Foreshots
Foreshots are the very first liquid to come off a still at the start of a run, high in methanol, acetone, and other volatile compounds. They are separated out and not kept in the final spirit.
In short: Foreshots are the very first liquid to come off a still at the start of a run, high in methanol, acetone, and other volatile compounds. They are separated out and not kept in the final spirit.
Because foreshots concentrate the most volatile and undesirable compounds, distillers discard or redistill them rather than let them into the hearts. On a pot still the foreshots are part of the heads cut. Knowing your still and recording where foreshots end is part of a safe, consistent cut.
What are foreshots and why are they discarded?
Foreshots are the first liquid off the spirit still, carrying the most volatile compounds including acetone and traces of methanol along with anything left in the equipment. They are set aside, never bottled, and typically redistilled or discarded.
How do foreshots differ from heads?
Foreshots are the very first, unusable fraction; heads follow and are a judgment call, with some distillers recycling them into the next run for the esters they carry. The cut points between them are part of the house's recorded practice.
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