How to make moonshine

WARNING!!!!!
this is for informational purposes only and should not be used for illegal activities. there are many legal things one can do with a still including fueling cars (must register with the federal government) as well as extracting essential oils from plants (not necessary to register). also, implementing the following procedures could result in bodily harm from explosions, fires, burns, not to mention what could happen if you actually consume your final product. use your head, be careful and be safe. 


Thank you to everyone who has made this a successful Instructable!  I appreciate the views and positive feedback.  Please cut me some slack where I am lacking.  I have recently updated to include a few more specifics, but this does not take the place of doing your own research.  I am not an expert, though I play one on TV.  I am also toying with a discussion forum for all the numerous repeat questions.  Please continue to check the comments discussions before posting questions.  Many have been answered before and plenty more than once.


as a further note, i have decided to add this link to clear up any misunderstandings about what United States law has to say about distilling. Hopefully this will make some of you think a little harder about this and the rest to stop posting comments debating the legality of this. This is ONLY for the US.

Distilling Code

let's begin.

anything alcoholic can be distilled. i've distilled everything from my own moonshine washes to jug wine purchased at my local liquor store. distillation is actually quite simple. the hard part is making sure you are getting ethanol and not methanol (or the like). in this instructable i will show how i made a wash, fermented it, and consequently--the most important part--how i distilled it. i have added more specifics in order to answer some of the most asked questions i've gotten in the comments.  i hope this helps. i might also mention that everything here is hypothetical and for informational purposes only. hope that covers the bases.

and. . . let's begin. for real this time.

(if this doesn't make sense or you would like more info, check out my instructable--distilling basics--for more detailed information on the distillation process or read through the comment strings before posting a question.  I get repeat questions constantly and I don't have time to answer the same questions over and over.  Sorry.)

Step 1: Fermentation

i used a sugar water solution to create a wash which i then distilled to a neutral spirit. i dissolved about 5lbs of sugar in 3 gallons of water (not an exact formula, play around a bit) and then let it cool to room temperature. this is about as basic a wash as you can get. many more options are available for different flavor characteristics.  for instance, if you ferment molasses you will end up with rum.  if you ferment blue agave you will end up with tequila. i was looking for simplicity for a beginner and ran with this. it is the easiest to procure and make. unfortunately white sugar creates a decidedly cidery flavor to the spirit, but much of that can be distilled out or masked by flavoring or blending.

the wash (fermentable solution, a.k.a. sugar water) was then poured into a clean carboy (big glass bottle, see pic). after that i 'pitched' the yeast (dumped yeast into wash) and then capped the carboy with an airlock (see pic). now we wait. depending on yeast, temperature, amount of digestible materials, etc., a couple of weeks is usually good. at this point yeast is eating sugar, and excreting carbon dioxide and alcohol. give it some time. let it work. when the bubbles stop (and look close) it's done.  if it is still bubbling, let it go.  the two week time is just a very rough estimate.  it will vary for everyone.

if the bubbles have slowed considerably, taste a bit. if it is sweet, let it go a bit longer.

when it is done. we're ready for the next stage:

distillation.

Comments

[Jackoffmanytrades]

People didn't go blind from the methanol they went blind from the lead in the solder. Also some makers used old automobile radiators to cool down the product that's another reason why also metals other then copper or stainless. Alot of makers used whatever they could to make that cash from their shine.

[wanabepro]

thank you pdud
if the thermometer is in the liquid what would the temperature brakes be for the head and tail

[wanabepro]

wanabepro
I would like some info on installing a thermometer in my distiller .should I install the probe in the top to read the temperature of the vapor or in the bottom to read the liquid.
please help

[pdub77]

The thermometer should go in the liquid and not touch the sides or bottom of the still.

[Dogric]

How long can the wash/mesh sit after it stops bubbling? Does it effect the Alcohol?

[tony5120]

when running your product for the second time do you use the same water or do you need clean water. just made first batch and need some help

[Pantera22802]

You dont use any water your putting the alcohol back in the still to reduce the impurities and up the proof

[Pantera22802]

Watch this video this guy has a better still and explains it a lot better! He knows what he is doing! You only throw the head of the 1st run away and add the tails to the next run makes no sence to throw the tails away otherwise why not just turn the still off! Think about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-nGbAf81Zs

[Dogric]

Do I need to throw out the head and tail on the second and third run?

[Pantera22802]

No you don't have to throw the heads away on the 2nd run if you threw them away on the 1st run and the tails always keep them and add them to next run because they still have good alcohol in them.

[no clue]

is the coupler copper like the tubing

[TJ72]

Actually anything over 100 proof or 50% alcohol will burn. You claimed 150 proof.

[BullFrog22]

Just curious as to how high you turned the heat up on your stove. And can I just run the heat until it gets between 153 and 172 to get out the methanol, then when thats done boiling off turn it up to hit the ideal temp of approx. 173 to get the ethanol or should I keep it at a constant setting the whole time and let the temp. climb. Just a little unclear. Sorry if you've answered this already. I read all the comments and was never clear on that.

[fragmaster4]

I'm pretty sure you can make 100 gallons of alcohol for your own personal use in the U.S. You can MAKE Moonshine but you can't sell it. THAT is what is illegal about it.

[mookiex4]

You are not allowed to make a drop of the product. Beer and Wine wasn't legal until Carter. Unlike many other countries, (ie: New Zealand), I cannot see anytime in the foreseeable future that we will be able to make what we want to make for ourselves without the government regulating it.

[amarlar]

Just because something's legal by state law it can still be legal by federal law. For example, marijuana is legal now under Colorado law but it's still a federal offense.

[TennesseeGunslinger]

Nope, not in the US - can't make a drop without a distiller's license (Federal and State).

[seasheead]

If you distill even a thumble of likker, your comitting a Federal Crime. You don't have to sell it to get locked up you just have to make it!

[whiskymonster]

nope. every still must be registered and regulated by the govnt. its easy enought to get a fuel alc license, but its expensive

[bobby73]

http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C300-399/3110000055.HTM

[bobby73]

According to the Missouri statutes in Mo. you can make 100 gals of distilled alcohol, 200 gals if there are more than one person over the age of 21 living in the residence per year. But it has to be for personal and family consumption it can not be sold

[TennesseeGunslinger]

Nope - not a drop. It's a federal law.

[pdub77]

Not true.  You can make certain amounts of beer and you can make certain amounts of wine, but you cannot make liquor of ANY quantity without registering your still with the federal government and therefore, I would assume, pay the taxes on it.

I'm not sure why I'm debating this.  Check my link about distilling laws.  And if you still don't agree, cite your statute.  = )

[chinds]

pdub77 is right, you can brew beer, wine, mead, and that kind of stuff all day long in your garage as long as you're not under 21 and not distributing it. i believe you need a business license to distribute it. not sure about the liquor thing though, but moonshine, aka 100% pure alcohol is illegal to possess just like a drug. everclear is only legal because it's made by government-authorized stills and is only about 99% pure, they add that 1% of water just to be pricks. lol i think you might be able to register a moonshine still for ethanol-powered vehicles though, but it's probably expensive to get the license and you gotta pay taxes.

[pdub77]

You can't get 100% pure ethanol with a basic still. Google 'azeotropic solution' to see what I'm talking about here.

[ppires00]

i was just reading some of these post to learn more cause there is always something to learn about this hobby. i have been learning about this for about 4 years . and the one thing i learn is if you making high proof stuff inside your house on your stove you need to stop a pot with paper clips and tape around the copper please stop befor you hurt yourself and your family the steam at 173 degrees if it escapes you will hate your self for the rest of your life if you even make it. it took me a year to build a proper still and make my first run this stuff is a art and there alot of info on the net to do it right take your time dont rush if you have questions orneed help with something ask ask ask ill even ansewer anything i can but i ony ansewer if i know the ansewer to be a fact not a opinion

[mookiex4]

Water boils at around 212 and depending on altitude where you live Alcohol will vaporize at 168 to 174. If you run too hot all you have to do is call that a stripping run and do a distillation run as a second run.

[madmans firework emporium]

if the tails are only water, why do you need to remove them? are they detrimental to the final product?

[mookiex4]

The tails contain any remaining sediment that may have passed when filling the distiller. It will ruin the flavor of the product. Not to mention if you just keep distilling like Vodka. if you read the bottles of vodka that say they are triple distilled or more, what theya re saying is they have distilled all flavors from the product and it is as pure as it can become.

[lukeyj15]

They water it down, and you end up with the by-products of yeast in the final product. What professional vodka producers do is get the proof as high as they can, filter the vodka heaps, and then dilute it to a drinkable proof with pure water. It just yields a cleaner result.

[moonshine dave]

illegal as it is there are some who continue to keep one of the oldest professions active (ain’t life great).
Yes making alcohol is one of the oldest professions, this one led to the other oldest profession we hear about.
Not that I would admit to making this myself, due to the federal laws prohibiting the distilling of spirits….

I have heard that to make a wash, use 18 pound of table sugar adding enough luke warm water till you have
6 ½ gallons of wash. Stir in a package of “Turbo Yeast”, seal the fermenter and let it go till bubbling has quit. If the wash is cloudy, use “Turbo Clear”. When the wash is clear, siphon off into the still and go for it.
I have heard that it will take several hours to distill a wash this size using a 7 gallon pot still and produce around 21/2 to 3 1.75 liter bottles of 130 proof moonshine, it varies.
Turbo Yeast, Turbo Clear, fermenting containers, 7 gallon still can be obtained at the local wine/beer making store or online.

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people and make you think people are laughing WITH you.

[wicked_acer]

what does it mean if you are boiling the stuff and it passes 174 and stops at 200 but is still producing spirts? is it still safe to drink?

[kevans59]

what would be a good frist run and the measuremint of mash in a 5 gallon jar and how long to let it sit

[amarlar]

How much yeast should I pour in?

[cantrellsp]

hey pdub I hope your still responding. I have a quick question. Throw everything out until it reaches 173 degrees. Then do you immediatly want to keep the 173-2105 degree product or should you wait a few minutes once it hits 173 to make sure all the methanol is out??

[cantrellsp]

173-205 degree sorry typo

[munkeyman22]

ok so after i put the wash into the kettle and i dis gaurd the head n tail must i do this every time i put wash into the kettle since the whole wash will not fit all into the small kettle, remember this is all still from the same wash

[cheif lemaster]

pdub77 i am lil confused on your heads and tails.. what are they???

[RichardBronosky]

Heads = what boils off first (at low temp, Methanol)
Tails = what boils off last (at high temp, Water)
Middles = what boils off after the Heads but before the Tails (at ~173°F, Ethanol)

I hope that helps.

What's really fascinating is why the temperature plateaus and only a certain liquid boils off. To understand this you will learn about the definition of a calorie[1] (or gram calorie). Specifically, 1 calorie is the amount energy required to raise 1 gram (or cc) of water by 1 degree centigrade. That is until it reaches its boiling temp. (Here is where it gets interesting.) At boiling temperature (100°C), it takes an additional 540 calories to evaporate 1 gram of water. That's a big difference between 1 calorie and 540 calories. The Associative Property of multiplication allow us to state that another way: The energy that could raise 540 grams of water 1 degree, goes into evaporating a single gram of water. Let's apply this!

The energy required to raise the temp of a solution is going to be absorbed and used in the "power hungry" endothermic evaporation process of the part of the solution with the lowest boiling point. You don't have to be very precise with your heat delivery because evaporation is taking drastically more energy than raising the temperature. What you do have to be careful about is the precision of your temperature measurement.

[1] http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/geology-terms/water-info2.htm
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamic_equilibrium

[zombiefire]

could you add some tags please cos i dont understand the pic's much