E217 Should I start home distilling?

[@dehor4]

I have been home distilling for 3 years. When, I started it took about 1k to get my first 5 gallons of moonshine. I bought a $250- 8 gallon stainless Chinese still. Then on Facebook paid a few hundred to buy stainless pots, buckets, and propane burner, etc from a beer maker. Then another 200 bucks in miscellaneous distilling equipment like funnels, hydrometers, ph meter, etc. Then you need about $200 bucks for buying sugar, grains, ice, and oak chips if you want some whiskey. In year 2, another 1k. I bought I bought a bigger kettle($250) that is 16 gallons but used my chinese condenser with it. Bought 2-5 gallon oak barrels for my home bourbon ($250), and $300 in grains and produced about 10 gallons. I spent probably $150 in propane. year 3, spent $1000 buying 2 more barrels, $300 flaked rye and corn and converted my still to water heater elements. This made my still much safer, but my electrical bill is $100 a month higher. So for me to make 10 gallons of whiskey per year which is 30 bottles it cost $1000 bucks a year. The cost is down to $30 bucks a bottle with free labor. Each year I keep 2 bottles, and the others are gifted or drank with buddies. Of my 40 some bottles produced in last years, I have about 15 hanging around to get zombies drunk, if need be. and a 5 gallon barrel that is about 3 months from bottling.

[@dehor4]

I only actually run my still about 6-8 times a year. I work hard filling 30 gallon plastic barrels with grain mashes. Each- 30 gallon barrel of mash has 2 runs with about 13 gallons of mash in each run. This produces about 2.5- to 3 gallons of 115 proof moonshine. So it takes me about 60 gallons of mash to get 5 gallons of corn liquor in each each barrel. I do this process twice a year, whcih is pretty much 4 week ends. 2 hard weeks making mash, and 2 easy weeks waiting for the white lightning to drip and spurt.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thanks for the info cheers

[@mikew.1902]

All questions that folks have asked me and I've asked myself. Most importantly I love this "hobby" and as someone who loves to cook this just kind of fits right in with cooking. I am a home distiller just like I am a home cook. Some products come out well and some not like I thought. However it is always edible and drinkable. I love being able to surprise people with what I can come up with and I often feel that I can compete with some commercial liquors. I am proud to be a home distiller. Happy Holidays Randy and all of the home distiller brothers.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I do love this hobby cheers my friend

[@rjfussell]

After decades of not being around it,I have found myself neck deep in it,I have built many stills,the mechanics are not a problem,it's finding a recipe that works,I have good yields,but that cardboard smell seems to be around more than it should,I have a single malt in the fermenter,see what happens with that,I love doing it!

[@Stewbphoto]

I have been distilling at home for around 15 years. Over the years I feel I have spent a small fortune 🤣 on this hobby that I hate to love. But it just comes down to distilling brings me an insurmountable amount of joy. I now make 20 gallon mashes and have a pot still column and a 6 plate column still with gin basket. But I love making things for friends and family to enjoy. It still amazes me that there are KZbin channels on home distilling. I feel if I did this I would have people knocking on my door. Keep up the good work. Love the channel.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I do not sell and i don't tell where i live and i make small amounts but I know if they want to find me they could hopefully they have better things to do. I learn from guy's like you and hope to be able to pass good info on Cheers my Friend

[@tomchristensen2914]

I bought a 20 gal pot still with thumper and electric element for heat. I do a lot of reading and probably too much as itbgets confusing. I ha e done my cleaning run, and my sugar wash is working off to do a sacrificial run. I am looking forward to doing my first actual mash. But I will say there is so much info it gets so mind numbing, and a tally ends up confusing. Great videos

[@stillworksandbrewing]

cheers you can do it

[@KarlEBrand]

Thanks! This is worth EVER PENNY!!

[@stillworksandbrewing]

you are so kind Cheers

[@mikemay7275]

Great questions and answers. I’m enjoying your channel and learning from you. Thanks for sharing

[@stillworksandbrewing]

cheers

[@everydayden5826]

Great overview of some of the most asked questions Randy. The complete answer to all of those questions could take many hours as we both know, ha ha. I think something that most people don't take into consideration, and something that we all have to ask ourselves is, how much time do we want to invest into our education into the distilling hobby. The quality of the product someone is making is directly in proportion to the knowledge they have. A cheap still can produce some descent results if the person running it and making the mash knows what they are doing. Conversely, a 3000 dollar pot still can make junk if one has no clue as to what to do with it. Now, vast knowledge and good equipment is hard to beat, but you won't ever have good success without at least one of those two variables. I hope you and yours had a fantastic Christmas and that you are all well. A Happy New Year to you my friend, a few day early. -- den

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Hi Den, yes you are right could be a long talk trying to keep short so people don't fall asleep you and your family have a great year cheers my Friend one day I'm going to get up to your neck of the woods

[@marvinharms1891]

Thank you big bro. Happy holidays💞I'm only two years in this hobby. It's legal here in South Africa, but most of my buddies don't have the inclination to take it on! Probably because I always speak of it in a chemistry/ scientific way. Well I think that's 80% of distilling. I don't want people to think that it's so easy, and go build a still and make crap that you can drink and take 2 days off work!! I really appreciate the lessons you give. Can't wait for those thumpers in action!

[@stillworksandbrewing]

you are so welcome it is a fun hobby cheers

[@extrazero1593]

Merry Christmas! great video

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Thanks! You too!

[@KarlEBrand]

Randy! You really keep it real! Your channel is great and I’ve learned SO much. I’ve done a ton of beer, and it’s time to move the hobby into a new phase! You’re so helpful! Thanks for showing me the way! Have a great New Year!!

[@stillworksandbrewing]

That is awesome!

[@kmackiss]

Great advise . too many variable's to cover all . Hear in Texas stalled out my Tepache rum . Got down to 53F at 1.022 , brought in the hose and see if it wakes up . Safe New Years .

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Thanks for sharing

[@colahandyman67]

Another great video Randy, A topic you covered well.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thanks

[@andyn3532]

I started out brewing meads braggots ciders cysers etc for about four or so years then got curious about distilling and looked into how that works for a year before I started distilling and it's so much fun. I only have a small pot still which I end up with two litres of spirit off if I'm lucky but I'm getting better all the time and it's worth the while just to make a unique drink that you can't buy over the counter. I would definitely recommend brewing for a while first and making sure you know what you are doing before you even buy a still

[@stillworksandbrewing]

good thought

[@jonathansholar4437]

Another great video Randy! I can't wait till you do this next run with the thumper jars

[@stillworksandbrewing]

you bet

[@davidrogers6262]

Hi Randy, Merry Christmas to you and yours. I've been enjoying the process for about 7 years and only for my personal consumption. It's been a very long learning curve but I love this as much as you. Keep on the great videos! I love them!🥃

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Happy holidays!

[@eaglewolfe6812]

I would just like to make everything from scratch to make my kalula.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I have not made any Kalula have to put on my todo list

[@eldonwilson8495]

love your channel and content , temp here in Canada last thursday -38C _36.4 F , 5 degrees Sheesh lol all the best for 2023

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thats to cold for me cheers stay warm

[@sbeard73]

Great show buddy

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thanks

[@BigEdsGuns]

Randy I brew 5 gallon batches of Kombucha and keg it once or twice a month. I save my beer and likker for the weekends. I just moved my Kombucha/Beer 8 gallon stainless conical inside because of the 5 and 8 degree night temps on my 3 season porch. Been slacking on pictures of my rigs and setups for you. Stand by buddy. Cheers and Happy New Year!

[@cameronpresley5771]

Im curious how a little scoby would work for making a sour mash. Ever tried it? Thoughts?

[@BigEdsGuns]

@@cameronpresley5771 Not sure. Never tried it. The sugar content for kombucha is only 1 cup per gallon. There is a "yeast" from the scoby. But the alcohol yield is less than a non-alcoholic beer from batch to batch. If one were to x4 the sugar content it would most likely be just a "wild fermentation" sugar wash. And expensive. Kombucha scoby likes organic or raw sugar. Which is x1.5 to x2 more expensive than table sugar. I don't know if a scoby would convert table sugar or survive a high sucrose sugar wash. Bread yeast works fine tho... ;)

[@stillworksandbrewing]

cheers my friend looking forward to the pics

[@OzarkStillWorks]

There's lots of rabbit holes in this hobby, I'm 10 years into it and I'm still spending money but it's a hobby and I enjoy it so the real question is, what's it worth to you to do what you enjoy. Cheers Randy 🥃

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Same here!

[@Jake_B74]

Should you home distill? I have 1 question that should be the tipping point for most people. How interested in it are you? If you are interested in the process, science, and even art of it, you are going to love home distilling. If you are looking for cheap booze, this is probably not for you. As Randy said, the cost of grains, fruits, or sugars will be much less, but your investment in time and if you are like me, probably equipment will wind up costing more. That said, you can get very cost-effective setups. They just limit what you can do with them somewhat. However, the first time you make something and say to yourself I couldn't buy something that good, there is a certain enjoyment of that spirit you can't get any other way. Should you home distill? After you weigh the risk/reward of it, I'd say if you are truly interested in it, then do it. Start with an inexpensive set up, if you find it's not for you, it's a small loss. If you fall in love with it, it's a starting point.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

well said cheers

[@daveo3122]

As you said, New Zealand (for personal use), and Russia (no regulation). I haven't heard of any others so can't say definitively. Most other countries require you to have the appropriate licenses to distill alcohol. Some will allow the ownership of a still, others won't. It's kind of a toss up there.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thanks for info

[@michaelbeardwood4624]

In South Africa, it is legal to own a still, but it must be registered with the tax authorities (at no charge) and it is legal to distil for your own use, not for sale.

[@gomezautosalesllc3892]

I been making my own beer and wine but not distilling. Isn’t it illegal here in the US? Randy, what state are you in? No troubles with the law? I would love to try but am afraid to get in trouble in the state of Texas. Why is it illegal anyway? What gives the government the right to infringe into our liberties, are we not in a democracy?

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I have had no problems but I have said I will not sell a drop cheers

[@davidwolfbanks9792]

Great explanation of several topics. Lately I've been on a tequila kick. I call it GaQuila.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

that is one thing i have not made Tequila it is on my bucket list im thinking summer

[@davidwolfbanks9792]

@@stillworksandbrewing it is finicky to run for sure. Not much info out there that I could find. I've had a couple of tequila lovers taste it and highly approve of mine. Been told it's better than Patron.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

nice

[@jiminsonandresquinchiam9783]

Hello friend, thanks for everything you teach us in your videos. Could you recommend a type of yeast for borbom whiskey? that can be bought from Colombia. Thanks a lot.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

i can tell you i use DADY yeast

[@jiminsonandresquinchiam9783]

@@stillworksandbrewing Thanks a lot

[@eaglewolfe6812]

Have you made vodka and ever clear. That's what i use in my homemade kalula.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

vodka yes and have made some neutral sprits

[@donniepowell7146]

Hope it warms up by next week so we can see the thumper in action.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

It will thanks

[@webcrawler3332]

It’s so ridiculous that we can’t have this legalized for hobbyist purposes in all 50 states.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I agree

[@BeerWineandShine]

How many pints/quarts do you run an hour? What abv does your still like to start at?

[@stillworksandbrewing]

depends on what i am making but about 1 qt. per hr. starting 150 abv

[@AVERYBEAL-z9d]

You should share your beer recipes with us

[@stillworksandbrewing]

I need to brew a beer been awhile

[@stevenschultz6915]

what makes a bourbon?

[@stillworksandbrewing]

Bourbon has to be at least 51% corn the rest up to you and aged new charred white oak that's the short answer

[@shannonengland1304]

Have you ever used powdered sugar in your mash? What your thoughts on it

[@Rubberduck-tx2bh]

Sugar is sugar. As long as it's dissolved in your wash, it'll act the same.

[@hugh3464]

Powdered sugar has corn starch in it but it’s a small percentage.

[@stillworksandbrewing]

dont think it would matter

[@shannonengland1304]

Thank you vary much

[@cameronpresley5771]

What part of the country are you in?

[@BigEdsGuns]

Think Sopranos is my best guess. ;)

[@stillworksandbrewing]

east coast

[@Mr.Brewer83]

Answer to the first question: There is NO place in the United States of America where it is legal. There are zero States that have legalized distilling alcohol. It's federal government jurisdiction on enforcement. Definitely don't make videos like brave Randy here, who is taking one for the team with the risk. Bless ya Randy!

[@stillworksandbrewing]

thanks Mr. Brewer

[@Mr.Brewer83]

@@stillworksandbrewing love ya work! You definitely have been an inspiration to many. Outside of “Still It” you are the most knowledgeable and content heavy of all the “StillTubers” as I call them lol

[@Suzukidave]

@@Mr.Brewer83 check out “Barley and Hops” site on KZbin for the most perfect info on distilling .

[@Mr.Brewer83]

@@Suzukidave I have, as a professional/commercial brewer that earned a diploma in brewing technology in Bavaria I personally assure you that Barley and Hops' theories and reasonings are at least 50% wrong on any given video. Good to watch the process, but don't try to learn from him like it's gospel he's preaching lol. For Great distilling information check out "Still It" on here

[@Suzukidave]

@@Mr.Brewer83 thanx for the input sir , I don’t have any brewing training so did use George’s info as a go to .. I can’t say he has ever put me in the wrong direction but I just make for personal consumption .

[@danthemann]

You do not get into this hobby to save money!

[@stillworksandbrewing]

you are correct