Allowed or Not?

[Odin]

So I am talking to someone and he tells me that it is allowed to travel with an still (say an air still or a small alambic) as long as you use it for water distillation. It is not the machine that is the problem, but how you use it. So you can travel around - if you wish - with an airstill in the US. Not sure I want to believe this though. What say you?

Regards, Odin.

[Desvio]

Having traveled a bit, this would be something to advise against, or not. Let's take the extreme, you don't want to be landing in some countries with anything resembling alcohol, and in a more obvious way, a still. But what about the famous purveyor of liquor refinement, traveling the world with his shiny wares selling his fantastic elixir machines. What of him, I think it's anyone's guess whether you land in a place that accepts the dark arts of beverage,or maybe not...

[tonofsteel]

I think there are a lot of variables with doing that. The countries attitude on distilling equipment, and the people you come into contact with (are they having a bad day?) as well as the other paraphernalia you are carrying on/with you.

If your business cards say you are a home water specialist and you have an under sink mount reverse osmosis unit with you (with the air still) with a briefcase full of water purifying brochures going to a country that does not forbid physical stills you probably will be alright.

Unless you are moving to a different country or trying to demo a water distiller for a potential customer (DONT say you are coming to sell it to someone) then it seems pretty sketchy since most countries (like the USA) have distilled/RO water on the shelves of every store on every block.

I would be afraid though if I had anything that could implicate I am distilling for alcohol, electronic or otherwise. (business cards, cell phone texts, pictures etc.)

In many places including where I am having something to distill water is not a big deal. I think it is all in the circumstances, what you have on you, how you answer the questions, the nature of the border inspectors personality etc.

I have went across borders many times and as long as you don't have anything incriminating on/with you things go smoothly (can they prove in any way your water distiller is going to be used for nefarious purposes to get the country drunk?). And of course don't act sketchy, they have a lot of training in behavior/background analysis and can sniff out people they want to dig into.

But I have not tried to smuggle anything across a border that was illegal, just heard stories, just sayin..........

Edit: Original post did not mention crossing borders. If you are coming into a country temporarily to visit and you are bringing a still it raises questions. If you are travelling around a country without crossing borders and you have a still with you then I would have to say nobody would care (if water distilling equipment is legal in that country). Especially a small one like an air still. But if you are rolling through town with a semi flat-deck loaded with a shiny 1000 gallon copper still in the open then that could attract some attention I would think.

Ties into the above though. If you have an air still in your trunk next to mason jars of moonshine it is going to be hard to explain that away. If you have anything on/with you that can implicate its use in alcohol distillation then that could be a headache....

[Swedish Pride]

can you buy an air still in the shops in US?
If so I'd feel save enough with one, but why bother?

make booze, keep it in the trunk if you absolutely have to have your own drop when on the road.
I'd use it as an excuse to buy local booze to get to know more about the offerings that are out there

[zapata]

Legality of possessing a still is a state by state law in the US. If you care to be fully legal, you have to check each state you will visit. Should be easy, recently saw a still related website with a breakdown of each state, and more importantly links to the actual state laws so you can double check yourself.

[HDNB]

I'm a home body compared to you Odin, but i travel quite a bit and i always try to fly light, i can go two weeks out of 1 carry on and a back pack. Personally i couldn't be bothered with checking luggage or even carry much more than a box of cigars as far as extraneous gear is concerned.

Like Swedish sez, there is so many flavours out there, travelling is a prime opportunity to dip your beak in the local hootch!

[bitter]

Odin if your ever my way.. I'll prep a bottle for you maybe enjoy it with ya also

There are also some local Micro distilleries worth trying.

I will also add don't try to bring a still into Canada.. won't go well.. (Unless its an import for a distillery with all the paperwork etc.)

B