Category Archives: Distilling 101

Pot Still Puking (Why Is My Still Boiling Over?)

Image of DIY DISTILLING Why is my still puking and how to fix boilover

As a new distiller, one of the most dampening feelings is winding up with a puking still. Even more so, when you’ve excitedly set up your still and have it running and had it run for the whole run. So, what exactly caused it to boil over? A few common causes of a still boilover are increased heat,{…}

The Best Puking And Anti-foaming Agents For Distilling (Our Recommendation)

Image of DIY DISTILLING What is the best antifoaming agent for distilling

If you’ve experienced a puking still and are looking for a surefire way to prevent it, you’ve come to the right place.  There are a lot of anti-foaming agents on the market, but we’ve included the ones we’ve found to effectively work best for extra starchy washes like all grain, potato, and molasses-based. They include both commercial{…}

What Is Backset Distilling (Explained)

Image of DIY DISTILLING What is backset distilling

Backset, as with other terms experienced home distillers throw around, can be a confusing concept for new distillers. But, it’s quite straightforward. Backset distilling is the process of adding liquid leftover (backset) from the previous distillation to a fresh wash. The liquid is acidic, so it lowers the pH of your wash. Bacteria thrive in{…}

Freeze Distillation (Try This!)

Image of DIY DISTILLING How to freeze distill alcohol

Distilling with a alembic or column still is awesome, but you need a lot of expensive equipment, and it’s unfortunately still illegal in many parts of the world. So what can you do instead? Freeze distillation is the process of lowering the temperature of your liquor until the water component freezes but the alcohol stays{…}

How To Filter Alcohol (Is Carbon Filtering Worth It?)

Image of DIY DISTILLING How to filter alcohol is carbon filtering worth it

Filtering of homemade spirits is about as polarising as politics. Some are adamant you have to, and others will tell you ‘it’s all a hoax‘. Even commercial spirits will advertise that they are “triple filtered” to bolster rapport.  So should you filter alcohol? Is it an essential step to producing a smooth drink or does{…}

How To Make Cuts When Distilling (Distilling Cuts Chart)

Image of DIY DISTILLING How to make cuts when distilling

Making cuts as a beginner can be quite intimidating.  With the potential of collecting methanol in your jars, it can be frustrating to try to understand when to make cuts, considering every home distiller has its own technique for making cuts. To make cuts, it’s best to use labeled collecting jars and blend afterward. Use{…}

Why Is My Alcohol Freezing? (Check This!)

Image of DIY DISTILLING how to stop alcohol freezing

You’ve probably heard of freezing alcohol and want to find out why that happens. Or, you’ve just had this phenomenon happen to you and want to find out why your alcohol froze.  Alcohol freezer due to the low alcohol content (ABV) of your drink, and the temperature of your freezer. Alcohol is made of ethanol{…}

What Is The Easiest Alcohol To Make At Home

Image of DIY DISTILLING Whats the easiest alcohol to make at home

Sometimes you just want a good glass of your favorite alcohol after a long day or week. And the last thing you need is to be told you need special equipment to brew your drink. Luckily for you, there are various kinds of alcohol you can make with a few store-bought ingredients and equipment you{…}

When Should I Stop Running A Still? (Answered!)

When you’re new to the hobby of distilling there’s a lot of decisions to make and not much information out there that’s easy to find. I know for myself, that even this decision of when to stop running my still was baffling and I second guessed myself a lot. In this article we’re going to{…}

Why Is My Moonshine Cloudy? (How to Fix Cloudy Distillate)

Image of DIY DISTILLING troubleshooting why moonshine is cloudy

So, you’re finally done with your spirit run and can’t wait to get your hands (and mouth) on your homemade hooch.  Did your distillate came out of the condenser with a funny-looking color? Or did you dilute with water only for it to take on a milky complexion? Don’t be disheartened. This is a common{…}

How To Fix A Low Proof Distillate (Beginner Mistakes)

One common question I get in the Facebook group and our Ask an Expert service{...}

Vevor Air Still Review (The Easiest Way To Distill Alcohol At Home?)

The Vevor 4L water distiller is a great option for beginner home distillers because of{...}

8 Vevor Replacement Parts and Upgrades (Master Distiller Advises)

When I started my journey into distilling I bought a Vevor pot still.. well.. because{...}

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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{...}

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