"Can anyone tell me how to store lees? And for how long? Here's the deal.....I am making 2 buckets of sweet feed mash, as we speak. Will be ready to run this weekend, but I won't be home to do so (deer hunting season here!). I was going to rack the wash off the lees, and just store it in my carboys for a week or two, until I can run the still. In the meantime, I want to use the spent lees to start my next bash (sour mash?)....what is the best way to preserve it, for 2 to 3 weeks, until I can add backset and do all that other stuff to get the 2nd run going?

Thanks for your help! Susan"

"Thanks, Heeler! So, just to clarify....
My racked ""juice"" can stay in the carboys for as long as needed until I run it (I kind of knew this, as I have been making wine for several years).
The sludge in the bottom of the fermentation buckets (aka lees?) can just be stored with the lid on, and left in a cool garage, until I get ready to add to it and start a new mash? I was just worried about it molding and mildewing or something. Didn't know if I should put it in the fridge or add more water to it, so it doesn't harden up. this is my very first batch of spirits. I haven't even taken the still out of the shipping box that it came in, yet! It may be after Christmas before we can run it. I still have to run a vinegar and water batch through it to get it all clean and sterilized.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas!"

"Yeah just leave 3-4 inches of water on top of the lees in the bucket and seal it up good, and keep it as cool as you can anyway. If you get nervous about it rack into smaller jugs and put in the fridge, but IMHO it should be fine.
Oh and you mentioned mold and mildew---- you ARE making a sour mash and lots of folks like to get that nasty over ripe thing going on in there, I guess it adds that little something special ---- not to me but others do it that way so dont fret too much about it, keep it cool and wet and there ya go."

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This time of year is the ONLY time I'm glad I live in Fl. No snow but the heat can kill ya quicker than the cold, but my bones just can't take that 40 mph wind when it's 20F outside............."