Category Archives: Distilling 101

What Is Backset Distilling (Explained)

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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!)

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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?)

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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)

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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!)

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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

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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)

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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{…}

What Is Louching? (How To Fix Cloudy Distillate)

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Most distillers will tell you that nothing screams satisfaction like a flavorful drink. But these aroma-filled oils can take a different turn and give you a cloudy distillate – an effect that arises from louching. Although this is a fascinating phenomenon to look at, not every distiller is fond of haze in their drinks. Louching{…}

What Is Neutral Spirit (Grain Neutral Spirit Explained)

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When it comes to the distilling industry, there are various ways of achieving the desired level of alcohol content in your gin and vodka. One way of attaining this is through the addition of a neutral spirit. Neutral spirit is odorless and flavorless alcohol. It adds a lot of convenience for spirit producers wanting to{…}

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{...}