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15 days ago I started a batch of wine from a Wine Kit. I went to measure the SG to begin the next step when I found the wine had a film layer at the top. Anyway I phoned the place that sold it to me and am getting a new wine kit tomorrow.

Before I pour this contaminated wine down the toilet, I am wondering if I could finish the process and distill it? Can I do anything to salvage this ~21L of bad juice?

Here's a picture of the contamination, it looked more like a white film before I poked it with a thermometer then it cracked: enter image description here

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    Did it ferment? If not then no point in distilling it. By the way, polishing a turd just makes for a shiny turd.
    – Escoce
    Oct 21, 2019 at 3:22
  • @Escoce Yep it fermented. I am not hoping to make this wine better or shine it up, just making use instead of dumping. The wine actually seems OK now that it's in the second stage. A person on another forum suggested the issue was pellicle. So nothing vitally wrong with the wine.
    – dustytrash
    Oct 21, 2019 at 3:37
  • Update: the distilled wine (Brandy) turned out great. My only complaint is it only lasted a few days :-)
    – dustytrash
    Jul 30, 2020 at 12:18
  • Nice, how long did you let it age? And also how much brandy did you get from it?
    – Escoce
    Jul 31, 2020 at 18:03
  • @Escoce Tbh I didn't let it age at all, was too excited to try it. I got about 4L from it
    – dustytrash
    Jul 31, 2020 at 19:59

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Yes you can! You are just distilling the alcohol, not all the bad stuff. If you catch it before it turns to vinegar you should be fine.

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Without knowing what type of contamination it is, it's hard to tell if anything can be done. Is it a white film? Does it smell bad? A small film isn't always contamination, it could be soap residue, etc.

I am inclined to think that if contamination results in bad taste, that some of the bad taste will be tranferred during the distillation process (Garbage In -> Garbage Out).

This is particularly true with vinager, maybe less with distillation.

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  • It is a white film, I'll attach a photo. Their is no smell, it still smells like wine. I don't mind a bad taste, just worried about getting sick
    – dustytrash
    Oct 18, 2019 at 21:27
  • Added an image and description
    – dustytrash
    Oct 18, 2019 at 21:39

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