Home Distiller

Hello,

Does anybody know if home distilling is legal in North Carolina? I'm still trying to find an answer to this. I want to try out the hobby, but I have a family and the legal issue is a big deal as I am the primary income.

Thanks,
~DrCrook

It is not legal anywhere in the US without a permit. You can look into getting a basic distillation/fuel permit from the fed gov. You'll still have to check and meet whatever statutes NC has. But, the basic fuel permit is not expensive.

Hi Usge,

Thanks for the info. Is there information on acquiring either a fuel permit or a distilling permit, preferably non commercial. Where would I go to begin the process?

Thanks,
~DrCrook

The only available permit is for making fuel. There is no permit available for making a drink. So it is illegal to distill drinking alcohol everywhere in the US for a hobby. The only way to do it legally is to do it as a business.

The distillation of alcohol for potable spirits is illegal in every state at the federal level without a distillery license... Either be discrete and take your chances or find a more legal hobby... I've been at this for over 30 years and can count the total number of people who are still living and know that I do this on my two hands - perhaps even skipping my thumbs... That's pretty much a 30+ year secret... And there are other secrets that I'll take to the grave without anyone knowing... Even the gal I've lived with for 22 years doesn't know... If you can be that discrete then you might have a chance...

It's called an AFP (alcohol fuel permit). Here is the link to the form: http://www.ttb.gov/forms/f511074.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

This does not mean that NC will accept whatever you do. So, you have to check both. This is not a lic to start a commercial distillery...to make bev alcohol.

rad14701 wrote: Even the gal I've lived with for 22 years doesn't know...

Hardcore! Kudos to you! Hey, let me tell you a secret....

rad14701 wrote:The distillation of alcohol for potable spirits is illegal in every state at the federal level without a distillery license... Either be discrete and take your chances or find a more legal hobby... I've been at this for over 30 years and can count the total number of people who are still living and know that I do this on my two hands - perhaps even skipping my thumbs... That's pretty much a 30+ year secret... And there are other secrets that I'll take to the grave without anyone knowing... Even the gal I've lived with for 22 years doesn't know... If you can be that discrete then you might have a chance...

Bummer, man. That sounds lonely...