Distilling in US legally? "Moonshine"? "Brandy" "Grappa"...?

Question

Does anyone have any experience with legally distilling alcohol for consumption (not fuel). I know it's heavily regulated, but there are exceptions granted by the ATF. Has anyone done this before, and can point me where to find more information for legal home distillation in the US.

Answer 1

In the US, one cannot distill any spirit without federal licensing.

The governing body for this is no longer the ATF, but now TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau). You can find out all the evils of the regulations at http://ttb.gov

The specific code that applies to moonshine or hobby distilling states:
"You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are paying special tax, filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19. "
http://www.ttb.gov/faqs/genalcohol.shtml#g1

However, you are permitted to brew your own wine or beer at a quantity of up to 100 gallons per year per adult over 21 in your household.
http://www.ttb.gov/beer/25_205.htm
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/10apr20061500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2006/aprqtr/27cfr24.75.htm

Answer 2

The only "exceptions" granted by the ATF are for the licensed distillers (a capital-intensive endeavor of course). There are no other exceptions. The only place on earth such home distillation for consumption is legal is New Zealand.

Fermenting is legal at home in the USA; distilling is not, despite anything one might have "heard". Remember, wine and beer are not distilled. The extra step of distillation increases alcohol content, and naturally the feds want to tax that, and they can't tax it if you don't have a permit they can keep track of.

Now what is legal and whether you get caught are two separate issues.

Search YA for more details, as this topic has been covered, or actually go to the Fed's website.

Answer 3

I heard many years ago (and it may have changed) that the "head of the household" may LEGALLY distill up to 600 gallons of "spirits" (ie: home brewed wine, etc.) for "personal use".

In my area of Pennsylvania, there are quite a few stores that sell "brewing supplies" such as casks, corks and beer and wine "mix", so it is legal here. If there are shops like that in your state, ask them about the local regulations.

Do you have a formula that you'd like to share?

Have fun & keep it legal. Hope this helps.

CHEERS!

Answer 4

lol That's actually funny! I was taking a childhood development class in school years ago, and one of the things it specifically mentions is to "Never tell the child 'wait until your father/mother gets home." When the teacher asked us if it ever happened in our homes, the girl next to me said her mom had been doing it for years, but her dad hasn't come home yet. We don't do that in our house though. My son thinks both me and Mr Dawna are equally evil.

Answer 5

TRY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL A.T.F. (ALCOHOL TOBACCO, FIREARMS)