Shine

Anyone watch the show moonshiners? And I would love to make my own at home it is only illegal if you get caught

 

Considering the ramifications of a felony charge (lifetime firearms prohibition, loss of the right to vote, etc...), it's not worth it. You're playing with fire. It's a federal charge... it's not like getting caught with a baggie of weed.

 

I know its not I was just saying if so eone really wants to do it do it at your own risk

 

The main reason of making your own moonshine is illegal is because if someone really doesn't know how to make it, it can do some serious harm to a persons body. Stilh blowing up making someone go blind etc.

 

Yup.

The revenue issue is a small factor, but homebrew wine and beer has been legal now for around 20 years.

But the health risks of concentrated alcohol are much higher.
Brew a "bad" batch of beer or wine and someone is just ill for a few days.
Make a shine from the wrong kind of fruit or grain and the methanol concentration increases with the ethanol concentration and can reach toxic levels.

Blueberry wine at 10% might be 2% methanol from the tannins. That's fine. Distill (or freeze) it to bring it to 40% and the methanol is now 8%.
That could be a problem.

 

Lots of info at http://homedistiller.org/forum/
It is legal in the USA and Canada to distill, but you need the appropriate permits. This exemption is primarily for fuel ethanol. It is possible to distill for consumption but it would be a lot of hoops to jump through. The distiller has to keep accurate records and pay tax whether it is sold or not.

The guy being cured by drinking whiskey isn't an old wives tale. The cure for methanol poisoning is high proof ethanol. It stops the methanol from being absorbed in your body.

 

Alcohol and the concentration of alcohol is an all natural process. The law against it only exists because the gvt wants tax money. That law is immoral hence we are obligated to ignore it. Make your still and brew your shine all you want. Tyranny should always be resisted.

 

Bullshit. There are far more dangerous things we do that are 100% legal. Its all about taxation.

 

you ever seen a shine stilh explode? not very pretty i can tell you that first hand.

 

Yes sir. That's why we were taught to light a small puddle on ground to see what color it burned.

 

Has anyone ever tried the junior Johnson brand that they sell at the liquor store. They have it in a bunch of different flavors but also plain

 

I wanna still so bad....jk NSA

 

Cider:
I've made a few ciders and the best so far is the simple Mott's or Treetop 100% apple juice (vitamin C/Ascorbic acid as a preservative is fine) and experiment with ale strains. Right now I'm liking WLP002 English ale. Give it one month in fermentation and one month, at least, in conditioning. Small batches can be done right in the container it comes in.

I've attempted to get romantic by using juice from local farms and such, but it never turns out as good. I've done the "apfelwine" recipe with montrachet yeast, but it took 8 months to be "good" and wasn't awesome.

Just as a note, the law does not make a distinction between heat and freeze distillation. IIRC, it only mentions "concentrating alcohol" which means that technically, freezing any alcoholic beverage is illegal. Making apple jack, eisbock or something similar could also be considered a felony.

Personally, I doubt you would ever be prosecuted for personal consumption of either form of distilled beverage. The money involved in the investigation and prosecution would be hard to justify in the age of budget constraints and the fact that you pose no threat to revenue. IMO, money is the reason it's illegal. Homebrew barley based wash contains less methanol than commercial does in general (there was a study). Throwing out the heads and not using a car radiator as a condenser pretty much takes away any health threat not present in ethanol alone. There is the fire danger, but camp stoves and such are legal so I don't think that's the reason.

 

I've been looking at grabbing a setup

http://www.hillbillystills.com/default.asp

 

Very cool site. A lot are out of stock,hmmmm.

 

I like the idea of it being easy to use the reg non"romantic" juice

 

I will take a better look at some of the books when I get home to a computer

 

A good find for ready to use kits. My book shows how to make a crude setup,depending on skill level.
Definitely a much needed item on the prepping list.

 

Popcorn Sutton also has shine available in stores around the Knoxville Tennessee area

 

I have checked my local package stores and none of them sell any brand of shine