At the end of the second distillation, what happens to the heads and tails?

After the second distillation in the production of spirits, the heads and tails are typically set aside and used for the next distillation. During the distillation process, the distiller separates the distilled liquid into three components: the heads, which contain lighter volatile compounds; the heart, which contains the desired ethanol and flavoring compounds; and the tails, which have heavier compounds.

The heads and tails may not have desirable flavors or alcohol content for the current distillation but can be beneficial to future distillations. By using them in the next distillation, distillers can maximize their yield and minimize waste, effectively utilizing all parts of the distillation process to ensure efficiency and continuity in production. This practice is an essential aspect of distillation, as it allows distillers to maintain quality while operating sustainably.

In contrast, discarding the heads and tails permanently would represent a loss of potentially useful material, while selling them as a low-quality product or keeping them for aging does not align with standard practices in spirit production, as they would typically not be aged or sold in their unrefined states.