newbie needs help!!

[cooperman]

Hi all, ive been hanging around this very usefull site for a year or so brewing various lagers and its been really helpfull and ive found all the answers to my questions, now i need to ask a question that im struggling to find the answer to! I recently bought a kit from my local homebrew shop to make alcoholic liquid base and then add essence to make different drink, i.e vodka, jagermister style, but he said it would only be about 14% , the kit is something he has put together hiself and has turbo yeast etc, so my question is, is there a way to make it stronger than 14%?
many thanks,
any input will be greatly welcomed.

[oldbloke]

The turbo yeasts can usually reach 20, so I imagine there just isn't enough sugar in there. check the pack to see if it's listed. 20% needs 4lb of sugar in the gallon.

[cooperman]

cheers oldbloke, i havent started it yet, instruction say add 6kg of sucrose to 4.6 imp.gal, can i adjust the amount of sugar or put less water in ath the start?
cheers.

[Redimpz]

If it is the "still spirits" that you bought the alcohol base is often distilled before adding the flavourings. the distiller often costs around £150. I believe that it is legal as long as it is for your own use, but you need to drink quite a bit of it to justify the expense.

[sbond10]

Does the yeast say what it is as I've just made wine at near 16 % with standard wine yeast.
And no any form of distilling is illegal they get round it by saying there water filtration units

[cooperman]

hi, the yeast is just a turbo teast, im not interested in distilling in any way, just looking to see if i can boost it from 14% to smomething closer to 20%+ by adjusting the amount of sugar or water! cheers.

[sbond10]

Yea as mentioned is there actual instructions on the yeast packet what brand as mentioned try more sugar to increase your starting gravity

[cooperman]

hi, its triple distilled turbo yeast, no specific instructions other than amount of sugar and water, ive now made the kit, can i add more sugar a day after as not to kill yeast and would this increase % a litlle? many thanks.

[oldbloke]

If it is the "still spirits" that you bought the alcohol base is often distilled before adding the flavourings. the distiller often costs around £150. I believe that it is legal as long as it is for your own use, but you need to drink quite a bit of it to justify the expense.

No, it isn't legal

[oldbloke]

hi, its triple distilled turbo yeast, no specific instructions other than amount of sugar and water, ive now made the kit, can i add more sugar a day after as not to kill yeast and would this increase % a litlle? many thanks.

Yes, adding the sugar bit by bit is often recommended for pushing yeast to high ABV anyway

The maker's own web ad for this yeast doesn't mention what % they expect, but does say you need to carbon filter the product

[cooperman]

cheers oldbloke, how much extra sugar would you add and at what intervals?
Oh and yes i have the turbo carbon!!