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How to distill your own premium alcohol safely and legally.
Many people have experienced great success making their own beer or wine at home. In recent years a number of hobbyists have become interested in making distilled spirits. However, distilled spirits are more complicated to produce, and the process presents unique safety issues. In addition, alcohol distillation without a license is illegal in most countries, including the United States and Canada.
From mashing and fermenting to building a small column still, Craft Distilling is a complete guide to creating high-quality whiskey, rum and more at home. Experienced brewer, distiller and self-reliance expert Victoria Redhed Miller shares a wealth of invaluable information including:
- Quality Spirits 101: Step-by-step recipes and techniques
- Legal Liquor: An overview of the licensing process in the U.S. and Canada
- Raising the Bar: Advocacy for fair regulations for hobby distillers.
This unique resource will show you everything you need to know to get started crafting top-quality spirits on a small scale-and do it legally. Sure to appeal to hobbyists, homesteaders, self-sufficiency enthusiasts, and anyone who cares about fine food and drink, Craft Distilling is the ideal offering for independent spirits.
AWARDS
- BRONZE | 2016 IPPY Awards: How-To (Crafts / Hobby / Industrial Arts)
"Craft Distilling accomplishes the extraordinary task of making the arcane art form accessible and practical for anyone who can cook from a recipe. The joy of creating spirits at home is a great incentive for learning a little chemistry and Victoria makes the chemistry fun."
— Bryan Welch, Mother Earth News, and CEO, B the Change Media
"In Craft Distilling, author Victoria Redhed Miller leads us on a wonderfully intoxicating journey that answers the question of why distill spirits at home with eloquence and clarity that only a passionate practitioner can offer. With Miller's help we come to understand just why it is that most of us can't legally make spirits for ourselves, and she makes a wonderful case for why we should be able to do just that! Set the history aside for a spell and Craft Distilling delves deeply into the science of alcohol distillation and sets you up with everything from detailed recipes for your favorite liquors and insight on constructing your own still. Craft Distilling is as important for dreamers and practitioners as it is for policy makers, and it belongs on the shelf of everyone who has anything to do with the production and consumption of distilled spirits."
— Oscar H. Will III, Editorial Director, Mother Earth News
"This is one of the most comprehensive books I have seen to date. This book tells you everything you need to know to become a knowledgeable distiller. The book also has many great recipe's. I would highly recommend this book to any new or experienced distiller."
— Mike Haney, Hillbilly Stills
Victoria Redhed Miller is a writer, photographer, and homesteader. She speaks and writes extensively on topics including home distilling, bread baking, poultry keeping, and more. Victoria lives on a 40-acre off-grid farm in Washington State, and is also the author of Pure Poultry and the award-winning Craft Distilling .
Foreword,by Gene Logsdon
Introduction: The Accidental Activist
1. Why Make Your Own Liquor?
2. A Revenooer Walked into a Nanaimo Bar
3. Making Liquor Legally at Home
4. The Basic Principles of Distillation
5. Building a Small Column Still
6. Your "Home" Distillery
7. The Economics of Distilling Your Own Liquor
8. Mashing Grains
9. Fermentation
10. Overview of the Distilling Process and Techniques
11. Rum
12. Gin
13. Vodka
14. Malt Whiskey
15. Irish Whiskey
16. Other Kinds of Whiskey
17. Tequila and Sunchoke Spirit
18. Don't Be So Immature: Aging Small-batch Spirits
19. Brandy, Liqueurs and Other Excuses to Spend More Time in the Stillhouse
20. Handmade Bitters
21. Making Your Own Mixers
22. Putting It All Together: Classic Cocktail Recipes Featuring Your Homemade Spirits
23. Other Uses for Your Distillation Skills
24. The Farm Distillery
25. The Case for Making Non-commercial Distilling Legal
26. Let's Raise the Bar: The Future of True Craft Distilling
Appendix A: Useful Resources
Appendix B: Resources for Information on Distilling in Canada.
Appendix C: Sample Record-keeping Form
Index
About the Author