Greetings to all of the HD Members......

[La_Swampfox]

......from a brand new member. I have been reading many posts on your site and other similar ones for about a year or a little longer; and your seems like the one with the most logical/commons sense info; and the one I decided to join. I am a lifelong resident of Southwest Louisiana and on the back half of my 70's. Was raised on a small farm as a "country boy" who loved hunting and fishing, playing baseball and football; and fell in love with good Bourbon at about the age of 16 or 17. LOL I have done just about everything I have ever wanted to in my life; so my remaining "Bucket List" is pretty short. I was raised canning and preserving/drying/smoking meats, vegetables and fruits. I have made beer and wine for a good many years, but never would attempt the making of "shine" as a federal indictment/charge would have ended one of my occupations. Being as I have been retired for a good while; that is now kind of a moot point. Never could understand how distilling is still illegal; but yet openly discussed and admitted to online; and knowing how easily the ATF can monitor these sites; as well as track/trace manufacturers sales; .....as they have done with firearms and firearms parts once deemed legal, then later reclassified and seized with some people even charged. Being I have never seen mention of ATF harassment on any of the forums, I decided they must not care too much about home/hobby distillers and stills. I have always wanted to try to make some "moonshine/corn "likker", ....at least just once, to see if I could make some decent whiskey; .....and to say I had done it, paring another remaining item off the short Bucket List remaining. I am not interested in "How Much" or in "How Strong/High a Proof" I can make; but looking to make quality!! I love nearly all Bourbons; but "wheated" ones may be my favorite; so may even attempt that. Have heard family tales of some moonshiners in the family years ago; so figure it may be in my genes, and I owe it to them to try it at least once or twice. Even after all my reading and studying on your site and others; I do have a couple questions remaining and awaiting that I haven't really seen an answer to, or a consensus answer to.