Whiskey or any other alcohol?

nmballa · Posted: Apr 01, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject: Whiskey or any other alcohol?

Anyone on this site ever distill their own spirits. I've kind of become a bit interested in it lately. Intrigued by whiskeys primarily, have a pallet for scotch. But interested in the process.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

joebananas · Posted: Apr 01, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject:

is it legal to make your own? I love gin maybe I should make some bath tub gin.

J.unio.R · Outlaw Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 154 City: E-City, NC

nmballa · Posted: Apr 01, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject:

J.unio.R · Outlaw Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 154 City: E-City, NC

My uncle brews the "shine" in Ohio and that stuff is mind-numbing and gives you superhuman powers atleast until you land. Neutral

Do you think its bad when water doesnt mix with it?

USMGolfer · Addict Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 628 City: Hixson

J.unio.R · Outlaw Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 154 City: E-City, NC

USMGolfer, two valid points. Spike has a show called 1000 ways to die and they showed a biker that drank gas near a fire (he was on the run), he threw up in the fire and up in flames. Torched himself inside out.

USMGolfer · Addict Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 628 City: Hixson

J.unio.R, FAIL!

TnR6Rida · Posted: Apr 01, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject:

J.unio.R, Yea I saw that idiot.

kyle f · Addict Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 835 City: Norris Lake

Brewing the hard stuff isn't illegal, and nor is brewing pure moonshine. Just liek beer, there is a limit to how much you can brew per year. This is based off an assumption if individual ocnsumption. However, I don't think anyone is really trackign what you are making, just don't be tryign to distribute it without registering your brewery and paying taxes.

edrex · Posted: Apr 02, 2009 6:53 am Post subject:

kyle f, can you site your source that home distillation of spirits is legal?

kyle f · Addict Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Posts: 835 City: Norris Lake

I do believe I saw it on a Documentary o nthe History Channel. Let me look around and see if I can find something.

Oops, never mind, the production limits are for Beer and wine. Stills for alcoholic productions are infact illegal per 99 law (most recent I could find.)

Google search is your friend, I poped up my source form there, but don't have tiem right now to search for more current documentation.

Medina · Posted: Apr 02, 2009 8:08 am Post subject:

I Love whiskey Smile

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

In general, you distill and then flavor.

You can distill almost anything to a vodka (defined as clear odorless alcohol) and then flavor by storage in casks or adding commercially available flavors.

For experience, it does not take much of a flavor in the mash to pass the flavor onto the end product. ie adding a bottle of crappy red wine to a mash will turn your vodka to a brandy.

Rhawn · Posted: Apr 02, 2009 9:32 am Post subject:

Awesome special on not too long ago about the mountain men of TN that still distill moonshine. Mostly about this guy: http://www.globalcopywritingservice.com/TheLegendofPopcornSutton.htm

Nooga678 · Posted: Apr 03, 2009 7:11 am Post subject:

I think making ethanol is legal. So what if you like to store your ethanol in oak barrels before you use it in your car. So what if when you went to put some in your car you tripped and the bottle accidently got poured down your throat.

howabouttheiris · Addict Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 677 City: Austin, TX

Legality:

Making ethanol is legal... with a permit. The application permit gives them the right to search your production and storage facilities at any time. Also I think you need to put a tracer in it (like that you would find in tax free gas used in some farming/fishing/govt application) Best to just take care of it in your barn / garage and do not involve the govt at all.

Ethanol / Methanol:

As long as you are using natural products (like sugars), this is not really an issue. Trace methanol can be removed by throwing away a small portion of the head, as methanol boils off at a lower temperature.

The whole going blind debate is fueled by idiots using gas line deicer and other forms of methanol. Simple chemistry is not the strong point of most folks. I would never drink 'shine that did not come from a still/producer that I know.

Still:

A simple pressure cooker can be converted to a still (and back again) with $10 worth of parts. It is actually very safe, as long as you leave the pressure valve intact.

Zach M · Posted: Apr 05, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

I have yet to try this, but I'm curious if it actually will work.

Grandma Gert's Whiskey Recipe

ohsix · Posted: Apr 05, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

When I lived in Wyoming I knew some people that made their own whiskey. It was surprisingly good and very potent. They called it some kind of Polish name, but I can't remember what it was.