re: Why is it illegal to make moonshine

Not illeagal to make. Illeagal to sell.


However: it is illeagal to grow your own tobacco plants. Very illeagal actually.

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I'm pretty sure it's illegal to distill spirits without a license/permit

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People in this thread don't know what they are talking about! Hopefully, nobody is dumb enough to think it is legal to distill spirits and gets caught doing it. While there are ways around it you can not distill alcohol even for personal consumption by federal law. Again, there are ways around it BUT you need to know what you are doing both on the Federal and State level.

You ever heard of Drop Toe?

I bet this thread turns into a bunch of know it alls who got their skills from watching the discovery show "Moonshiners".

Any of you shiners can correct me if I’m wrong. Not learned in the illegal distillation arts.

I thought one of the reasons folks bought moonshine (if they had legal and easy access to other options) was that it is cheaper. It can be cheaper because no tax.

So this legal moonshine (taxed moonshine) fad is kinda absurd.

Because nobody wants to die drinking some hooch filtered through an old radiator

Are you stupid?

Correct, it's a novelty.

Distilling, even freeze distillation is illegal without a DSP or a fuel distillation permit - both issued by the TTB.

Very illegal, like you could go to jail and/or your insurance won't cover your fire damage when they discover your Hillbilly Still.

It is incredibly easy to do. I used to make a salted vanilla version I liked. Not sure why as it tasted like pure gasoline. Was over 150 proof.

Now I'll do a little cane liqour. Not as strong, but will keep you feeling warm.

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It's called the head and it's methanol. It can kill you.

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The first thing that comes out are all the volatile alcohols, including methanol.. depending on the volume of mash, and type of yeast, you can calculate the methanol:ethanol ratio... make sure to use a copper pot, since the porous nature of the metal helps trap the sulfates that make the alcohol harsh, for a smoother and cleaner taste

Make sure you "rack" the mash at least once to remove solids and impurities from the fermentation process... you will have a cleaner mash, thus, a cleaner final product

Be sure to age the final distillate in an open jar covered with a coffee filter for at least a week (two is preferable) so the distillate can mellow (wood takes care of this process when you make whisky)

Use an electric heating element, so you don't blow yourself up

Enjoy.