Distilling

[JohnnyTarr]

Has anyone out there ever researched distilling? I know that it is no longer legal in the U.S. so I ask in theory only. What would be the old method of making rum?

[DocF225]

Home Brewing and Distilling are legal, for the most part, for personal consumption only. Some states and/or local governments have statutory prohibition best. Rule of thumb, keep it small and keep it quiet and nobody bothers.

Rum is/was distilled from sugar cane and molasses after fermentation.

[Captain Jim-sib]

An excellent book on the "how-to" is: Secrets of the Still by Grace Firth.

1983, ISBN 0-914440-66-7

[kass]

I've been a brewer's wife for a number of years now, and I had no idea that distilling was legal. Thanks for teaching me something new today, DocF!

You can actually brew quite a lot of beer before you hit the homebrewing limit. Check your state's regulations for sure.

And look at these cool links I just found on distilling!

[Salty]

tis legal and by area how much ye can make depends, but it is norammlay enough to make it fun and tasty. recipes for said spirits are sometimes passed down from family members but several should be found with a bit of searching. setting up the apparatus : purchase one or make yer own , give me a bit an i will dig up me directions on it

[NVBarbossa]

One of the best reference manuals out there is the Alaskan bootleggers bible, shows you how to make (for reference only) the distiller even.

[CaptainSatan]

Home Brewing and Distilling are legal, for the most part, for personal consumption only.

Actually I'm afraid that any home distilling for human consumption is illegal in the United States.You can apply for a permit from the BATF for an experimental still for making fuel, but you'll have to promise not to drink any of it

-CS

[Tartan Jack]

Home Brewing and Distilling are legal, for the most part, for personal consumption only.

Actually I'm afraid that any home distilling for human consumption is illegal in the United States.You can apply for a permit from the BATF for an experimental still for making fuel, but you'll have to promise not to drink any of it

-CS

Definatively stated:

Cite source, statute please!

Also, remember . . .

Mash STINKS!!!!!!!!

So, home distilling might not be the best idea. legal or not.

I'll BUY my alcohol (I like the fact the FDA has to approve it as safe, esp. moonshine-> great , great uncle blinded by bad moonshine, NO KIDDING!!!!!)

[Quartermaster James]

Home Brewing and Distilling are legal, for the most part, for personal consumption only.

Actually I'm afraid that any home distilling for human consumption is illegal in the United States.You can apply for a permit from the BATF for an experimental still for making fuel, but you'll have to promise not to drink any of it

-CS

Definatively stated:

Cite source, statute please!

Ask, and ye shall receive:

From the U.S. Department of the Treasury:

Spirits

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.

Spirits may be produced for non-beverage purposes for fuel use only without payment of tax, but you also must file an application, receive TTB's approval, and follow requirements, such as construction, use, records and reports.

http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7

[CaptainSatan]

Also see....

http://www.atf.gov/alcohol/info/faq/spirits.htm

For FAQ at the BATF.

-CS

[Captain Jim-sib]

Am reminded of a label from Taylor Wine during prohibition era when they only produced grape juice. The side label stated:

"Do not add 1 cup sugar

Do not add 1 cake of yeast

Do not let sit in a vented jug for one week

Do not consume the resulting liquid"

[JohnnyTarr]

Am reminded of a label from Taylor Wine during prohibition era when they only produced grape juice. The side label stated:

"Do not add 1 cup sugar

Do not add 1 cake of yeast

Do not let sit in a vented jug for one week

Do not consume the resulting liquid"

Oh that is good.

[LongTom]

I was browsing an online spirit retailer the other day (I was looking for interesting bottles, to try putting a ship in. No, really. It's like reading Playboy for the articles...) and I stumbled across a descriptive text that said "...The unique triple distillation process used to create Tevado removes more impurities such as methanol and fusel oils..."

Methanol? Yikes. If the professional distilleries, with their careful environmental control, get methanol in their ethanol, how dirty do you suppose the stuff from a basement still would be? Bad moonshine? I believe it.

[JohnnyTarr]

Well good moonshine is hard to find but when you do, man is it good.

[CaptainSatan]

If someone were itchin' to break Federal law , I'd reccomend distilling mead.You get a lot less impurities and a smoother beverage that's ready to drink with no ageing.In theory you could make such a bevearge with a stovetop still made from a pressure cooker.You should avoid a gas stove since ethanol fumes are somewhat flamable (not a problem with outdoor stills)

-CS

[Captain Jim-sib]

Used to make meade many years ago. The process I used involved maturing for about 6 weeks+. Can understand why vikings would go out pillaging & plundering after drinking this. One cannot ferment all the sugar in the honey, so one gets a strong alcohol buzz with a sugar kicker!

[Tartan Jack]

I am reminded of something I read in my church's denominational minutes from the build-up to prohibition. By the way, it is made up of mainly hard-headed Scots.

(A paraphrase, as I do not own the original, nor have I read it in a while)

Whereas, we have taken a stand against the production and consumption of alcohol

(more reasons here)

We would like to encourage or members, notably our ELDERS, and ESPECIALLY OUR MINISTERS

to cease the consumtion and PRODUCTION of the said drink, PARTICULARLY PRODUCTION STILLS on CHURCH PROPERTY.

Appearantly, there was enough of a problem of ministers and elders producing alcohol, particularly whisky on church property (ministers living in a manse on church property), that they felt a need to publically proclaim it, in writing, in the minutes of synod (which were distributed to each church in the denomination).

If you know anything about my particular church denomination, THAT is a VERY BIG DEAL. Usually, such concerns are handled privately and "under the table," so as not to shame a brother or put the church in a bad spot. Thus, it must have been a REAL problem.

I have also been told, by a church historian, that some of the MINISTERS and elders simply moved their stills to more remote locations, away from the church property.

[Quartermaster James]

I was browsing an online spirit retailer the other day (I was looking for interesting bottles, to try putting a ship in. No, really. It's like reading Playboy for the articles...) and I stumbled across a descriptive text that said "...The unique triple distillation process used to create Tevado removes more impurities such as methanol and fusel oils..."

Methanol? Yikes. If the professional distilleries, with their careful environmental control, get methanol in their ethanol, how dirty do you suppose the stuff from a basement still would be? Bad moonshine? I believe it.

Well, the methanol is there in the mash, just as it is in any ferment. The art of distilling lies in extracting for consumption just the middle, hence the need to discard the foreshots, heads, and tails. This is also a good argument against "jacking" aka freeze distillation, which gives no ability to avoid the concentrated impurities.

Multiple distillation is a very common method of further refining one's product (in fact, it is inherent in the design of a column still.) Makes for good advertising copy too

Here's a good (and downloadable) introduction for any with an academic interest in this science: Home Distiller And, of course, The Home Distiller Forum

Edited February 3, 2009 by Quartermaster James

[Poopdeck Pappy]

Google rum university and take the rum classes.

[Littleneckhalfshell]

I was browsing an online spirit retailer the other day The art of distilling lies in extracting for consumption just the middle, hence the need to discard the foreshots, heads, and tails. This is also a good argument against "jacking" aka freeze distillation, which gives no ability to avoid the concentrated impurities.

Different alcohols and esters etc. usually boil at different temperatures, so 'theoretically' if you used a thermometer and kept watch, you would see when you get into the Ethanol bandwidth (78.4 °C, 352 K, 173 °F) Discarding all that came before and everything after the temperature starts to rise again, and then distilling what you saved again, would give you a relatively, 'close to pure' ethanol, theoretically at least that is. ;-) Anyway, that is how my great grandfather did it with his copper milk can still back in the 1920's. I think we still have his still sitting around somewhere, purely decorative of course, copper and lead solder joints is another area you have to worry about. Even pure ethanol can be contaminated with some nasty copper and lead bad stuff.

[Monterey Jack]

I have a great brochure out of england for distilling rum at home, but it requires an immersion heater to heat the mash of about 120 degrees. No one has one that doesn't operate on 220, so I'd have to unhook my dishwasher to use it....plus its seems to be unavailable. All I can find are aquarium immersion hearters that go highter that 90 and they all look at me like I want to boil my fish....

any thoughts?

[teacher4nz]

Although this is an old thread, I will attempt to put in my two-cents worth and see what comes of it. I am an American who has lived in New Zealand for the last seven years. I have been legally distilling for about the last four years. To my knowledge, NO USA state or county allows for legal DISTILLING. Most allow individuals to brew their own beer and wine (check with your state to determine amounts). Also, in reading several posts here, methanol is a natural biproduct of distilling. One should throw away the first portion that comes out of the still. Likewise, if you make your own still use a FOOD GRADE solder. The typical solder will taint the brew and can cause serious medical conditions. Distilling, with education, can be safe.