein from the yolk, add water to it in a volume of 10% of the amount of alcohol and beat with a mixer until a homogeneous mass is obtained, but until foam forms;
• mix the protein solution with moonshine, cover the container and leave to infuse for 1 week;
• shake the mixture every day, but do not perform these manipulations 1 day before removal from the sediment.

At the end of the exposure time, strain the liquid without sediment through a cotton-gauze stopper in a funnel. Change the filter and do the same with the sediment. Dilute pure alcohol with drinking water to obtain a strength of 18-20 ° and distill it a second time.

frostbite

This is the easiest way to filter moonshine at home. When the temperature drops below 0 °, fusel oils and other impurities begin to freeze, while the freezing point of pure ethyl alcohol is -114 ° C. The method takes a lot of time compared to other cleaning options, but high quality in this case is guaranteed.

You need to put the jar in the freezer or outside if the weather conditions meet the requirements of freezing. When ice forms in an alcoholic drink, and these are fusel oils, the remaining liquid must be drained, the rest must be disposed of.

In the north, the “on scrap” method is practiced, although it is more convenient to use a metal corner. It is left for some time on the street so that the metal freezes well, put it in a bowl and slowly drain the distillate over it. When moving, the fuselage freezes, and the raw flows down. The result is fast and efficient.

In order to eliminate extraneous aromas from moonshine as much as possible, it is recommended to add 30 gr. to 1 liter of the drink. raisins and chopped violet root 5 pcs. The consistency should be infused for at least 10 days, after which it will be completely usable.

Rye bread

In ancient times, few people were interested in the better to clean moonshine from harmful impurities, since they used a bread cleaning recipe that has been proven for centuries. This method has not lost popularity in our time.

You need to use only fresh bakery products made from rye flour without various impurities. Homemade rye bread is ideal.

There are many yeasts and gluten in this product, which contribute to the retention of fusel oils. As a result of such cleaning, even the most low-quality alcohol will acquire a pleasant aroma and brighten.

The process will require 100 gr. bread pulp per 1 liter of moonshine. Prior to purification, the alcoholic beverage should be filtered using one of the previous methods. After that, the bread is cut into slices, they are cleaned of the crust and crumble into small particles.

The crumbs are poured into a container, mixed with distillate, closed with a lid and left for 3 days in a dark place. After completion of the infusion, the consistency will acquire a yellow color, which is eliminated by subsequent filtration.

Place a funnel with a stopper made of cotton pads into a clean jar and strain the alcoholic drink through it. The remaining pulp is disposed of without pressing. Next, the moonshine must be diluted with water and put on distillation with the separation of fractions.

Gluing

Bonding of fusel oils and other impurities is carried out using Karluk glue. Before use, the component is diluted in water until a jelly-like consistency is obtained, after which it is mixed into the moonshine. Adhesive elements bind undesirable components of the drink and are deposited on the bottom of the container.

This method is the most qualitative, it cleans the distillate as much as possible. Its disadvantage is only inaccessibility. The fact is that glue was used, as a rule, in large-scale production activities. Also, the deficit is affected by a sharp decrease in the number of sturgeons, from the swim bladders of which the component is produced.

Salt and soda

A quick cleansing of the drink from toxins and fusel oils is carried out through the use of baking soda with salt. The advantages of the technology are short-term, the process requires no more than 1 day. Minus - inefficiency. The fact is that soda is not able to precipitate all harmful components, therefore, it requires a second distillation.

Cleaning steps:

• dilute the moonshine to get a fortress of 40-50 °;
• Separately dilute 10 gr. drinking soda in 100 ml of pure water;
• mix the ingredients with 1 liter of alcoholic drink, close the lid;
• shake well and leave for half an hour, then stir again;
• put in a dark cool place for 15 hours.

After the formation of a precipitate, the clean liquid is carefully drained and filtered. A cotton pad is placed in the funnel, granules of crushed charcoal are poured on top, after which everything is covered with one cotton layer. Through such a "sandwich" a fortified drink is passed into a container.

With the help of salt and soda, you can partially cleanse the product of harmful impurities, the smell and taste remain unchanged.

Potassium permanganate with soda

There is also the usual way to clean moonshine with potassium permanganate, but it is less effective than the combined one, so consider the second option. Baking soda helps to neutralize acetic acid, while potassium permanganate partially eliminates fusel oils.

The main advantage of such cleaning is the minimum time spent. Minus - the likelihood of a residue of manganese crystals, which adversely affects human health. To eliminate this factor, it is necessary to overtake the composition a second time.

Prepare the components based on the following proportions - for 1 liter of alcohol you need 1.5 g. manganese and 10 gr. baking soda. Pre-mix potassium permanganate with water in a volume of 200 ml, pour the alkaline solution into the moonshine and shake thoroughly. Add manganese, cover the jar with a lid and mix well.

Place the container in a dark, cold place for 14 hours. During this time, a thick precipitate forms at the bottom of the jar, a clean liquid is drained from it and placed for re-distillation.

Fruits

A less effective cleaning method that partially removes harmful components from an alcoholic beverage, but at the same time gives it a pleasant aroma and aftertaste. This is where a secondary forcing is required.

For 3 liters of an alcoholic product with a concentration of 20o, you need to prepare 1 carrot and 1 apple. The fruits are peeled, coarsely chopped and added to a container with moonshine. After this, the jar is left to infuse for 2-3 days until the fibers begin to separate from the carrot and apple.

Making alcohol cloudy

Some tasters like moonshine of a cloudy milky color, as they are made in real Russian settlements. To achieve this effect, you can use several recipes that give the product the desired shade, while not worsening its taste and aromatic qualities.

Some people like the authentic color of moonshine - it can be made cloudy on purpose

1. Whey from milk. For 1 liter of moonshine, from 10 to 25 ml of serum will be required, depending on the required color saturation.
2. Powdered milk. Use the ingredient in proportions of 5-15 gr. for every liter of fortified drink.
3. Vegetable oil. To obtain a white consistency, 3-5 drops of refined sunflower or olive oil are enough. After adding the component, the liquid must be thoroughly mixed.

VIDEO: Moonshiner's little tricks