Home Distiller

Does anyone have any insight into where the line of legality is? I was wondering if it would be legal to buy, for instance, a case of last year's Beaujolais on the cheap and distill it. It seems to me that the taxes would already have been paid, and that I'm not really doing anything all that different from making stew with it. I'm not asking if it's cost effective, I'm not sure it's something I'd want to do, I'm just curious about the legality of the thing.

Donno where you are but that would not be legal here (canada)

Its not legal in the states.
wineo

Illegal in Australia to distill alcohol without a permit.

Thanks for these responses.

Would it be legal to run Smirnoff Vodka through a still?

The question was meant to be international, but I am in the US.

Thanks again.

Same as for wine, still illegal. I dont know why one would want to do that as its already triple distilled.

White Cur wrote:Thanks for these responses.

Would it be legal to run Smirnoff Vodka through a still?

The question was meant to be international, but I am in the US.

Thanks again.

Thats somewhat of a grey area. Taxes have already been paid on the alcohol, so you might be OK with the BATF and the treasury (in court), but the state would probably nail you.

Not to mention the fact that smirnoff is already considered to be pretty good stuff so why the hell would anyone want to try and fix whats not broken?

Here is my advice... sprout some nads, ferment some corn other fruit of your choice, then distill it.

Chances of getting caught is less than that of getting a speeding ticket going to walmart as long as your not selling the final product.

If your that worried about getting caught, then get a BATF experimentor's permit.

Smirnoff is crap.
wineo

I prefer Finlandia. I'd also like to try Tito's, but you can't get it in Ozland.

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

dixiedrifter wrote:
Chances of getting caught is less than that of getting a speeding ticket going to walmart as long as your not selling the final product.

'cept the ticket's a bit worst if you do get nabbed....

Tito makes his just down the road... Its a good tasting vodka. It seems to leave me a little hangover but I still buy it because its made just down the road by a few guys... not in a giant continuos still...by some multinational corporation.

junkyard dawg wrote:Tito makes his just down the road... Its a good tasting vodka. It seems to leave me a little hangover...

Maybe that says that a good home distiller can do better than the best commercial distillers.

you can always make water but got to be careful you aint burnin
the bottom out of yur kettle

yup aint no dout most all yall serious likker dicks can do as good if not better than store bought but dont yall be getin to big headed itll get you caught

so im tole

goose eye wrote:... dont yall be getin to big headed itll get you caught

Very wise words, goose

goose eye wrote:serious likker dicks

Goose, you are not only a wise man, but a funny one.

So,does anyone know anyone personally that has got caught in the US lately for distilling for their own consumption?I was just curious what the penalty was.I read of a $10,000 fine and a year in the hole...

Yairs, if you tell the world that you are distilling you may get into trouble, but if you can control your ego and keep it to yourself there's little problem. I believe that if one keeps it as a hobby and doesn't advertise, the paranoia just isn't worth the energy involved. The cops have better things to do - like raising revenue for the government - than bothering to look for 'criminal' distillers. I live in a very small town and everyone, cops included know, but have never had a problem mainly because I don't brag or sell.

blanik

Don't advertise and you will be OK.

Thanks Blanic,
I've been doing this for about 7 years and was just curious.I don't advertise,just for family and good friends...

Besides Brewz, as UJ once commented, the cops drink too much if they find out.

personal comsumstion aint family an friends.

depends if it county state or feds but after they leave then the irs comes a callin an that aint ever good.

so im tole

In the U.S. it is not legal to distill a single drop without a federal license. That includes beverage and fuel alcohol. Some states, California included, don't require a permit to make fuel alcohol. Most do, however, and all states require a license to make a single drop of beverage spirits.

So what are the penalties?

it all depends on how conected your lawyers is
so im tole

If you're caught shinin' and sellin' then you're into felony territory and you'll lose the right to own a firearm and so on.

If you're distilling at home in small amounts without selling it, the penalties might not be so stiff. But don't bet on it, the feds are serious about 'protecting the revenue' as they put it.

any untaxed likker in your car or truck an they can take your car or truck
even if it was borowed or lent.
so im tole