#Moonshine thumper diagram how to#

The heat of about 172 degrees is then applied to the still so the alcohol can start to evaporate. This mixture takes a few days to fully transform into what is called mash. Yeast is then added to the mixture which starts the fermentation process. Sugar is also sometimes added instead of grain. In this process, cornmeal will be soaked in hot water inside the still.

#Moonshine thumper diagram how to#

Here are the steps on how to work this setup īefore the product can reach the thump keg, a mash needs to be made in the still pot. Once your setup is complete, you can start using your thump keg. You can, however, save yourself a lot of time by simply buying the best whiskey making kit that is already fully constructed. Many moonshiners build their own whiskey making kits complete with thump keg completely from scratch. Whiskey ingredients such as cornmeal, sugar, yeast, and waterįully assemble your whiskey making kit before you start mixing ingredients.Once your thump keg is clean you can start putting together your setup. If you are using a thump keg for the first time then always remember to give it a good clean before using it so you can eliminate the chances of contaminating your still. By adding certain ingredients such as fruits, herbs or spices, the taste and essence of the alcohol can be changed and more interesting spirits can be created. Thump kegs can be used to impact whiskey flavorĪnother reason so many moonshine makers love to use a thump keg is because they can use the thump keg to modify the taste of the whiskey. Some whiskey producers also prefer to leave out the thump keg and are happy to rerun the entire proses using a sour mash to maintain a specific alcohol percentage and a specific taste for their whiskey. Moonshiners also prefer to use a thump keg because the result tastes more like a quality whiskey where the product of a column still is often associated with the taste of vodka. Many do however prefer a thump keg above the reflux column still because thump kegs are easier to find or build and a lot cheaper to invest in. Reflux column stills can produce a spirit with a 95% alcohol level. When the vapor passes through the column still, the liquid is processed and reacts with the copper to rid sulfur from the product. These stills are filled with various materials such as copper mesh. The thump keg can also be replaced by a reflux column still. In the condenser, the vapor is cooled down and transforms back into a liquid state.Ī thump keg can be replaced with a reflux column still The warmth of the thump keg causes the liquid to once again vaporize and escape through another copper tube that leads to the condenser. Vapors rise through a copper tube into the thump keg where the vapors are reconverted into a liquid state. In the still, the temperature rises and causes vaporization. The temperature in the thump keg is just as important as in the main still. Many whiskey makers prefer wooden barrel thump kegs because wood doesn’t lose as much heat as quickly as metal thump kegs do. Thump kegs do come in a variety of designs. The thump keg also eases the process because the still and thump keg setup will do all the work for you. With a thump keg, you can create much higher quality still without having to go through the entire process all over again. Those who want to create a high proof whiskey will then do a second run using the same product to increase the taste and quality of the still. These spirits usually yield around 40 – 50% alcohol after a single run. You can produce a low-quality whiskey with just a pot and no thump keg. The main purpose of a thump keg is to distill your output of a pot still a second time without having to run the product through the still a second time or to alter the taste and potency of your moonshine. The thump keg has been part of the whiskey-making process for a very long time. In this article, we are going to explain exactly what a thump keg is and we are sharing a few great tips on the best ways to use your thump keg to modify the taste and potency of your whiskey. The thump keg is called a thump keg because pieces of corn sometimes rise with the vaporized alcohol and will then make thump noises when it falls into this heated barrel. But one of the components you might not be as familiar with is the thump keg. Most new whiskey makers are all too familiar with the still because this is one of the most critical parts of the whiskey-making process. You will also need to learn all about equipment like the still, thump keg and warm box before you can get to brewing. When you make your own alcohol you need to understand different processes such as fermentation and distillation. Making your own moonshine can be quite a head-scratcher if you are new to this hobby. Do you want to make quality moonshine with less effort? Let us introduce you to your next best friend-the thump keg!