Why is home distilling illegal?
According to federal law, making beverage alcohol at home is illegal, plain and simple. Why is that? Distilled spirits like whiskey are taxed at the highest rate of any alcohol, far more than either beer or wine. (Actually, a tax on spirits as the very first tax ever levied in the United States.)
At what proof should I stop distilling?
When the Distillation Process Ends Experienced commercial distillers generally run their stills until the alcohol from the wash has reduced to somewhere around 10-20 proof. It is not worth the time and energy to distill further to separate the little remaining alcohol from the water.
How do you distill alcohol without a still?
Freeze distilling is the process of making liquor without a still by freezing an alcoholic drink or a fermented mash. Thanks to the differing freezing points of water and alcohol, the latter can be drained from the ice in the defrostation process.
How do you make a small Solar still?
To build a small solar still, place a large bowl in a sunny spot outside. Next put a small bowl inside the larger bowl. Fill the large bowl with water, but do not completely submerge the small bowl. Use plastic wrap to tightly cover the bowls, and place a weight at the center of the covering to angle the plastic down.
What do you need to make a stills?
A still has three separate parts – something to heat the liquid, something to help water vapours condense before they escape the apparatus and something to cool and trap the alcoholic vapours. I will refer to these parts as the vat, column and condenser. You also need a thermometer with a scale that goes to at least +100 o C.
Can I build my own moonshine still?
If your build is simple or complex, we can help you get the right parts for your project. We will soon have plans to build a moonshine still available. In the meantime, we have DIY kits for several different stills. All the parts are precut and ready for assembly. They include everything you need except for a boiler.
How do you use a still on an electric stove?
Use the still correctly. Fill the condenser with ice, water, and rock salt. Make sure you use this still on an electric stove, as open flames can cause problems. Do not heat the pot once everything has boiled away, and generally be careful as pressure can build up if you have done something incorrectly.