Anyone ever make whiskey?

[GilpinGuy]

I've brewed beer, but never whiskey. I'm thinking of giving it a try. If it's a giant PITA and impossible to make decent stuff, I won't bother. Anyone have experience?

I'm not talking about doing anything illegal here. I'd follow all applicable laws...

[redneck122]

I may be mistaken, but i don't believe there is a legal way to make any spirits without gettin a license of some sort from the ATF.

Can anyone confirm this?

[CO Hugh]

If legal watch, shows on history channel have good background. The mash makes a difference in taste as well as whether you smoke the malt, like scotch. For really good stuff virgin charred oak barrels.

Canadians and Scots use already used bourbon or sherry barrels. Then age for 2-3 years minimum.

I recall old books on survival may information on building a still.

[DFBrews]

Not legal don't do.

[stevelkinevil]

I say make some, we will supe up an old ford and run it across county lines and beat the damned revenuers!

[Ah Pook]

Go take a tour of Stranahan's, in Denver, and just downsize their operation. 303 Vodka, in Boulder, has a tour also.

Beyond that, I'm just a taster. ;)

[HBARleatherneck]

delete

[brutal]

Just go squeeze Chuck Norris' bladder.

[van7559]

There a lot of shit that's illegal. Keep it small scale and go for it. My old man has made hootch for the last 30 years

[GilpinGuy]

Huh. Sure enough it looks like it is illegal. I thought you could make so many gallons as long as you didn't sell it. Apparently not.

[ben4372]

Call it motor fuel. Might even get an ethanol government subsidy. Uncle Sam loves it for cars. Read a book from the 70's that said it was legal to make as fuel.

[cofi]

i thought it was legal as long as you dont sell it

[asmo]

Not legal in any way without a license. Years ago I wanted to make some bourbon, went and tried to follow all the laws, had my interview with the ATF whole nine yards. In the end it was WAY too much hassle and I never made any.

Also if you have all the parts (still, hopper, barrels, etc.) you can be charged on a constructive/intent to distil. Bad bad bad juju.

It is easier to get your FFL than it is to get a distillers license.

If you REALLY want to do it call the guys at Downslope Distilling. They are on Arapahoe near Jordan. Very nice guys. You can get from them all the pain and hassle they went through.

[birddog]

I think the process is highly illegal but I'm sure it happens a lot. I used to know a guy that did it and his stuff was great, and Im not a whiskey guy.

[Sparky]

I wonder what a gallon of rot gut would go for down in the hood?

[asmo]

2012 Distillery School at Downslope Distilling in Centennial, Colorado
Distilling classes will be held on April. 14-15, May 19-20 and June. 9-10, 2012
The two day classes will start at 9:00 AM MST and will cover: Distilling Vodka, Rum and Whiskey, Mashing, Gauging, Blending, Spirit Ageing and other topics you wish to discuss.
To register: please email: MITCH@DOWNSLOPEDISTILLING.COM

[GilpinGuy]

Not legal in any way without a license. Years ago I wanted to make some bourbon, went and tried to follow all the laws, had my interview with the ATF whole nine yards. In the end it was WAY too much hassle and I never made any.

Also if you have all the parts (still, hopper, barrels, etc.) you can be charged on a constructive/intent to distil. Bad bad bad juju.

It is easier to get your FFL than it is to get a distillers license.

If you REALLY want to do it call the guys at Downslope Distilling. They are on Arapahoe near Jordan. Very nice guys. You can get from them all the pain and hassle they went through.

How dumb it all of this? I mean almost anyone can grow pot now, but you can't make a few gallons of bourbon? WTF is wrong with this picture?

[Sparky]

How dumb it all of this? I mean almost anyone can grow pot now, but you can't make a few gallons of bourbon? WTF is wrong with this picture?

Dude. It's medicinal man.

[hammer03]

Dude. It's medicinal man.

Interesting, considering they call alcoholism a disease these days. Can you call distilling your own medicinal too?

[patrick0685]

I wonder what a gallon of rot gut would go for down in the hood?

being from East TN and what not I can tell you it will take a long long long time to make any money selling moonshine

[GilpinGuy]

Dude. It's medicinal man.

So true bro. I mean, like, uhhh, what was I gonna say dude? Oh yeah, don't be bogartin the J bro.

[BPTactical]

My eldest son has made a good bit of it this week.




Made it disappear that is...............

[Badger]

Wow..... I'm surprised how many, really don't know the laws involved here.


In all seriousness, it is perfectly legal to make/distill your own spirits. What is NOT legal is to sell it. DO NOT SELL ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE YOU MAKE. That means beer too for you home brewers out there. To do so, without obtaining the tax license required, is commiting a crime in the eyes of the government.


I've done extensive research regarding making ethanol for some of the hot rod and Harley projects. So make your whiskey, wine, beer, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or whatever you wish.... just don't sell any of it.



Badger

[birddog]

Wow..... I'm surprised how many, really don't know the laws involved here.


In all seriousness, it is perfectly legal to make/distill your own spirits. What is NOT legal is to sell it. DO NOT SELL ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE YOU MAKE. That means beer too for you home brewers out there. To do so, without obtaining the tax license required, is commiting a crime in the eyes of the government.


I've done extensive research regarding making ethanol for some of the hot rod and Harley projects. So make your whiskey, wine, beer, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or whatever you wish.... just don't sell any of it.



Badger

That is kind of how I understood it too. Not trying to be a jackass but do you have any documentation to support this. I would like to look it over.

[SouthPaw]

xvaEJzoaYZk

[hammer03]

Wow..... I'm surprised how many, really don't know the laws involved here.


In all seriousness, it is perfectly legal to make/distill your own spirits. What is NOT legal is to sell it. DO NOT SELL ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE YOU MAKE. That means beer too for you home brewers out there. To do so, without obtaining the tax license required, is commiting a crime in the eyes of the government.


I've done extensive research regarding making ethanol for some of the hot rod and Harley projects. So make your whiskey, wine, beer, vodka, gin, tequila, rum, or whatever you wish.... just don't sell any of it.



Badger

The ATF would disagree with you. There is an exception for producing ethanol fuel, where in small enough quantities it is not required to be denatured. However the BATFE specifically mentions home distillation in 27 cfr part 19, sub section C, part 19.51 (Home production of distilled spirits prohibited):

A person may not produce distilled spirits at home for personal use. Except as otherwise provided by law, distilled spirits may only be produced by a distilled spirits plant registered with TTB under the provisions of 26 U.S.C. 5171. All distilled spirits produced in the United States are subject to the tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. 5001.

[asmo]

The ATF would disagree with you. There is an exception for producing ethanol fuel, where in small enough quantities it is not required to be denatured. However the BATFE specifically mentions home distillation in 27 cfr part 19, sub section C, part 19.51 (Home production of distilled spirits prohibited):

A person may not produce distilled spirits at home for personal use. Except as otherwise provided by law, distilled spirits may only be produced by a distilled spirits plant registered with TTB under the provisions of 26 U.S.C. 5171. All distilled spirits produced in the United States are subject to the tax imposed by 26 U.S.C. 5001.

This! I spent 6 months and quite a bit of money on attorney fees trying to find a loophole. There isn't one. Again you can NOT distil without a license period. Doesn't matter if you are going to drink it, sell it, or throw it away.