Would someone tell me how to make pure whiskey at home with a vegetable, sugar, water, and yeast?

Question

I heard a proffessor talking about making whiskey pure at home by, if I recall, putting a potato or corn cob in a bag with sugar and submerging it for a week or two, then removing the vegetable and submerging again the rot and sugar mixture for a couple weeks. If done incorrectly or not properly mixed afterwards, it could be fatal, which is why I'd like to know for sure what the steps are if anyone could point me in the right direction. I'm not looking to make a distillery, I just want to know if it can be done so simply. I have heard prisoners do the aformentioned and put the bag deep inside the toilet bowl, but the next family reunion is some time away and I would like to hear from someone else who has done this before.
Much obliged.

Answer 1

Actually, It's not against the law, unless your particular state or county laws prohibit it. You are allowed by federal law to make ( at home for personal consumption, no selling or trading) up to one (1) quart of distilled spirits a day, and beer/ wine I don't recall, @ a gallon? As with anything you would ingest, be sure of the sterility of the equipment, area of manufacture, ect. The best guide(s), including actual recipies, can be found online in areas dealing with distilled spirits. For more historical backgroung, read the book series "FOXFIRE". It is a series of publications about the lives of people in the Smoky Mountains. The one with information regarding "Moonshine" is in the third book I believe.

Answer 2

Nope...either you misheard the professor, or the professor was wrong...it's not that simple.
To get *any* kind of alcohol, you need to have yeast ferment some sort of sugar. The theory behind what you're saying your prof. said is that there might be some natural yeast present on the corn. Add the corn to sugar water and theoretically the wild yeast will ferment the sugar into alcohol and that the corn *should* impart some kind of corn flavor to it...essentially making beer. You don't let it "rot"...there's a huge difference between rotting and fermenting.
The step between the fermented brew (you call call it 'beer' if you want to) and whiskey is a big one, too. You then have to distill the beer (which requires as still/distillery) into whiskey. Just letting it sit won't accomplish that step, no matter how patient you are.

So, to answer your question, no, whiskey cannot be made so simply.

Also, it's illegal to make *any* quantity of distilled spirits for *any* purpose without a permit from the federal and local governments. You can make beer and wine up to 100 gallons per year of each per adult in your household, but no spirits.

-edited to add:
To be specific where it says you may not distill any quantity for any purpose without a permit (whether you sell it or not):
http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7
Which states (if you don't feel like clicking):
"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://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=fd8b0ad16b93584273aefb7460a98eb4&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title27/27cfr19_main_02.tpl

Answer 3

There is only a Federal law against distilling spirits if you sell the product and trade for other items. I am not sure of the amount you can make for personal use but thought it used to be 50 gallons a year.

Distilling it will be another matter since a still will require some safety measures and making the "mash" will not please your neighbors with the smell. Shine is generally made from grains and usually cracked corn. Keep in mind, if you plan to take a gallon jug with you to the reunion, it will take alot of mash and a couple of runs through the still to get to that point. The resulting product will look like water.

I am sure there are websites that will give you a hands on approach. While you're there, check the laws in your state and even check Federal laws for the amount allowed to make.

Answer 4

it is not possible to make any wine or spirit above 32 proof without the use of some sort of still. the bacteria that produces alcohol dies at 16% ABV. Only through the use of heat can you distill the alc from the water, water has a higher boiling point. Yeast will produce alc naturally over time with any veg based carbohydrate.

Answer 5

I agree with the first responder - it is a federal offense to make spirits - even if it is for personal use. The limits apply to beer and wine. I think the limit is somewhere around 500 gallons.

Answer 6

Just tour the Boondocks of Northern Indiana, god I love those people! Great time getting drunk off of the shine!

Answer 7

its illegal!!!