Fuel Permit, What's your real thoughts

[outdoorplay]

first I live in Southern California, (I can't wait to get out of this hellhole) our politicians would strongly like to see a guy like me off of their radar meaning in jail because they don't want me to vote.

In all reality, I have a 7 gallon still. I do not make it for sale, I just like to play around with it and explore new flavors and of course, to add my own make to my bar which is just for friends to come and have a drink there is no money involved.

How concerned do I really need to be with having a still

the second question, I do a lot of road trips and was thinking on a few of them I would like to bring the still, should I be concerned with traveling with it in my 5th wheel

your pro and cons

Thank your response

[jonnys_spirit]

Don’t sell don’t tell. Everyone loves free booze. It’s always the best. Have a thorough bug-out plan to ditch everything quickly (including the 100# of corn grains sugar molasses you’re getting ready to mash plus spent grains / etc) if you’re lucky enough to get a heads up that the authorities are coming. Brew some beer and make some wine too so when they do come so that’s all they find.

If you’re making only fuel and authorized then you’re covered for making fuel.

I wouldn’t travel with the still.

Best luck!
-jonny

[cayars]

Unless you will be traveling for extended periods of time and have all the equipment needed at the other place to ferment with I don't see this being viable. I would certainly only transport in the trunk or locked up in case you were to get pulled over.

If you don't tell ANYONE you distill then how would anyone know? The only people who know I partake in this hobby is the X wife (best friend and we used to do this together), dad and two adult kids. They know to keep their mouth shut or they don't get free stuff.

With friends it can be tricky as you don't want them saying anything but yet want to "show off" or just share what you make with them. I do this with Gins, Limoncello, fruity stuff, apple pie, flavored vodkas, spiced rums, but nothing that would come straight off the still. Anything I share can be made using Everclear, vodka or light rum and sometimes I get asked for a recipe or how I made it.

I've even have friends help me make stuff mentioned above. They see a commercial bottle of Everclear, Rum or Vodka so will never be the wiser. My friends drink many spirits I make, but they have no idea the Tito's bottle is no longer the commercial spirit and that's I've replaced it. We'll sometimes blend some whiskeys to try different tastes (some of which is my stuff in a commercial bottle) so they aren't any the wiser when a Bourbon is a bit off tasting. They bring bottles as well over to the house for sharing and when asked what to bring I'll usually say a Tequila, Mezcal or some other spirit I normally only drink "with them" and don't stock (and can't make).

They know and sometimes help me make bear and wine and of course drink this but that is legal where I live.

So the best advice to stay out of trouble is carefully guard who knows what you do.

[jonnys_spirit]

I'm just going to make a comment that ex wives are exes for a reason and you shouldn't trust them with this knowledge either - especially when kids might be involved.

It's all good until it isn't and they start making calls for some stupid reason.

Be very careful about who knows and who you have involved and if/when that situation changes start implementing your campaign (very carefully) with them that you no longer are active and you have gotten rid of your equipment - but yes you do make wine and beer (who wouldn't?).

An ounce of prevention in this case is worth tens of thousands of dollars - maybe more - and having to dump gallons and gallons of aged barrel proof stock (how do you explain gallons and gallons of 125 proof on oak to the man?) and closing up the shed for a year or two...

I was able to divert a small amount of brandy and grappa into some barrels of port wine so not all was lost. I got the news on a Friday and was able to be clean and clear by Sat night. The visit didn't happen for a couple months (?)... Not exactly sure now but still laying pretty low.

Think about this long and hard - then get busy stillin and tell them man to go eff imself really hard...

Cheers and best luck!
-jonny

[cayars]

I'm just going to make a comment that ex wives are exes for a reason and you shouldn't trust them with this knowledge either - especially when kids might be involved.

Generally, I'd agree with that but we have a great relationship and trust each other. Even through the divorce many years ago we handled things very civil and didn't even use lawyers. We made all arrangements, custody and finances ourselves. I watch her house when on vacation and vice versa. We spend holidays together, have done vacations together and are still really good friend and hang out. We are odd that we are great friends and have been for over two decades. If shit were going to go down between us, it would have happened many years ago when the kids were young, not grown up and out of college. But like I said previously, this is something we used to do together so it's not a secret to her.

[8Ball]

If all you are going to do is make fuel, then go for it. Otherwise, what is the point? Just opens you up for a visit you don’t want. My two cents.

[HDNB]

a member here and iirc a resident of so-cal... about 2 years ago... had a falling out w wifey and she dropped the dime on him. he said most of the united states law enforcement escorted him to jail one fine saturday morning.

he made the news, checked in here around trial time and welllll...haven't seen him here since.

if you got all the permits and set up for fuel, go nuts...follow all the rules. other than that, i'd be discreet if i lived there and i'm no expert but perhaps take the wife a few flowers now and agin...

[bluefish_dist]

Fuel permits are for making fuel, still can’t drink it. I would only get one if you want to make fuel. Pretty sure you have to track where it all goes as they don't want you drinking it. Those records can be audited. You don’t need any more scrutiny. Just make your runs and don’t tell anyone.

[theawfulone]

Yeah, I wouldn't tell the government shit.

[Hoosier Shine9]

Hey Outdoorplay,

I had thought about getting a Fuel Permit to "cover myself" in the event......
Then i thought about it a little bit, pros vs cons. What would the Pros be? What would the cons be?
Ultimately I came to the decision..... NO
My primary reason for no permit is/was..... Why do I want to give the ATF my name, address & phone number?
But why would I want to bring attention to myself willingly?

just my $0.02

hs9

[jonnys_spirit]

I'm sure they already have our names...

If you're really making fuel and only fuel then maybe it makes sense to go legit?

I'm not doing that so keeping it small and quiet

Cheers,
j

[SDEngr1]

Loose lips sink ships...I regret telling anybody and everybody of my hobby and that is a very few.

[bluefish_dist]

Btw this is a bit of a zombie. Op was 2+years ago.

[acfixer69]

Btw this is a bit of a zombie. Op was 2+years ago.

Halloween resurrection thread.