Time for home-brew whiskey?
posted at 9:07 pm on September 3, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Jimmy Carter struck a blow for personal freedom — no, seriously, stop laughing — in 1978, when he made home brewing of beer legal in the US. As Reason TV says, this led to an explosion of experimentation and interest in beer and ale, and led to the development of the diverse microbrewery industry. However, home distillation of spirits remains a federal crime, and the onerous tax regime stifles innovation and discourages start-ups. The result is that only a few bottlers control the spirits industry instead of seeing another explosion of creativity and interest. When will we free the people to make their own moonshine?
Federal agents still raid distilleries much like they did during Prohibition, and making any amount of moonshine at home is not only illegal, it’s a felony that can carry up to five years in prison. The result is a market dominated by a few big names, where would-be craftsmen are forced to hide their work.
And yet, despite the danger, America is in the midst of “moonshine renaissance,” in which a new wave of hipster hobbyists has joined with old-time ‘shiners to flout the law and do what they love to do.
I’m not sure this is at the top of my political priorities, but it’s certainly a good question. The biggest issue for legalization could be the loss of tax revenue, or at least that seems to be the federal government’s biggest concern. But that’s a result of static analysis, assuming that existing consumption would remain the same but then split between those who buy retail and those who make their own. The experience in microbrewing should demonstrate that people will still buy their alcoholic beverages — but they may take more interest as new products and innovation hit the marketplace.
Even if it didn’t, should the federal government be in the business of prohibiting adults from whipping up their own distilled beverages for their own consumption? Maybe we should be following Carter’s example and getting the federal government out of the choices of adults in this instance.
Blowback
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Beer
http://blogofbad.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/billy-beer.jpg
William Amos on September 3, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Aaaah. Getting my libertarian itch scratched.
Bathtub gin was huge in Norway, where they tax the bajeezus out of everything. Stuff made flames come out your ears.
John the Libertarian on September 3, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Yeah, well pot cultivation has been illegal forever and look where that’s at.
trapeze on September 3, 2010 at 9:13 PM
Actually, here in TN you can homebrew a small amount of Moonshine for ‘your own consumption’.
There are some good moonshiners ’round here.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 9:14 PM
I think folks should be allowed to grow their own for personal use as well.
paulsur on September 3, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Aaaah. Me too. Feels good, doesn’t it. Thanks, Ed. Yer the best!
petefrt on September 3, 2010 at 9:16 PM
If home-made whiskey is legalized, it will lead to degradation of the family, the corruption of youth, the destruction of the soul, blah blah blah.
There. Now we have the typical neo-temperance/prohibition argument out of the way, so they can try and balance their social conservatism with the concept of small-government conservatism.
MadisonConservative on September 3, 2010 at 9:17 PM
I’m not sure — is it a quality assurance thing?
I don’t know much about distilled spirits, I’ve just heard that moonshine can blind you (not exactly grand amounts of knowledge on this, but…).
I mean, innovation is a good thing, but,if there is a serious potential for harm, that’s another.
Count to 10 on September 3, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Listen up citizens. Let’s get a few things straight. The Federal government has decided that you can kill all your preborn children to your hearts content. We’re fine with that. But unless you want to be incarcerated, publicly shamed and have a felony record the rest of your life, don’t you dare make yourself a drink.
Guardian on September 3, 2010 at 9:17 PM
Moonshine doesn’t blind you. Its the equipment and some added products that is what blinds you.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM
Some would say otherwise, but make no mistake, let me be clear, it’s purely for medicinal purposes that I support home-brew and home-grown.
petefrt on September 3, 2010 at 9:20 PM
Well… it’s five o’clock somewhere!!
JohnGalt23 on September 3, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Missing distinction between legislation and judicial activism.
Count to 10 on September 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM
I know who they are, they all have the same name.
My Names’ John Lee Pettimore ;)
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM
But ohhhhhhh nnnnooooooo,it fine for the Left to make KOOL_AID,but non-brainwashing liquids,is against the
law!!!!!!!!!
No piece,er,no peace,no justice,or sumpin like dat!!(sarc).
canopfor on September 3, 2010 at 9:23 PM
I’m not sure what you mean by that. Could you elaborate?
Count to 10 on September 3, 2010 at 9:23 PM
Progressives are for Prohibition
Kini on September 3, 2010 at 9:23 PM
Robert Mitchum- Ballad of Thunder Road
My granduncle was a moonshine runner.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 9:25 PM
I’d like to drink a lot, but I can’t afford it. A bottle of gin up here can go for $60 and it is mostly taxes. If I could make my own gin, I could afford to be an alcoholic finally.
keep the change on September 3, 2010 at 9:27 PM
I know who they are, they all have the same name.
My Names’ John Lee Pettimore ;)
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Dr Evil: Excellent theme tune,I’ll raise you one!!:)
========================================================
The Doors – Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5B28w51ygQ
canopfor on September 3, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Some Moonshiners add Methanol to their product. They also might use an automotive radiator during the process that may still contain antifreeze.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 9:27 PM
I’ve done the home brewing of beer and ale but I would like to distill a few pints just to see how it’s done and if I could be good at the craft. Have some friends that took it to the max with sophisticated equipment that got them the pure quill of the pure stuff. Too strong but cuttable to the enjoyable. They don’t abuse it but their liquor tab is very small.
mixplix on September 3, 2010 at 9:28 PM
The problem though is quality control. I wouldn’t want to drink anything made in some guy’s garage.
keep the change on September 3, 2010 at 9:28 PM
Below are three pictures of the cabin home of Melungeon matriarch and moonshiner extraordinaire, Mahala Mullins.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mahala-mullins-cabin-porch-tn1.jpg
Naugatuck Daily News September 19, 1898
Mahala Mullins, Moonshiner, Dead
Knoxville, Sept. 19
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:28 PM
There are a few caveats that should be considered…
Ethanol is highly flammable. Highly. In the form of “high shots” or pure, newly distilled product it’s close to 100% alcohol.
Everclear.
Buckets of the stuff being made in basements, down by the gas water heater and furnace. Yippee.
The fumes are explosive, the corrosive qualities can leach toxic levels of contaminants from lead-soldered joints in copper or rubber hoses not made for the process causing permanent health problems.
It’s just not the same thing as beer or wine making.
heldmyw on September 3, 2010 at 9:29 PM
That’s a great tune.
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:30 PM
Uncle Viking’s handy hints: (Note to Zero’s rev-e-noo-ers I home-brew only beer and legally, thank you.)
Don’t use lead solder on any distillation or fermentation equipment. Don’t use radiators to condense distillate. Don’t use crocks containing lead glaze for your mash or fermentation. Don’t use any wood storage vessels which can interact (ferment) and create methanol (poisonous, potentially blinding wood alcohol). Be sure your grain isn’t for planting and treated with pesticides (usually grain tinted pink.) Clean equipment equals tasty products.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 9:31 PM
I made my own ‘Everclear’ back in Chem lab in the 70s — 190 proof kicks your butt. This very same stuff is made for ‘gasohol’ blends for your car, at a cost around $3 per gallon. Compare that to distilled 80 proof stuff at $17 and up per fifth of a gallon.
You can buy ‘industrial’ grade 190 proof ethanol, but it has been denatured by adding gasoline to it. The gas cannot be distilled out as it forms an azeotrope, making it very undrinkable.
Nanny knows best.
GnuBreed on September 3, 2010 at 9:35 PM
You can quite legally distill small (5 Gallons) amounts of alcohol with BATF permission. It’s an easy process to get the permit.
But there is a reason you can’t open up your own distillery on the fly, taxes.
Liquor taxes make up a substantial portion of revenues collected by state and federal govt.
Is it any wonder that when the income tax started prohibition was passed, and when tax revenue fell, it was repealed?
LincolntheHun on September 3, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Everclear…..well at least it isn’t as bad as Jegarbombs.
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:37 PM
It’s masturbation that blinds you.
John the Libertarian on September 3, 2010 at 9:38 PM
Its all in the difference between Methanol and Ethanol….
Ethanol = Mmmm Mmmmm Good!
Methanol = ACK! I’m Blind! (or dead)
Improper distilation, or the actual addition of methanol can be brutal.
Agreed…which is why you would only want to drink out of your OWN garage, or bring your own to a garage party.
Koa on September 3, 2010 at 9:41 PM
“Hipster Hobbyists”
Mid twenties daughter calls it “Depression Chic.” Canning veggies and jams is now cool (or whatever the word for “cool” is now), too.
Possum Living is the hot book at the library amongst the hipsters.
Fallon on September 3, 2010 at 9:42 PM
Good moonshine is awesome.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 9:46 PM
Yea, like why would you buy homemade apple cider. Those 500 million eggs that were just recalled were all homemade too. Put all your faith in the government and you cannot go wrong.
GnuBreed on September 3, 2010 at 9:46 PM
[viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 9:31 PM]
Isn’t there something about not using aluminum products in your system, too?
My neighbor used to do it all the time and we talked long on the subject, but it was a long while back.
Dusty on September 3, 2010 at 9:48 PM
No matter what anyone tells you, there are no vitamins in wood grain alcohol.
John the Libertarian, drinking it won’t keep hair from growing on the palms of your hand LOL!
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:51 PM
Dunno, MadCon, as what would be considered a social con myself, I rather think it’s their own business.
Do I feel like punching drunkards in the face when they destroy their families? Yep. Sure do. I think that’s a normal reaction from a reasonable man, personally. But I don’t see banning alcohol creation in the home doing much to fix that.
Holger’s point about chemicals used in the process, though, makes me shudder. I’ll stick to lemonade and milk.
It’s a madhouse in this nation anymore.
KinleyArdal on September 3, 2010 at 9:54 PM
So I’m supposed to fill a charred oak barrel with homemade whiskey and wait 12 years to drink it? Isn’t it a tad easier to run down to the store and buy a bottle that’s 12 years old today?
repvoter on September 3, 2010 at 9:56 PM
So, no wood parts, no radiators, and no pesticides.
I wonder if that can be effectively regulated. Does it have to be?
Count to 10 on September 3, 2010 at 9:56 PM
There have been some good points made concerning methanol and lead; btw lead is (or used to be) a major component in automobile radiators.
There is very reliable glassware in the chemical industry for laboratory and small batch production; much of it is specialized for distillation. There is also enough variety to allow for a lot of options. I can see a cottage industry building for equipment and how-to books (design what you need, add on parts and scale up as desired).
Of course, this is all if it becomes legal (required CYA blurb).
mad scientist on September 3, 2010 at 9:59 PM
When stills are outlawed, only outlaws will have stills.
GnuBreed on September 3, 2010 at 10:03 PM
The Methanol can be purged during the process as Methanol and Ethanol have different temps at which they vaporize.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Copperhead Road, great song.
Legalize it, along with marijuana farming.
Free Constitution on September 3, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Also, don’t use galvanized pipes and such as it can create a poison.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 10:08 PM
This usually comes from moonshiners stretching out their product with lovely things like wood alcohol.
Sekhmet on September 3, 2010 at 10:08 PM
It sounds like we’ve got a few moonshiners here :)
Free Constitution on September 3, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Aluminum and aluminum radiator corrosion is bad news especially around acids. Also potentially bad news for kids or adults who decide to put anything but water in aluminum canteens. Plus any other crap (scale build up, sealants etc.) in there (the radiators) will likely come out in the product. The old radiators might have brass (copper corrosion) and other metals which too would corrode over time. The lead solder used in the radiators and whatever corrosion, accumulation, stop leak, whatever… works its way into whatever is distilled at their peril.
If you use glass always remember what it will do if the apparatus blows up. Eye protection and other shielding are firsts.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Current events have been a demonstration of the importance of quality control, not a knock against it.
Count to 10 on September 3, 2010 at 10:15 PM
Plus, Holger adds another good point. Galvanized pipes are usually coated with zinc alongside all those other metals to be avoided.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Two words.
Apple. Pie.
Princess Bernie on September 3, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Sigh, it’s not the making it’s the selling that really runs afoul of the law.
LincolntheHun on September 3, 2010 at 10:19 PM
One of my big pet peeves, particularly in this era of nanny-state “we’ll ban it if a child even gets the shivers by coming in contact with it” government control.
Here you have a product (ethanol), that in small doses is not poisonous, and the worst thing that would happen to a child who might accidentally get into is would be a hangover for reasonable doses. Enter the government, afraid of losing tax revenues, that, contrary to every other “protect us from ourselves” policy it puts in place, forces manufacturers of industrial ethanol to make it poisonous. Now, instead of a hangover, the child who accidentally gets into this stuff winds up seriously sick, injured or dead. But by golly, the government made sure that nobody was cheating it out of any tax revenue! Some kid dies? Too bad! You should have kept it out of their reach!
/The irony here is that I don’t drink (well, maybe a glass of wine once a year or so). Not because I think it’s wrong, I just don’t like the stuff. But this idea of making something deliberately toxic when it doesn’t have to be is just insane.
AZfederalist on September 3, 2010 at 10:23 PM
OT: You knew it was just a matter of time: Deep-Fried Beer
slickwillie2001 on September 3, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Many places, towns, counties, states, outlaw the distillation equipment because of the fire and explosion hazards. Though less common than it used to be… if it wasn’t lightning or a campfire that caused a fire in the Smoky Mountains it was probably white lightning that caused a fire in the Smoky Mountains.
BTW It is estimated that over 90 percent of UFO sightings take place within a hundred yards of a working still. (Making that one up.)
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:28 PM
Saloons back in the day did that by adding turpentine to the whiskey.
Holger on September 3, 2010 at 10:29 PM
I can attest to that. I was blinded once by it. It was back in UVA law school, and the moonshine was made by a chemistry professor of the med school, a brilliant fellow only slightly older than us students who enjoying partying. It came well recommended, but it made you blind the next morning. As luck would have it, the blindness went away… eventually.
So you see there, I am libertarian. No harm done.
petefrt on September 3, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Anything that gave us NASCAR can’t be all bad.
TexasDan on September 3, 2010 at 10:33 PM
Another fun fact:
What usually causes the hangover isn’t the alcohol it’s what are called fusel oils. That is the by products of the fermentation process. Cheap wine hangovers must be really bad. One of the rules of distillation is you throw out the headings (first bit out of the still) and the tailings (last bit out of the still) where the fusel oils will be in greatest quantity. Then re-distill the keepings to further reduce fusels and to increase the proof. There’s an old army story about an officer who used to confiscate, pretend to destroy, then drink the men’s moonshine so they saved up a bottle of headings and added just enough of the good stuff to make it seem legit…. and blessed their mooching confiscator with a hangover to last him the rest of his days.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:38 PM
s/b isn’t just the alcohol. The alcohol surely will also.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:41 PM
The Doors – Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5B28w51ygQ
canopfor on September 3, 2010 at 9:27 PM
=========================================
That’s a great tune.
Dr Evil on September 3, 2010 at 9:30 PM
Dr Evil:)
canopfor on September 3, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Make wine, freeze it, pour off the alcohol and repeat.
It’s called wine jacking and it’s a process that’s as old as the pyramids.
iceman1960 on September 3, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Nothing like another Great Depression, increased taxes and Progressive nanny-state Puritanism to make Americans long for their own backyard stills.
obladioblada on September 3, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Not usually. Always. Galvanizing of steel is always a zinc coating.
TexasDan on September 3, 2010 at 11:02 PM
This has my vote.
I bought Crown Royal for my accounts(automotive dealerships) for several years to give as Christmas presents.
About 5 years ago I gave them a choice between Crown or Shine that I was able to get with fruit in it(Peach,blackberry,strawberry,Grape,…..Apple Pie/Cinnamon will be handed out this year).
Within 2 years I was giving out 0 bottles of Crown….every account requested their mason jar of Shine.
Top quality Junior Johnson NC Shine is in high demand and enjoyed by all that drink it.
I think it is safe to say that people that enjoy Shine would rather see the government concentrate on corruption within it’s ranks and fixing the economy it has destroyed instead of hassling people who want to relax with a drink after busting their a$$ to pay their bills.
Baxter Greene on September 3, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Dude!
mrt721 on September 3, 2010 at 11:05 PM
I’m all for a bit more competition. Spending $20+ on a good bottle of whiskey is an expensive addiction to feed.
Yakko77 on September 3, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Hahaha. Where are you, Alaska? I’ll send you potatoes, You can make vodka from potatoes, right?
petefrt on September 3, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Problem is, that about $18 of that is probably taxes. That may be a slight bit of hyperbole, but it’s at the point that the product cost is way less than the tax on the product for things like tobacco and alcohol. Competition isn’t going to help you much here because the amount you could save through competition, even if the product were almost free would not significantly bring down the price you would have to pay because of the taxes.
AZfederalist on September 3, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Morrison was one of the best….great tune Canopfor.
Here is one for you:
AC/DC Have a drink on me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfcnoIkBdjc
Baxter Greene on September 3, 2010 at 11:17 PM
That’s what I couldn’t ever figure out about the temperance movement — they advocate for bigger government. Doesn’t seem to be a whole lot “conservative” about that.
There is a creeping conservative leviathan. Joe Farah’s behavior towards Ann Coulter (and the way he subsequently went on gay-themed talk shows to criticize her) ought to be proof enough of that.
gryphon202 on September 3, 2010 at 11:49 PM
You’re wrong. To keep ethanol at 100% you need a preservative that keeps it from degrading. This EtOH is probably 90-95%.
nazo311 on September 3, 2010 at 11:52 PM
Hmmmm.
1. What is interesting is that purely by accident the government of New Zealand made the distillation of alcohol *legal*. Funny thing really.
2. Like anything else if you follow the instructions and aren’t a jackass then safe distillation is possible.
3. I think it’s kinda funny how criminal distillation of alcohol is treated.
memomachine on September 3, 2010 at 11:54 PM
Making wine and beer at home is a good hobby. However, the ATF is starting to crack down on those that make TOO MUCH home make wine/beer for personal consumption.
Don’t be surprised if you see laws popping up banning making wine and beer at home because of the big breweries (Coors, Budweiser, Miller) lobbying for laws to ban it. I’m not saying it is in the works now, but in a few years it will be for sure.
Home brewing is exploding because it is so easy, and A LOT cheaper to make your own beer. Plus, you can make the beer you like to drink.
Don’t worry, the heavy hand of the government will come down on all of the homebrewers for no other reason than the taxes…
nazo311 on September 4, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Reminds me of the Whiskey Rebellion.
Dhuka on September 4, 2010 at 12:22 AM
The fact that many of our founding fathers ran distilleries, George Washington for example, should be ample reason enough to legalize it.
modnar on September 4, 2010 at 12:24 AM
Gnu, I gotta know – how did you get it past your teacher? (And what grade did you get??)
Rosmerta on September 4, 2010 at 2:18 AM
The wrecked cars out back were the repositories of the good stuff at the local car repair shop. And it was an introduction to good vs. bad stuff. Ten years later, I learned that there was good Scotch, too,
Caststeel on September 4, 2010 at 5:05 AM
George Jones – White Lightning
He took one slug
And he drank it right down
And I heard him moanin’
As he hit the ground
Mighty, mighty pleasin’
Your pappy’s corn squeezins
Ooooooh! White Lightning!
Kafir on September 4, 2010 at 7:07 AM
Folks, it isn’t the safety nanny crap that drives this, it is purely the government wanting to get its $$.
BATFE, isn’t just a way to plan a great party. They want their revenue, and it they do not make any $ if you are having neighborhood whiskey cook offs.
Nathan_OH on September 4, 2010 at 8:42 AM
It’s actually legal to distill up to 200 gallons of alcohol a year for personal consumption as long as you don’t sell it. Selling it is what attracts the attention of the IRS and ATF.
When a lot of farm equipment was gasoline powered legal distillation was popular. Now that nearly all farm equipment is diesel powered the use of alcohol as a fuel has dropped off to almost nothing. Using it in cars now isn’t practical since nearly all gasoline sold in the US is now gasohol (10% ethanol). Adding more alcohol would make it unusable in most cars.
Also, once the feds find out about a legal still they kick entrapment operations into high gear and harrass the owner to make owning a still more trouble than it’s worth.
single stack on September 4, 2010 at 9:19 AM
I don’t think thats right. The ATF is a federal agency and the liquor making laws are federal also. I’ve been around the moonshine making my whole life in TN and never heard that.
Big Orange on September 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM
As a recovering alcoholic let me tell you a few signs that you are having a hard time:
1. You attach curb feelers to you shoulders so you know when you are to close and may smudge the white walls.
2. You are so desperate for a morning screwdriver that you put a packet of Tang into a quart of vodka and shake vigorously.
3. You change your transmission gear selector from “D” for Drive to “H” for Home. Hey it works – but parking is not always pretty.
MSGTAS on September 4, 2010 at 9:34 AM
The people are restless, let them have booze to calm them, then we can continue with the prison building.
tarpon on September 4, 2010 at 9:40 AM
Ethanol (grain alcohol) made for fuel is not pure enough until it is passed through a molecular sieve to get the water out.
Industrial grade ethanol is generally made from natural gas, not from fermentation and distillation.
Wood alcohol (methanol) does not come from storing ethanol in wooden barrels. It comes from actually distilling wood but that was long before the Fischer Tropsch reaction to make it from natural gas and far less expensive.
Lots of people were making home brew long before Carter was even heard about. I never heard about it being illegal.
It was lots of fun going into an old distillery in Kentucky about 8 years ago. The most important part of large distilleries is the yeast production. That is where the big difference is in the taste.
FYI, vodka distilleries are some of the largest buyers of grain not fit for consumption.
Kermit on September 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM
It is not a large quantity, but yes it is legal to make a small amount for personal consumption.
Kermit on September 4, 2010 at 10:01 AM
FYI, I know where there is a 10,000 gallon per year grain alcohol plant disassembled. They way around the law is to “poison” it with gasoline. That is the big difference between ethanol for fuel and for consumption.
SD alcohol used in most mouthwashes is nothing more than ethanol made from natural gas. Shell had a facility in CA (which I tore down in 1992) which took ethane from the refinery off gases, made it into ethanol, then sold it to “Scope”.
Kermit on September 4, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I have looked since this was said and I can’t find that. Even if a state allows a small batch the federal law is crystal clear, and that is no distilled spirits. If you have a link to the law I would love to see it.
I’ve been doing this a long time and never heard anything about small batches being legal.
Big Orange on September 4, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Ok my lawyer buddy says no moonshine in small batches:
You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are paying special tax, filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.
Big Orange on September 4, 2010 at 10:35 AM
*Sigh* busts out the trusty pchem text: You can’t produce 100% ethanol through simple distillation. Ethanol and water form an azeotropic composition at ~4% water at ~78C.///chem nerd
Home stills are a bad idea because they explode. I take a libertarian PoV on many things marijuana and alcohol related, but this fails the “neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg” test. My son’s playroom is 6ft from my neighbors garage. If my neighbor had only a moderately sized still in his garage, and it went boom (as it easily could), it could take out half my house. IMHO, things that explode are areas where gov’t reg. is appropriate.
bitsy on September 4, 2010 at 11:19 AM
Mom, can I just do it till I need glasses?
Mr. Grump on September 4, 2010 at 11:20 AM
So much good information, and so much misinformation, in this thread!
You can homebrew 100 gallons of beer a year (a married couple can make 200 gallons between them). You are not allowed to distill any amount of alcohol by any method: even to put a bottle of Miller Lite in the freezer is a crime. Also, even if it is legal in your state, it is still against Federal law (like medicinal marijuana).
Prior to the introduction of the Federal income tax, something close to 40% of all Federal revenue came from excise taxes on alcohol–among the many evils of the 16th Amendment was that it paved the way for the 18th.
I’ve seen distilling equipment for sale in home brew shops, cutely adorned with signs that say “for distillation of WATER ONLY!”–no need to resort to radiators.
Someone mentioned that methanol can be completely separated from ethanol by boiling it off due to different boiling points. This is false–you would either lose a lot of ethanol or retain a lot of methanol in the process.
I’m a homebrewer and a whiskey drinker myself, but I think liquor production should be left to the professionals. That having been said, I do not think it should remain a federal crime–allowing moonshining would be an excellent way to kill off all the people stupid enough to try it without taking the necessary precautions.
hicsuget on September 4, 2010 at 11:39 AM
I think federal laws against distilling alcohol are unconstitutional since booze and guns are the only two material things we have a Constitutional Right to have.
Buddahpundit on September 4, 2010 at 12:13 PM
It is so easy to make booze and cheap too. You can make 2 qts for the cost of 5 lbs of sugar and some yeast, oh and fuel to fire your still.
I make a 7 gallons of wine for about 11.00 bucks.
I have made beer for as low as 2.54 cents for 2 cases ( got the malt real cheap).
esnap on September 4, 2010 at 12:36 PM
This is the very stuff of liberty. If the substance legal, why not let people make the stuff for their own consumption?
I’m reminded of Van Morrison’s Moonshine Whiskey,
“Oh, she give me moonshine whiskey
Oh, she give me southern love
Deep in the heart of Texas
There beneath the stars above
Oh, she give me southern comfort
Oh, she give me moonshine love
Deep in the heart of Texas
There beneath the stars above”
theCork on September 4, 2010 at 2:04 PM
I’ll settle for the gov give us back the lightbulb.
unseen on September 4, 2010 at 5:10 PM
And if they make pot legal you will not be able to grow in in your backyard. No tax rev for the gov.
unseen on September 4, 2010 at 5:12 PM
If you use glass always remember what it will do if the apparatus blows up. Eye protection and other shielding are firsts.
viking01 on September 3, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Copper for the stillpot, fastened with copper rivets and sealed with flour-water paste. Copper tubing for the condenser. Wood (preferrably oak) for the slobber box.
If you want to age it, store it in a charred-oak cask. (Whiskey of any sort (unlike wine) stops aging as soon as it’s put into glass. A twenty-year-old bottle of 12 year-old scotch is still 12 years old.)
Solaratov on September 4, 2010 at 5:26 PM
Just check out Eastern Europe. Pretty much everybody there makes their own whiskey/brandy/vodka. Every neighborhood has a few people who do the distilling, usually for a small fee or a portion of the product. I’ve seen guys put a small portable still (referred to as a “happy machine” in the vernacular) on a trailer, hook it to their farm tractor, and go door to door, distilling everybody’s mash. Quality does vary, though. Some of it is really outstanding, some of it can double as paint stripper.
Dan859 on September 4, 2010 at 9:49 PM
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