Interested in your opinions here...

edgarallanpoe · Post by **edgarallanpoe** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 1:01 pm

I recently had an extremely tasty rum from a company named Muddy River. It had an exceptional, heavy, cane flavor that my wife and I both loved. Their site has details of their distillation process. I know nothing about the process of making rum...I simply have never bothered until recently so I was wondering what you guys thought of their stills. I thought their rum was exceptional.

http://www.muddyriverdistillery.com/about-us

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Capn's Note: brilliant, must see link. Unlike Chip Tate this young Carolina couple is the real deal, using home built stills ala Homedistillers.org.

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 9:08 am

I'd hoped another of our talented posters would chime in...

...but you've waited long enough. The distiller is an interesting young man who no doubt owes a great debt to the boyz at the Homedistiller's site. Even though there are untold thousands of similar home built units producing similar high quality output, it is but a handful who turn their friends and family hobby into an actual business.

Kudo's to this one.

The Stills

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There are two stills, one smaller, one larger. Both are similar in that both the boiler and columns are stainless. The only copper in the systems are the lyne arms (that transport the vapor to the condensers) and the spiral, old time "worm" in tub condensers. Both have a copper "parrot" to test alcohol percentage at the end.

Both have five levels or "plates" on the way up the column. Each level is progressively cooler than the one below. Each plate is perforated, each perforation covered loosely by a cap of sorts. All you need to know is that some of the vapor condenses on the plates at each level, and drips down onto the plate below. In the case of the lowest plate, it drips back into the main boiler. Thus the vapor is repeatedly recycled and refined, to the point that only the highest percent alcohol finally exits and is carried to the condenser.

Typically a set up like this can produce spirit at 90-95%, probably closer to 90% (much thinner and less tasty than a pot still, whose output is a rich 60% or so). The output can be controlled via temperature, speed and also by recyling distillate at various levels directly back into the boiler (see yellow valve handles on lower picture).

Flat Ass Bottom Line

It is well accepted in the Homedistiller community that such a set up can produce some very nice light rums, as you have experienced. This young man also produces a light gold that has been aged for a few months in what looks like used ex-bourbon oak. I would expect the gold to be even more palatable with perhaps a faint touch of natural wood vanillan, or a bit of coconut (both wisps). The wood will smooth the rum just a bit more. To his credit this young distiller is NOT going the faux, fast aging route.

edgarallanpoe · Post by **edgarallanpoe** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 9:32 am

Thanks... That is exactly the analysis I was looking for.

The rum is really good. In comparison, it is very similar to the Worthy Park silver rum I recently purchased. However, the Muddy River had a much fuller and richer cane flavor...between the two, I would take the Muddy River all day long and it isn't even close.

Here is the Worthy Park I just bought so that there is some frame of reference here.

http://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/w ... tegory_rn=

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:33 am

An interesting comparison, why?

The Carolina rum you like is a single column distilled to at least 90% in a single run. The Worthy Park is an absolutely classic pot-still with thumpers, distilled to about 60 or 65%. Both use a single run.

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Worthy Park produces both light and heavy pot rums, but both will contain considerably more esters (say 300) than the column setup (say 50). Furthermore, you can be sure the Worthy ferment is longer for even more diversity than even a good light, column-stilled rum.

Nonetheless you found the Carolina "richer and fuller", and I believe you.

What this indicates to me is that you have a taste for well made light rums, and the Carolina sounds like a good one for you. You like the flavors he captures. My suggestion: try the Bacardi Silver Heritage at 44.5%. I believe you will be even more impressed with this one...

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http://worthyparkestate.com/distillery.php
http://www.crownwineandspirits.com/baca ... age-750ml/

edgarallanpoe · Post by **edgarallanpoe** » Thu Oct 01, 2015 12:12 pm

I already have it and I completely agree. It is one of my favorites.