Category Archives: Brandy and Schnapps

How To Make Watermelon Moonshine (The Right Way!)

Image of diy distilling how to make watermelon moonshine recipe

Watermelon moonshine is a fruity, delicious, and sweet drink you can make at home with simple ingredients and equipment. There are two main ways to make it: infused and distilled.  Infused watermelon moonshine is made by combining the fruit’s juice with Everclear and spices, and letting the flavors meddle and marry for a couple of{…}

Banana Moonshine Recipe (How To Make Easy Banana Brandy At Home)

Image of diy distilling how to make banana moonshine

Bananas are versatile fruits you can enjoy in various ways. But have you ever considered turning them into delicious and potent liquor? Banana moonshine, also known as banana brandy, is an exciting recipe you can try. It uses minimal ingredients and is simple to make, making it an excellent choice for beginner moonshiners.  This batch{…}

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{…}

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{…}

The Best Yeasts For Distilling (Our Top 4!)

Image of diy distilling the best yeast for distilling 1

There are currently over 1500 varieties of yeast available to choose from. But yeast is yeast, right? Well while they may all seem similar enough, there are plenty of differences you should be aware of. Some yeast types perform better than others based on the ingredients you’re fermenting. Others impart unique flavors that are critical{…}

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{...}