Home Distiller

I've read many topics about plastic and people saying "Don't use this" "Don't use that".

I'm just looking for a glass bottle with a screw cap that will not dissolve in alcohol. The easy and cheap way would be to use wine bottles and cork but I plan on making neutral spirits and I think natural cork would leave a taste.

I've searched on the web for liquor bottles, they are rare and most come with a plastic screw cap. Can't seem to find any info on what kind of plastic is used in the screw cap.

Brewhaus has liquor bottles most with plastic caps, again no info on plastic cap. They also have metal caps but no info on metal composition. I've read aluminum is not good with alcohol...

In a perfect world, I'd buy a glass bottle with a stainless steel screw cap that I could use for long term storage.

So can anyone help me in finding such a bottle or any bottle with a screw cap that is 100% safe for long term storage?

Also looking for larger 1 gallon type bottle with the same criteria for saving my heads and tails.

Dilute down to drinking strength and then use standard commercial glass liquor bottles...

It's undiluted high proof spirits that you need to be the most concerned about storing...

Someone in my area drinks a lot of Whole Foods apple juice sold in gallon jugs with metal caps; they recycle and I pull them out of the recycle bin. They are good heavy duty jugs and they are great for long term storage. Note: I checked with the Mayor (didn't tell what I wanted for) and he said since I was recycling the recycled jugs, he didn't have a problem. He also said our loses money on our recycling program and I was actually saving the city money. I also pull qt/lt bottles to bottle my finished product. Jack Daniels bottles are my favorite.

BG

rad14701 wrote:Dilute down to drinking strength and then use standard commercial glass liquor bottles...

Most commercial glass liquor bottles come with plastic screw caps.

I'm pretty sure if I had written a topic with subject "Is it safe to use plastic screw caps from commercial liquor bottles" I would have been showered with comments like 'Haven't you read posts about plastic and safety!!!"

I am not the most plastic phobic guy out there but I would prefer an alternative (Still dreaming of the glass bottle with stainless steel cap) and I am sure that plastiphobic people out there would like an alternative too.

rad14701 wrote:It's undiluted high proof spirits that you need to be the most concerned about storing...

I had not mentioned it in my original post but I will need to store some undiluted high proof spirits...

how about making cork inserts for the caps.you can stamp them out.

http://www.fillmorecontainer.com/search.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

seams like putting a layer of teflon tape around an over the bottle opening than screwing the cap on should work. should be safe and leakproof.

I bought a 12"x12" sheet of PTFE and stamped out solid discs, using a sharpened copper fitting, that fit the top of 4 liter glass jugs with screw tops.

Would punched out cardboard disks wrap in PTFE, Samohon style, work?

a easy way to punch out inserts is to fiend the appropriate size hole like a pipe,(sharp edges)a bushing etc. place the material on, then a ball like a large ball bearing or a peen. thump smartly.I used to cut wads this way.
scan the truck/heavy equipment/farm equipment repair places for these.

PurpleHaze wrote:

rad14701 wrote:It's undiluted high proof spirits that you need to be the most concerned about storing...

I had not mentioned it in my original post but I will need to store some undiluted high proof spirits...

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13590

corny kegs are harder to break and you can replace all 5 butyl o-rings with ptfe for less than $10 u.s.
if you store higher than 40% it should be under lock and key. cob

Would mason jars with common wax paper under the lid and ring work?

2C6HO wrote:I bought a 12"x12" sheet of PTFE and stamped out solid discs, using a sharpened copper fitting, that fit the top of 4 liter glass jugs with screw tops.

whare did you find a 12x12 sheet?

I recommend not storing high test in glass bottles. The way alcohol expands and contracts with temperature can easily break glass. Fusti jugs or small kegs are much better and safer. Fusti jugs are pretty cool and cheap enough...

Homebrew places will sell T corks for resealing wine and spirits bottles. They will fit almost any kind of bottle. I use 500 ml clear glass beer bottles because I think it's a handy size. I bottle at drinking strength.

I googled ptfe sheets and a bunch of companies popped up.
I looked at a few of their websites and ordered from one of them.
Sorry, I don't remember which one it was.

I want to thank homedistiller.org and everyone helping out and giving suggestions. Every comment counts, is a huge help and is piece of the big puzzle...

Braz wrote:http://www.fillmorecontainer.com/search.asp

This site does not have liquor bottles but probably every other bottle you could think of. I was excited at first and then noticed many screw caps where lined with plastisol. Googled it real quick and read it was 'not recommended' with ethanol.

I was really looking for a commercial bottle that would store any liquid I could feed it without any leeching or deterioration. I now realize that commercial bottles can be a tricky thing. Since it is not yet legal to distil in most countries the market for liquor bottles for the public is slim to none. Every web site I've seen selling professional looking liquor bottles and professional looking screw caps was for wholesale, aimed at large professional distilleries.

I've also read somewhere (sorry I forget where) a debate about reusing professional screw caps. If I remember correctly, some people where saying screw caps where not made for reuse and should be thrown out.

I have now come to the conclusion (unless someone proves me otherwise) that commercial bottles cannot yet be trusted completely for repeated reuse and wear. Diluted, high proof, in the car in winter cold, in the car in summer heat...

From what you guys are saying teflon tape would be the best protection. It is definitely the best option that has been suggested in my opinion because it is safe and can be used on any glass bottle. People can scavenge any glass bottle that fit their needs, tape it with teflon and cap it.

I am hoping people will continue adding links to bottle web sites and other do-it-yourself bottling tricks.

Keep it coming guys, I love it!!!

I contacted a local winery about buying thier empty bottles, they sell them for very cheap from thier wine bar if you buy enough quanity, they will even seperate out by color

I use solid cork caps or those t-caps to seal mine up

Go out, have a drink and ask the local bartender to save you the bottles they empty (on a Friday or Saturday night). Have a story ready (which retains the tops): kids school craft project, making herb infused rum, producing molotov cocktails. Wnatever was in the surface of the plastic top has already been leached out into the commercial stuff and as a bonus, they appear legal. You can get cardboard cases that fit most of them at liquor stores.

Bartenders round my way are supposed to smash empty spirits bottles to prevent refilling with counterfeit. But I'm sure it is possible to find ones who don't or won't.

I found a stash of gallon wine jugs 42 of them! in 4 gallon cases work perfect

I work at a bar and have no worries taking empties home - hell, the guys I work with/for know I distill and reckon its 'cool'!

I'm sure you'll be able to get the ear of a publican and score some freebie bottles.

Cheers - boingk

I'll store it in mine if you want.

One of my buddies is a bar tender. I match the spirits with the type of container which makes transportation easier. Mason jars are for cuts and commercial bottles are for storage. I guess I am too paranoid.

We have a recycle center in our town... I trade the manager there a bottle of homemade wine for basically all the gallon wine bottles I want!!! It started by asking if they had any bottles I could have... that lead to why I wanted them,.. now...ever duplex weeks I swing by with a jug of wine an pick up all the bottles I want!!!! New caps I get from, E.C. Krause...

You might up spending a bit more than if you recycle, but lifewithoutplastic.com has some great glass and stainless storage options.

I use :

Flint Wide Mouth Reagent Bottles: Ground Glass Stopper

http://www.artistsupplysource.com/produ ... alt&page=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

They make great collection jars as well. Been using them for a few years now.

Flint Wide Mouth Reagent Bottles: Ground Glass Stopper

Those would make nifty collection jars. A little pricey though.

I also have a policy that if I give you a bottle and you want it refilled than you give me the bottle back. You will be surprised at how well that works.

+1 rgarry. That is my policy it works great,and every so often someone brings me some things they find, gallon jugs ,jars and bottles. That is also my wife's policy on her canned fruit,veggies and salsa.