The Best Yeast for Distilling Brandy, Schnapps and Pisco (Our 5 Top Picks!)

Image of diy distilling the best brandy yeast the best yeast for making schanpps brandy pisco and grapps

With more than 1500 varieties of yeast available to choose from, knowing the right type to use when making brandy, schnapps or any other fruit spirit can be confusing. And, because any type of yeast *can* be used, there is no bad or good option. It all depends on your taste, preference, and budget. However,{…}

How To Make Brandy (A Step by Step Guide)

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Brandy is one of the easiest spirits to make when you’re starting out – though can be challenging to master! The process uses minimal ingredients that you can purchase at your nearest store. And, we can safely say your liquor will be ready for consumption within three months. So, how do you make this magical{…}

The Best Grapes For Making Brandy (Read This First!)

Image of diy distilling what are the best grapes for making brandy

There are a lot of varieties of grapes used as a base for brandy. They range from sweet and fruity to soft and floral. Some grapes are sought after because of the caramel notes they impart as the wine matures, adding dimension to the distilled brandy. This article explores the best varieties and the ones{…}

What Does Brandy Taste Like (Explained!) 

Image of diy distilling what does brandy taste like and what is the difference between brandy and cognac

Brandy is a spirit that’s a little bit like a rum, a little bit like a liqueur, and a little bit like a dessert. A lot of factors come into play when producing this multi-dimensionally flavored drink – that’s why it can be so confusing when trying to describe what it tastes like. Quick Answer:When{…}

How Is Methylated Spirits Made? (Explained!)

Image of diy distilling how is methylated spirits made and how to make methylated spirits at home

Methylated spirits is a very common product used for general purposes around the home, office, and workplace. It’s predominantly used for cleaning as it’s almost 100% alcohol which is a powerful solvent. It’s known to be an eco-friendly product, which is why people favor it more than other cleaning chemicals. We all know it as{…}

How To Test For Methanol (Is It Possible?)

Are you wondering how to test for methanol in your drink? Amateur distillers, commercial brewing professionals, and keen alcohol drinkers may be interested in testing for methanol in alcoholic beverages. Below, we talk about what methanol is, where we commonly find methanol, and why it’s important to test for methanol in alcoholic beverages.  Later, we’ll walk{…}

Can You Distill Wine? (Answered!)

Image of diy distilling can you distill wine and what wine is best for making brandy

Wine is a fermented drink that’s been around for over 8000 years. It’s made by pressing grapes to get their juice and natural sugars, then fermenting it with either wild or cultivated yeast to turn these sugars into alcohol. As distillers, we are fascinated by the magic that happens when you take something like wine{…}

Batch vs. Continuous Distillation (Explained!)

Image of diy distilling the difference between batch and continuous distillation

Distillation is one of the most useful processes in chemistry. It can separate mixtures into their components, concentrating a product from what was once a reaction mixture. In this post, we’ll be looking at the difference between batch distillation and continuous distillation. What Is Distillation? Distillation is the process of separating parts of a (liquid){…}

What Is A Vapor Management Still? (And How Do They Work?)

Image of diy distilling what is a vapor management still and how do they work

A vapor management still is 1 of 3 different methods for the control of reflux within a distillation column. These include vapor management (VM), liquid management (LM), and cooling management (CM). What is a vapor management still? A vapor management still is a method of reflux control set by a gate valve or ball valve. Vapor{…}

How to Make Pitorro At Home (Step-by-Step Guide)

Pitorro is a popular Puerto Rican drink, especially during special occasions. It follows the same{...}

The Best Still For Making Whiskey (In 2024)

With so many whiskey-making stills on the market, choosing one that will cater to your{...}

The Best Still For Making Vodka (In 2024)

I make a lot of gin, and to make gin you need vodka first. Over{...}

The Best Thermometer For Distilling (In 2024)

One aspect that allows us to create high-quality spirits hinges on having a reliable and{...}

How To Cut Heads and Tails When Making Gin

One question we get asked a lot in the Facebook group and our Ask an{...}

A Distillers’ Guide To Excise Duty (Excise Tax Considerations)

From the Author: This article has been written as a necessity given the variety of{...}