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Welcome to Home Distiller

The calculators page has been *mostly* fixed! We will be working on improving them but for now most of them seem functional.

What is Home Distiller?

Welcome to the largest online resource for distillation. This site contains detailed information regarding the creation of distilled spirits for beginners and advanced distillers. The information contained here is the distilled (pardon the pun) information contained in our forums. To ask specific questions or to do more research, check out the Home Distiller Forums.

Beginners

The journey of a thousand steps starts with one

Beginners should check the Beginner's Guide and New Distiller Reading Lounge.

Beginner's Guide to Making Distilled Spirits: This should be your first read to start your journey.

Know the Legality of distillation in your area. Remember folks: Don't Tell, Don't Sell

Safety first! Distillation requires responsibility

Start reading the The Rules We Live By, Introduction to Distilling and New Distiller's FAQ

What is: Whiskey - Rum - Brandy - Vodka - Gin - Cordials and Liqueurs - Other Spirit types

If you are planing on making whiskeys please read this book: How to Brew By John Palmer

Find basic outlines on how to produce common spirits in our Spirit Style Guide

Start with reading about the Theory of Distillation

Start Planning your first Run, buy some Collection Jars and make your Flour Seals

Get to know your Cuts and Learn How to Blend

Now you can still, make it your own: Developing a Flavor Profile with Grain Flavor Profiles and Woods for aging

Books and Publications - Tables - Charts - Troubleshooting Guide

Washes, Mashing and Fermentation

Let the fungus make magic

Once you've decided what you're going to make here's how to get it started.

Most good things start with good water

Know the Definitions of Wash, Mash, Wort, Must and Marc

Mash preparation from grains to starch

Wash preparation from sugar products

Fermentation of sugar into alcohol by yeast

You wouldn't want to drink a distillers version of a beer

Wine is the precursor to brandy and many related spirits

Need some inspiration, start here: Tried and True Recipes

All things Mashing related: Category:Mashing

All things Fermenting related: Category:Fermentation

All things Yeast related: Category:Yeast

Distillation

Ye Olde Timey Pot still

Now that your fermentation is complete the fun part comes next.

Distillation history and instruction

Theory and design of Stills

Understanding Cuts and fractions

Prepare for your first Stripping run and Spirit run

Beginner's tutorial for Using a Pot Still

Methanol and the denaturing of alcohol

Commercial uses of ethanol beyond the beverage industry

All things Distillation related: Category:Distillation

Making fuel alcohol: Alcohol as Fuel

Maturation, Storage, and Flavoring of Spirits

Barrels and barrels

You're done making your product, next comes worst part, waiting.

Maturation, storage and Cooperage

Learn about Woods for aging

And how Barrels need Toasting and Charring

Flavoring of spirits and cordials

Making Gin with Vapor Infusion or Maceration

Drinking & Cocktails

Bottoms up!

Now the best part, enjoying your product!

HD's Drinks forum: Drinks and Drinking

Wikipedia: Liquor Portal

Archive of the Previous HD Content

The old version of HD has been archived as of 8/22/19.

The PDF Archive of books and other articles is available here: https://homedistiller.org/pdf/