Consolidated Beginner's Guide on the Wiki

Other discussions for folks new to the wonderful craft of home distilling.

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Single Malt Yinzer
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Consolidated Beginner's Guide on the Wiki

Post by Single Malt Yinzer »

Welcome to the Home Distiller's Beginner's Guide. Use this page to begin your journey: Home Distiller's Consolidated Beginner's Guide

The Beginner's Guide is a single page that encompasses the basics of distillation. Instead of a post with tons of links it is single "living" document that can change as our knowledge changes. The page consists mostly of links to other pages in the wiki and on the forums. It will be overwhelming. It will take a while to go through. But once you do you should have a good basic knowledge of the many aspects of distilling.

As this is a living document please feel free to ask questions, suggest changes or additions. I or someone else will edit the wiki and make the appropriate changes.
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Birrofilo
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Re: Consolidated Beginner's Guide on the Wiki

Post by Birrofilo »

The very first sentence is wrong.

It is positively legal (provided you pay a tax) to distill spirits at home in Hungary and Bulgaria.
With very limited quantities, it is possible to distill spirits in Austria, and IIRC also in Germany.
With the limit of 3 litres of boiler, it is possible to distill essential oils in Italy (certainly other countries have their permissions).

For what I read home distilling of spirits is legal in Russia, but the Russian members can give us the definitive answer.

The sentence should be changed into something meaning (in better English):

In New Zealand distilling spirits at home is a legal activity.
In other countries home distilling is either forbidden or subject to legal constraint:
In Hungary, Bulgaria and possibly other EU countries, it is possible to distill at home subject to local regulation, which includes paying a fixed excise tax, which is typically not collected for political reasons;
In Austria and Germany the local regulation allows the distillation of spirits with small stills;
In Italy and in other EU countries it is legal to distill essential oils at home, subject to regulation;
In the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia common stills exist, which can be operated subject to regional regulation;
In the US it is legal in most jurisdictions to distill alcohol as fuel, subject to regulation and obtaining a permit.

As a general rule, it is very likely that, in your jurisdiction, distilling spirits at home with an ordinary 20 litres kettle is not legally allowed. Do your research to know whether distilling spirits at home is within the bounds of legality where you live.
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Single Malt Yinzer
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Re: Consolidated Beginner's Guide on the Wiki

Post by Single Malt Yinzer »

And presto chango, it's better. Thanks!
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