Vodka stills, where do I start?

[anonymous-user]

I've been lumbered with the purchase of one of these devices as a pressie for my son in law, and having stalked the web for an hour, come to the conclusion that I don't know the first thing about distilling. Can anyone recommend a decent kit that preferably will come with the necessary ingredients as well?

[toasty]

As far as I know, you need a licence for distilling in the UK.

Beer or wine making is much simpler in this regard.

[frank hovis]

Not sure if you know that you need a licence to distill vodka in the uk

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/spirits-duty#apply-for...


http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/still-spirits-air-sti... Will allow to distill spirits of course you don't need a licence to buy as you can use it to distill essential oils as well

[Pothole]

swiveleyedgit said:

I've been lumbered with the purchase of one of these devices as a pressie for my son in law, and having stalked the web for an hour, come to the conclusion that I don't know the first thing about distilling. Can anyone recommend a decent kit that preferably will come with the necessary ingredients as well?

I don't have a still but I can sell you any amount of potato peelings.

[trickywoo]

As above if you can go down the home brew route it’ll be cheaper and simpler.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Yeah it's illegal to distill your own booze at home without a licence (and then coughing up the appropriate duty payments on whatever you make), yes you can by devices for making distilled water or whatever they're sold as which would also be able to distil alcohol. But ultimately why bother when you can buy a bottle of Vodka in Asda for £10 that will taste better and they'll be no risk of poisoning yourself, going blind etc.

[4x4Tyke]

I agree a decent home brew starter kit is much better & safer idea, these are available for beer, cider and wine. There are several threads in FD&R covering these at length. There are kits that range from the ultra easy, just adding water to a bag/box, through medium difficult/complexity using wort/concentrates, to the full process from fermenting grain, pressing fruit etc.

[Balmoral]

It's not possible to apply for a licence on a home distilling basis, as the application/issue process is very much geared for commercial applications, there are numerous food standards agency issues that make obtaining a distilling licence at home a non-starter. As far as home brew is concerned, using equipment like a Still Smart or such, the authorities have no interest whatsoever. Duty is a separate issue, and no duty is payable on the first 2500 litres produced at home for personal consumption anyway.

[guindilias]

Aliexpress sell stills from about £100 or so, depending on how fancy you want to get. Stainless, lead-free solder, etc.
And for info - https://homedistiller.org/
If you go with a £100 one, don't bother with potato peelings or anything else - the "vodka" will end up smelling and tasting of it.
Brewer's sugar is what you want.

[Jambo85]

Balmoral said:

As far as home brew is concerned, using equipment like a Still Smart or such, the authorities have no interest whatsoever. Duty is a separate issue, and no duty is payable on the first 2500 litres produced at home for personal consumption anyway.

Can you clarify this a bit please.... I don't know what a Still Smart is - but it sounds like you're still talking about distilling? If so there is no duty free allowance for home production of spirit as it is illegal. Though I agree the interests of the authorities will be nil unless you're daft enough to sell it or talk too much. The 2500 L allowance is for brewed stuff which isn't distilled - beer/wine/cider/etc.

[guindilias]

Aye, you WON'T get a licence for home distlling and it IS illegal
However as said, the HMRC really couldn't care less if you are knocking out a few dozen bottles of hooch a year, for family and friends. One of the nicest Poitins I've ever tried came from a Customs fella - somehow he manages to get hold of a few bottles, now and again - presumably to look the other way when he passes the barn!

[Huntsman]

Pothole said:

I don't have a still but I can sell you any amount of potato peelings.

You run a chip shop?

[guindilias]

Or a potato peelings shop?