ARKSEN 048-GM-48371 User manual

NOTICE:
If your package is missing parts or you are having issues with assembly, please call us directly at
(949)-344-2588. Our customer service team will address any questions or concerns you may have.
Please have this manual open and ready for reference.
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
(949)-344-2588
8:00AM - 5:00PM PST (Monday - Friday)
[email protected]
www.arksenusa.com
Model# 048-GM-48371
OWNER’S MANUAL
5 GALLON WATER/ALCOHOL DISTILLER
ATTENTION! PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING THIS DEVICE
!

2
• Table of Contents
• Safety ................................................ 3
• Other items you will need (not included) ....................................................3
• Parts & Features ............................................................................4
• Using your Arksen Water/Alcohol Distiller ...................................................5
• Making distilled spirits: A 2 Stage Process: Fermenting & Distilling ...........................5
• Stage 1: Fermentation ......................................................................5
• Setting up for Fermenting ..................................................................6
• Attach Thermometer to Boiler Lid ...........................................................6
• Preparing the Bubble Airlock ...............................................................7
• Fermenting Conguration ..................................................................7
• Stage 2: Distillation.........................................................................8
• Setting up for Distilling .....................................................................8
• Attach Silicone Tubes to Condenser .........................................................8
• Connect Condenser to Boiler Lid. ...........................................................9
• Set up water ow to Condenser............................................................10
• Distilling Conguration
Method 1: Faucet cooling method .........................................................10
• Extending the Distillate Outlet (Inset) ......................................................10
• Distilling Conguration
Method 2: Water reservoir cooling method .................................................11
• Before Distilling: ..........................................................................12
• Distilling ..................................................................................12
• Mead Recipe ..............................................................................14
• Watermelon-Peach Moonshine Brandy.....................................................16

3
SAFETY
To reduce the risk of re or injury when using your distiller follow these precautions:
• If the Arksen Water/Alcohol Distiller is to be used for making distilled alcoholic beverages, it must
be used only by adults of legal drinking age. Never attempt to operate distiller while under the
inuence of alcohol, etc.
• Consult federal and state laws and obtain any permits required for distilling alcohol.
• Distilling outdoors is always preferred.
• Never use distiller over an open-ame heat source indoors. An electric heat source is preferred.
• Never leave hot or boiling liquids on a heat source unattended.
• Keep distiller and any heating unit out of reach and away from children.
• Use caution when removing Boiler Lid while heating any liquid within the Boiler.
• Do not heat or boil liquids in the distiller if all openings are blocked or closed. Steam and heat
must be allowed to escape through the condenser unit or one of the holes in the Boiler Lid
for safe operation. Failure to do so may result high pressure and explosion.
• Prevent alcohol vapor from leaking from the Distiller. Alcohol vapor is highly explosive.
Always check for, and address any leaks during the alcohol distilling process.
• To prevent liquid/mash contents of the boiler pot from overowing or being forced up into the
condenser copper tube or into the bubble airlock, always leave approximately 4” of air space
above the top of contents of the boiler pot.
• RISK OF METHANOL POISONING: Avoid consumption of Methanol (Methyl Alcohol)!
Methanol can cause blindness and be fatal. Carefully follow precautions in recipes for distilled
beverages. Discard the rst 4-7 oz (100-200ml) of liquid as it comes out of the Condenser
Distillate Outlet, for of each 5 gallons (20L) of fermented“mash”. These rst ounces are often
referred to as “heads” or “foreshots”. DO NOT CONSUME THEM.
OTHER ITEMS YOU WILL NEED (not included)
1. A continuous source of cool water. This can be achieved by one of two ways:
a) A hose connector for attaching a silicone tube to a home faucet or hose bib.
OR
b) A large container for use as a cool water reservoir and a submersible pump.
2. Containers (glass is best, avoid plastic) to collect your distilled product.
3. Large container for fermenting if you’d like to keep your Arksen Distiller available for distilling only.
4. Small wrench for loosening and tightening ttings.
5. White Vinegar to perform a “Vinegar Run” after assembling your Distiller. (Instructions on page 7)
!

4
A. Boiler
B. Boiler Lid
C. Stopper
D. Thermometer
E. Lid Latches (4)
F. Silicone Sealing Ring
G. Boiler Pot
H. Condenser
I. Distillate Outlet
J. Copper Coil
K. Roll of Teon Tape
L. Short Silicone Tube
M. Distillate Extension
Copper Tube
N. Bubble Airlock
O. Silicone hoses (2)
PARTS & FEATURES
J
L
H
I
Boiler
Condenser
A
B
O
N
C
MK
D
E
G
F

5
USING YOUR ARKSEN WATER/ALCOHOL DISTILLER
Before making your rst fermented and distilled beverages, or distilling water, perform the following:
• Wash all parts of your distiller with hot water and dish soap and dry completely.
• Perform a “Vinegar Run” described in the Distilling section (page 12).
• If distilling water only, perform a “Water Run” by distilling 1 gallon or more of clean water,
which will be discarded.
• Your Arksen Distiller can be used for the fermentation process, and then used for the distillation process.
• For fermenting, use the Fermenting Conguration, for Distilling use the Distilling Conguration.
• This product manual is not a complete guide to fermenting and distilling. In order to produce a satisfying
and safe product suitable for adult consumption, please consult books, recipes, and how-to resources and
videos on-line, in book stores and libraries.
• Caution: RISK OF METHANOL POISONING
Avoid consumption of Methanol (Methyl Alcohol)! Methanol can cause blindness and be fatal.
Carefully follow precautions in recipes for distilled beverages. Discard the rst 4-7 oz (100-200ml) of
liquid as it comes out of the Condenser Distillate Outlet, for of each 5 gallons (20L) of fermented
“mash”. These rst ounces are often referred to as “heads”or “foreshots”. DO NOT CONSUME THEM.
MAKING DISTILLED SPIRITS:
A 2 Stage Process: Fermenting & Distilling
STAGE 1: FERMENTATION
• Fermenting beverages into wine or beer is the rst step to then producing brandy, whiskey or gin.
The next step is distilling the results of fermentation, resulting in greater concentrations of alcohol, and
renement of color and avors. Distilling the result a second time further concentrates alcohol and clarity.
• Fermentation is the process of microorganisms, usually yeast, converting (metabolizing) sugars into
carbon dioxide and alcohol. The carbon dioxide bubbles out of the beverage, leaving behind alcohol. Beer,
Ale and Wine are fermented beverages which are complete at this stage. They do not need to go through
the second stage: distillation.
• A wide variety of foods can be fermented. Grains such as corn, wheat, barley, or rye, are used for many
beverages, such as beer and whiskey. Fruits, sugars, rice, and molasses are most often used to make wine,
brandy, rum, and other spirits. Potatoes are used to create vodka.
• Specic steps for fermenting can be found in the recipes on pages 14 -17.
• Use the Fermenting Conguration on pages 6 and 7.
OR
• You can use a separate large container for fermenting. The fermentation process happens over several
days or weeks. You may wish to keep your Arksen Distiller available for distilling only. Use clean glass,
stainless steel or food-safe ceramic or plastic containers. It’s helpful to have 2 or more containers available.

6
Parts needed
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Bubble
Airlock
Stopper Thermometer Boiler Pot
Silicone
Sealing Ring
Boiler Lid
Brass Nut
Silicone Washer
Attach Thermometer to Boiler Lid
SETTING UP FOR FERMENTING
• Wash all parts with dish soap and hot water before assembling.
Step 1. Slide silicone washer onto
thermometer stem. Slide
thermometer into either hole
in boiler lid.
Step 2. Thread brass nut on
thermometer stem under
the boiler lid. Firmly tighten.
(avoid over-tightening)

7
+
Preparing the Bubble Airlock
=
=
Fermenting Conguration
Step 1. Insert bottom end of Bubble
Airlock into stopper.
Step 2. Add a small amount of water
or sanitizing solution to half
ll the bubble airlock cavities.
Step 3. Insert the Bubble Airlock &
stopper into the available
hole in the boiler lid.
remove insert

8
WATER
IN
WATER
OUT
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Condenser
2 Silicone
Tubes
Teon Tape
Thermometer
Short Silicone
Tube
Copper
Extension Tube
Boiler Pot
Boiler Lid
Silicon
Sealing Ring
STAGE 2: DISTILLING
Distillation of fermented beverages is the process of concentrating the alcoholic content by separating
much of the alcohol from the fermented product. Slowly heating the fermented beverage in the Arksen
Distiller causes the alcohol to vaporize, rise into the Copper Coil and then be cooled as it travels through the
condenser. The alcohol in the fermented beverage turns to vapor at about 173 F, before the water content
of the beverage turns to steam at 212 F. As the alcohol cools, it drips from the Condenser Distillate Outlet.
This more pure form of alcohol dripping from the Distillate Outlet (after the initial 4 - 7 oz) is ethanol. Read
the caution about methanol on page 3. See Distillation Conguration, page 10)
Attach Silicone Tubes to Condenser
Step 4. Slide one silicone tube onto the
upper tting of the condenser.
Twist tube until it ts snuggly.
Step 5. Slide the other tube onto the
lower tting of the condenser.
SETTING UP FOR DISTILLING
• Wash all parts with dish soap and hot water before assembling.
Parts needed

9
Step 1. Remove the brass nut and
silicone washer.
Silicone
Washer
Connect Condenser to Boiler Lid.
Silicone
Washer
Fixed-in-
place Nut
Brass Nut
Step 2. To ensure a complete seal, wrap Teon
Tape tightly around the threaded end
of the connector a few times.
Step 3. Slide the silicone washer up to the
xed-in-place nut. Then insert the
connector in the Boiler Lid. The silicone
washer remains above the Boiler Lid.
Step 4. Thread brass nut onto threads and
tighten (avoid over-tightening). The
brass nut will be on the underside of
the boiler lid.

10
WATER
IN
WATER
OUT
HEAT
SOURCE
DISTILLATE Hose Connector
(not included)
SET UP WATER FLOW TO CONDENSER
Provide a continuous source of cold water to the Condenser Pot. The cold water owing into the Condenser
Pot cools the distillate owing through the Copper Coil.
There are two methods:
Method 1. Home faucet method:
Locate loose end of the Condenser’s “Water Out”Tube.
Attach a hose connector (not included) to it.
Attach hose connector your home faucet.
Place the loose end of the “Water Out”Tube to drain into sink basin.
Distilling Conguration
Method 1: Faucet cooling method
Extending the Distillate Outlet:
Add Small Silicone Tube +
Copper Extension Tube
Small
Silicone
Tube
Copper
Extension Tube