Moonshiners on Discovery Channel

[rad14701]

Might be as good a time as any to point out that we already have topics to handle the debate of going legal, ect., and that this topic is more related to the illegal moonshiners being portrayed on The Discovery Channel... The fact that there was mention of "Tim" going legal wasn't the point of the series at all... New members and visitors to the site are going to be more interested in the portrayal in the series and the comments surrounding that than the legalities which are discussed elsewhere... We're drifting off topic for Distilling News > Moonshiners on Discovery Channel, and I'm as guilty as anyone else... I'm just sayin...

[Mr.Brown]

Not really interested in jumping into the debate. I do have opinions but am a little lazy with the keyboerd sometimes. The last few pages of banter did make for an interesting read though. The worst part of that show for me had nothing to do with the way things were portrayed or any kind of set back to the common goal. If it were leagal & i had to pay a fee to partake, i'd probably still just keep it quiet (would be a lot easier though).

It was the exposure. I am of the opinnion that home stillin is sort of under the radar at least in my area. But now when i'm pushing my cart up to the register with 25# of sugar, and 18 pack of beer & maybe some yeast & cerial., i always wonder who's lookin. Gotta think people who may have been in the dark before, may recognize the red flags after seeing the show. Just being paranoid i'm sure, but the exposure just made me cringe a little .

[rad14701]

It was the exposure. I am of the opinnion that home stillin is sort of under the radar at least in my area. But now when i'm pushing my cart up to the register with 25# of sugar, and 18 pack of beer & maybe some yeast & cerial., i always wonder who's lookin. Gotta think people who may have been in the dark before, may recognize the red flags after seeing the show. Just being paranoid i'm sure, but the exposure just made me cringe a little .

I never buy everything in one place or at the same time... Maybe I'm paranoid...

[Mr.Brown]

I never buy everything in one place or at the same time...

I try not to. never bought yeast & sugar at the same place i dont think. But i don't really look like a hard core baker. I hear you can make a lot of cookies with the amount of sugar people buy......

[eddieb]

That is 12 750ml bottles x 125000k. That is 15000 proof gallons at 100 proof. 15000x14.50=217000 in.

Nice numbers, but if you want to go to that detail, at least do it right (right makes your point stronger).

12*750ml*125000 gives you 1.125 million Liters of 40%. So that is 450,000 L of 100% ethanol, or 900,000 proof liters. 900KL is 237754.85 gallons.

So, it is 237755 * 13.50 (not $14.50 proof gallon), or $3,209,692.50 of fed excise taxes per year.

I also believe you have to have a BOND that covers 100% of your expected production, BEFORE you produce it. So, if you were going to make that 125k cases, then you would have to have a 3.2 million dollar bond to cover the taxes. Gets even worse, if you are planning on aging for 5 years. Multiply that bond times 5, prior to being able to ship product out.

It is a fukin RIGGED game.

H.

I'm busted. Should have thought longer before I typed. Since you want to pick nits....Your answer was right but I was figuring 100 proof.

The math for anyone that cares

750 ml in a bottle.
12 bottles in a case.
750ml is 3/4 of a liter.

750x12=9000ml of 100 proof booze in a case.
9000ml= 2.377548461178 gallons
2.3775x125000=297187.5 gallons of 100 proof.

Converting U.S. gallons into proof gallons for tax purposes:
1. Multiply U.S. gallons by the percent of alcohol by volume.
2. Multiply by 2.
3. Divide by 100.

297187.5 x.50=148593.75 x 2= 297187
tax on a proof gallon....13.50

297187.5 x 13.50=40120313.00 in tax

your example:
for 80 proof
297187.5 x .40=118875 x 2=237750 proof gallons
237750 x 13.50=3,209692.50

I think....lol

[Husker]

Yes, my calcs were for 80 proof (more of a 'standard' retail proof than 100).

But yes, all taxes are computed on a 'proof gallon' What a proof gallon is, is 1 gallon of 100 proof spirits. NOTE, the government is VERY VERY anal about measuring the proof. You have to use registered hydrometers, registered thermometers, do all testing in a specially crafted enclosed box, to avoid all drafts or temp changes, etc, etc.

I am sure that if they wanted to, the registered members here, who are micro distillers, could fill in the horror stories, rules and regs, the gooberment graft peddlers force them to deal with.

But the point being, the govt often is the ONLY party that makes any profit, and to make that profit, they provide NO BENEFIT or work at all. Pure and simple theft.

H.

[eddieb]

Yes, my calcs were for 80 proof (more of a 'standard' retail proof than 100).

But yes, all taxes are computed on a 'proof gallon' What a proof gallon is, is 1 gallon of 100 proof spirits. NOTE, the government is VERY VERY anal about measuring the proof. You have to use registered hydrometers, registered thermometers, do all testing in a specially crafted enclosed box, to avoid all drafts or temp changes, etc, etc.

I am sure that if they wanted to, the registered members here, who are micro distillers, could fill in the horror stories, rules and regs, the gooberment graft peddlers force them to deal with.

But the point being, the govt often is the ONLY party that makes any profit, and to make that profit, they provide NO BENEFIT or work at all. Pure and simple theft.

H.

How much do you think it costs the distiller to make a proof gallon? Not looking for statistics or a case study, just a guess. What do you think it wholesales to a distributor for?

[RumBrewer]

Back on topic...
I've got some Banana wash that I'm gonna run today.

If it's good, I'll say the show wasn't a complete waste... Plus I'm sticking by my theory that it got the general public talking and thinking about shine.

[eddieb]

Back on topic...
I've got some Banana wash that I'm gonna run today.

If it's good, I'll say the show wasn't a complete waste... Plus I'm sticking by my theory that it got the general public talking and thinking about shine.

Got a friend trying the banana thing. Mash is about done. We will see.