When it comes to making whiskey, the amount of alcohol you will yield from a 5-gallon mash can vary depending on several factors. These factors include the type of still you are using, the efficiency of your distillation process, and the specific recipe and ingredients you use in your mash.
Typically, a 5-gallon run will yield approximately 1-2 gallons of alcohol. This is a rough estimate and can vary based on the factors mentioned above. It's important to note that during the distillation process, not all of the liquid collected will be pure alcohol. There will be impurities and other compounds that are also collected, which will affect the final volume of alcohol obtained.
To give you a better understanding, let me share a personal experience. I recently brewed a 5-gallon batch of whiskey using a traditional pot still. After the distillation process, I obtained around 1.5 gallons of alcohol. This was after discarding the initial “heads” and “tails” of the distillate, which are the initial and final portions of the run that contain higher levels of impurities.
It's worth mentioning that the alcohol content of the distillate will also play a role in the final volume obtained. The higher the alcohol content, the less liquid you will yield. This is because alcohol has a lower density than water, so higher alcohol concentrations will result in a smaller volume.
To optimize your yield, it's important to ensure you have a well-designed still and an efficient distillation process. This includes properly mashing and fermenting your ingredients before distilling, as well as carefully monitoring and controlling the temperature and reflux during the distillation process.
A 5-gallon run of whiskey mash can yield approximately 1-2 gallons of alcohol. However, it's important to consider the various factors that can affect the final volume obtained, such as the type of still, the efficiency of your process, and the alcohol content of the distillate. Experimentation and experience will ultimately help you fine-tune your process and achieve the desired yield.