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AR15.COM
11/17/2009 3:37:03 PM EDT
Is it legal to DISTILL homemade booze ? In other words, is it legal to own and operate a still for your own consumption ?

If so, has anyone on here made any  DISTILLED liquor ?

I don't give a shit about beer and wine making, I am talking about making booze in a still.
I also am not all that interested in hearing about your buying and drinking moonshine. If you made it yourself, then I am interested.

Obviously, if this is illegal, the thread will die quickly.


I came across a website of a guy that sells stills. I kind of always wanted to try this but a few things said on the website (I didn't spend much time reading it) led me to believe that these are being sold for "novelty" purposes only and their use to make actual booze is illegal. Maybe I didn't read the whole thing and am wrong ?

11/17/2009 3:38:21 PM EDT
[#1]
No, illegal as hell.

IIRC the license to distill liquor is $250,000 (a year).
11/17/2009 3:42:53 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
No, illegal as hell.

IIRC the license to distill liquor is $250,000 (a year).



gtfo

11/17/2009 3:44:30 PM EDT
[#3]
In my area, no. Not even for religious purposes and not personal consumption only. If you were then to sell it, hellooooo even more prison time.
11/17/2009 3:44:49 PM EDT
[#4]
I had the same thought and contacted an Atf agent from this site.



While it is theoretically possible for you to do, the license fees would make it cost prohibitive.
11/17/2009 3:48:52 PM EDT
[#5]
You can ferment your own beer, wine, mead, etc at home, but you cannot distill without the proper licenses.

Kharn
11/17/2009 3:50:36 PM EDT
[#6]
Figures
11/17/2009 3:52:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Yep, it really sucks.

Just another instance of our Federal Government knowing what is best for the peasants.

LC
11/17/2009 3:52:59 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
You can ferment your own beer, wine, mead, etc at home, but you cannot distill without the proper licenses.

Kharn





+1 Depends on your state.
11/17/2009 3:53:32 PM EDT
[#9]
Is it legal?  No

Is it wrong to do? No

Is it worth the risk and does it save you money? Not really

The chances of getting caught? Slim if you don't blab about it to much

Would it be fun to do? Sure
11/17/2009 3:55:56 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
Quoted:
You can ferment your own beer, wine, mead, etc at home, but you cannot distill without the proper licenses.

Kharn





+1 Depends on your state.


The laws on distillation of spirits are Federal laws.

LC
11/17/2009 3:56:16 PM EDT
[#11]
Is there really a loophole for "ethanol" production?
11/17/2009 3:56:44 PM EDT
[#12]
I meant beer/wine in that quote.
11/17/2009 3:56:45 PM EDT
[#13]
BATFE controls this.

Distilling booze is a no go.

However, you can distill alcohol fuel, for example, for an E85 vehicle.  BATFE requires a report each year on the quantity made, and there are some requirements on the location of the still.  Look into it, lots of info available.

And by the way, what you would distill is basically Vodka.  There is no requirement to denature it.  But is all for the car.  
11/17/2009 5:16:16 PM EDT
[#14]
11/17/2009 5:22:20 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Is there really a loophole for "ethanol" production?


According to this guy , yes its legal for fuel purposes.  And he shows you where to apply for the permit.
11/17/2009 5:24:28 PM EDT
[#16]








 
11/17/2009 5:26:08 PM EDT
[#17]
It's a TARP!

Illegal to make for consumption. Making for fuel is legal.
11/17/2009 5:27:39 PM EDT
[#18]
You need a DSP before you distill one drop of alcohol for drinking.

11/17/2009 5:27:45 PM EDT
[#19]
There are still plans to be had on the interwebs for free.

There are a couple of different kinds of stills, Pot still, Valved reflux still etc.

It's not illegal to have or build a still. They can be used to make distilled water after all.

Once you cross the line and make moonshine then you are in trouble with the feds.

Do a search on youtoob and you'll be able to pull up vids of people operating stills.

Be good

Thurman

11/17/2009 5:32:36 PM EDT
[#20]
This is the website I was looking at.
The music is annoying (at least to me) but I want one.
11/17/2009 5:41:58 PM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
This is the website I was looking at.
The music is annoying (at least to me) but I want one.


Those are beautiful but super expensive.

The San Luis one is a type of valved reflux still, the Ozark still is a pot still configuration.

If you are looking for something that just works you can build one for a lot less money but if you are looking for art then one of these would be hard to beat

11/17/2009 6:06:34 PM EDT
[#22]
The license fee to license a specific still is $1,000.

The special occupation tax for an individual to be a distiller is $500.

There is a tax collected annually on your proof liter distilled and proof liter in storage.

There is an application process which may deny your efforts and attempts.  The ATFE agent will fully examine hygiene, process, and storage.  Examining how  the distiller might demonstrate that there are no hazardous hydrocarbons, such as methanol, in the distilled product, etc.

The distiller may not have any part of a residence be the location of the still.

The various laws of the states make it difficult to sell your product.

There are tax exemptions for the first 10,000 gallons of distilled ethanol for use as automobile fuel.  The distiller may not sell this fuel.

Due to the time and money involved in starting the distilling process, it is often easiest to drink premium liquor until this desire passes.
11/17/2009 6:32:42 PM EDT
[#23]
No, but do it anyways.

also, IBTL
11/17/2009 7:30:55 PM EDT
[#24]



Quoted:



Quoted:


Quoted:

You can ferment your own beer, wine, mead, etc at home, but you cannot distill without the proper licenses.



Kharn

+1 Depends on your state.




The laws on distillation of spirits are Federal laws.



LC
True, and  absolutely ridiculous.





 
11/17/2009 7:34:03 PM EDT
[#25]



Quoted:





Quoted:


Quoted:


Quoted:

You can ferment your own beer, wine, mead, etc at home, but you cannot distill without the proper licenses.



Kharn

+1 Depends on your state.




The laws on distillation of spirits are Federal laws.



LC
True, and  absolutely ridiculous.



 


And brought to you by the good folks at Jack Daniels, Old Grandad, Wild Turkey, and other domestic distilleries.



Booze makers spent good money making sure Congress protected their monopoly.