I built a rum distillery

Some trees (although stretching the ‘car’ definition here ;) )

Morrisons in Dumfries.

Environmental degrees tend not to be valued very highly, unless there’s some other twist to it, like combining it with entrepreneurship/business, or outreach or something. So if your goal is to obtain a new qualification to switch careers, the chances are that you’d be better off just applying for the jobs you want now and save yourself the course fees.

If, on the other hand, it’s something you’re really passionate about and want to thoroughly immerse yourself in an academic environment to suck up as much knowledge as possible, then go for it! Although, as above, choose the right course rather than just the first one you’ve seen. Some are mightily broad in scope and you’re unlikely to be satisfied at the end of it.

FYI, I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in environmental geoscience, worked for a few years, went back to do an MSc in carbon capture and storage, leading on to a PhD in the same subject. After 10 years at uni studying environmental (climate change) issues, I’ve spent the last two years as a forester and am just about to open my own distillery. Read from that what you will… ;)

2% isn’t much

It’s a whole world of difference between a jam and a chutney dontchaknow!

What refractometer for measuring the brix of ham? ;)

Labelling standards, sadly, have a habit of not applying to the big guys. In my business (spirits), there are plenty who flout laws on labelling (deliberately or otherwise) and seem to happily get away with it. Kraken Spiced Rum being one particularly brazen example.

I’ve got 4.13kW of in-roof panels installed on my distillery roof. Calculated 12 year payback period out of 20 year lifespan at a capital cost of £7.2k.

But my decision isn’t to do with economics, it’s simply to make my business as sustainable as I can afford at the moment. The payback period is irrelevant!

The panels aren’t connected up yet, but I’ll report back sometime on real world generation figures when I’m up and running!

I get 3.3 centi poise by the same calcs (31% mass fraction molasses??)

Doh! Yeah, I corrected my mass fraction and got the same as you, near enough. Whether it’s the right method, or not, I don’t know. Thanks for checking though!

The mixing tank will be filled with hot water and the molasses added, so in theory it’ll dissolve fairly rapidly as it’s added and not sit in a lump at the bottom of the tank.

Best is to ask the “customer” what the viscosity is!

I’m the customer ;)

Want me to send it on to our process tech professor at uni?

You can if you like! I’ve pulled the trigger on the equipment anyway so I’ll find out in a few months if it’s going to work.

just go one bigger – sorted.

The one I’m buying is £1k. The ‘one bigger’ is £6k…

Have you just done a weighted average?

No, I used the viscosity blending calc outlined on Wikipedia (and seen elsewhere): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity#Viscosity_of_blends_of_liquids

However I think you’re right in that this formula seems to apply to fluids of similar properties (e.g. oils), so dunno how valid it is for molasses.

Why? Trying to spec a mechanical stirrer. Although, as above, I know what the resulting mixture looks and feels like to have an intuitive idea of how thick the liquid is, and compared that with others to estimate cP.

Is there any reason you went for the Hilux over the Navara, Ranger or X Class?

Only the Ranger and Hilux were on my radar after doing an initial scan of reviews. Test drove both, and talked to loads of folk round here about their/others’ experiences with pickups. I preferred the feel of the Hilux (not as massive as the Ranger), the price was better, the warranty was better, I could get the colour I wanted (I don’t think Ford were offering a white Ranger without coughing up more money), and the sales guy had a much better (IMO) attitude. Wasn’t bothered about the interior – it’s only going to get covered in filth anyway.

The only weapon in my Hilux will be my big chopper.

no sign writing? #stealthginsellingadvertfail

I’m probably on a short leash with the mods. And besides #itwontbegin

Not yet, maybe in a few months ;)

First pour might be in the summer. July, maybe? Having a small nightmare with my intended distilling equipment!

I have a CSCS card, and have read up on CDM.

Production quality = time + equipment + energy. I’m short of two and making do with the other.

UPDATE 4/3/18

*whispers in case the mods hear*

Building work has begun…

More vids online…

*slinks off again*

Ah, the random book on the link bar! Thanks.

Gary, does Orb Group do clothing? The website just looks like general branding and marketing.

Matt, cheers, they both look good.

Cheers dude, it’s certainly quite ominous!

Lurking wind turbine by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Also when you lock the camera off turn off the AF you can see it hunting while you are talking, it’s very distracting.

Yeah, I noticed this afterwards too, and it’s hunting like that because at whatever crazy small aperture it was working at, it’ll be trying to AF by contrast detect, rather than the smoother/faster phase detect AF.

Anyway, “ Saves on buying a dolly or slider” only if I don’t crash it! I flew it around inside the bigger building and it was slightly terrifying 8O

I wondered how far I could push it :lol:

Unless there’s another rum distillery on the go that I don’t know about, then yes I am ‘Dumfriesshire Rum’!

Can you email me kit@ninefolddistillery.com with the details of the projects, please?

Thanks for the feedback!

I doubt that I can get rid of the um and ers, it’s a habit that I’ve never been able to break, despite plenty of public speaking. I’d tried to write a script but I couldn’t read it :lol: Maybe some big bullet points next time… I shot a whole day of stuff and went back to reshoot, intending to be in the same clothes so that I could cut stuff together as needed. But Day 2 was **** baltic so I ended up with the jacket and gloves, and just worked with what I got.

Lots was cut out, and I’m sure subsequent vids will be shorter. I know people have a crap attention span. I won’t, however, be waiting until I’ve got something to ‘show’. The whole point of the vlog was to show progress from barn to distillery. So major milestones in building work, the kit arriving, etc.

It’s a massive learning curve: teaching myself how my camera does video, talking to camera, aerial footage, editing, etc. is all brand new to me. But glad it’s, um, mostly positive, er, feedback.

I see there are projects working with you at uni!

News to me! I had two last year, maybe that’s what you’ve spotted.

UPDATE 16/01/18

Not much more on the building front, however… I gone done a vlog! Pretty terrifying. I had to learn how to: shoot video on my camera; fly a drone; be comfortable looking at and listening to myself over and over again during editing; edit; all the social media stuff for videos.

Feedback welcome, even if you hate it!

It does and I applaud your for it. So what is the business, I’m guessing it’s photography, perhaps aerial photography?

Nope, I’m setting up a rum distillery :D

I've just set up my own distillery company!

ElShalimo I think that’s near this spot?
Hadrian's Wall by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Not really an amazing photo, but as someone who’s shy, introverted, lacks self confidence and all that jazz, it takes a lot to put my face out there publicly. Actually, the photo is the – relatively – easy bit. The video that’s going to follow is the truly hard part! God I’m dreading editing that :| But needs must to promote my business. And you never know, I might one day enjoy it.

Self portrait by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Sorry, I should’ve added that it’s not my photo.

Credit: The Twins (http://thetwinsweddings.co.uk/)

Three_Fish, I thought your last photo looked familiar. And indeed it is! Here’s my mate’s wedding photo (he’s a geologist) taken in, I’m guessing, the same place!

Nice shot Kit.

Cheers pal.

Proud of myself for getting excited about going out and shooting some landscapes for the first time in bloody ages. Helps when you’re in a beautiful city and it’s snowing!

Edinburgh under snow by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Not sure where the filter is…

It’s in the fuel tank, should be able to fish it out with your finger or a bit of wire.

Hang on, what?

Guessing he was the fat X-Wing pilot who says “There’s too many of them” or something to that effect before being shot down.

Saw it at 7am this morning at my local IMAX.

Visually phenomenal, but as above, I thought the humour was forced, the dialogue clunky, large parts of the plot were pointless, and I got a bit bored of all the twists/turns. Enjoyable enough that I don’t regret being up at 5:30 this morning for it, but it wasn’t exactly satisfying :/

It requires a conscious and deliberate effort to sign away your copyright forever. Even if you’re not bothered about ever exercising it for monetary gain, why deliberately rule it out? You can still adopt a “I don’t care” attitude if you see your copyright being abused/violated, but if you’ve permanently signed it away, there can’t ever be a comeback. Seems stupid and short-sighted to me, but hey ho, they’re not my photos!

try a keen amateur…they pass over copyright so you can get them reproduced anywhere you like.

Whoever that was is an idiot. Most wedding/photography contracts will offer a licence for the wedding couple/client to reproduce photos as they wish without giving up the copyright. The copyright to original photographic work is worth far more than a couple of hundred quid and if they’re explicitly giving it away in their contracts then they’re complete mugs!

I’ve shot a few weddings, and my sister lives in Woking. I could potentially head for a long-overdue visit and tie in your wedding ;)

The examples on the page you link to though a utterly ghastly, over indulgent saccharine…

In your opinion, as you say.

They are certainly heavily processed. Some work better than others, though, and your statement could apply to many of the photos on this thread. In my opinion.

Not being contrary, but can’t you accept this?

It’s not that I can’t accept it, it’s that I find it strange that there are no limits on what you can pay by cheque or debit card. Surely these are as open to fraud as bank transfers, or am I being naive?

It’s ‘free’ banking with Clydesdale too. Apart from the things you get charged for…

And indeed, £24 is a fraction of £37k, but a) why should I when I want to do it online and b) it adds up over time.

The spreading payments thing is a faff, as far as I’m concerned! e.g. today’s payment was to Scottish Power. I don’t trust SP to put 2 and 2 together to process my multiple payments properly. One more thing to go wrong. Maybe I’m just cynical…

What would make more sense would be to build such efficient houses that the boiler is barely needed = much reduced CO2, cheaper bills, happier people.

But that won’t happen…

The drone’s a Phantom 3 Professional. Picture quality isn’t that great from it, but it will at least shoot in RAW (DNG format), so photos can be somewhat rescued!

I haven’t done any recreational photography for months. Either been working on my distillery, or shooting events.

However, picked up a drone last week for distillery promo work and finally got an SD card for it today. One of the first photos from it. Proud I didn’t crash the thing!

Dormont by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Aye, I could do the demo work I need to do, but then I’d be left with an exposed soil and no roof over the winter. Plus I’m not convinced the walls will hold up too well without the gable end and roof. Certainly the structural engineer doesn’t want to rest the new roof on the existing walls!

The marque has come out great, and certainly worth the money! Particularly when half of it was paid for with a grant. Or will be when I put the claim in…