How to Make a Still out of Common Household Items

With just a few simple household items, you can learn to make your own home-made brandy and other liquors. Great for home-made liqueurs too!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 5 quart pot or larger
• A wok or a large glass bowl
• a juice glass
• Wine or Beer
• Ice

1. 

   Set-up: Put the pot on the stove. Place the juice glass in the center of the pot. Pour the wine or beer into the pot around (not in) the juice glass. Place the wok or large glass bowl on top of the pot right side up (see diagram below). Fill the wok or bowl with ice.

2. Distillation: Turn the stove onto the lowest possible heat. If your stove has a low BTU burner, use that one. Set the timer for one hour.

3. 

   How it works: Alcohol vaporizes at a much lower temperature than water so if your pot starts to boil, it's too hot.
   
   If the temperature is low enough, all that will vaporize is the alcohol. The alcohol vapor will rise to the top of the pot. Because the wok or bowl is filled with ice, it will cool the vapor and cause it to condense on the bottom side of it. Gravity will cause the condensation to run down the wok or bowl until it reaches the lowest point in the center. At that point the condensed alcohol will drip into the glass.

4. Alcohol Removal: Remove the wok or bowl and place to the side. Remove the glass with a hot pot holder or towel. Let the alcohol cool. For best results, place the glass of warm alcohol into a ice water bath immediately after removal. If you do this it will stop the vaporization of the alcohol.

5. Storage: Store the alcohol in a clean, air-tight container. The alcohol is a preservative so there is no need to add anything at this point unless you are concerned that you did not follow the steps accurately. If that is the case, add a very small amount of citric acid to preserve it; lemon or lime juice works well in most cases.

Tips & Warnings

• If your ice melts, you may have to add more so watch it. Do not remove the wok or bowl at any time. Just add the extra ice into the melted water.
• Check out my other articles on how to make liqueurs or brandies using this type of still! www.ehow.com/members/guitarguy-articles.html
• You should produce one to two ounces of liquor per liter of wine or beer you start with depending on the initial alcohol content.
• Check your local, state and federal laws regarding alcohol production. This article in no way validates the legality of distillation in the home.
• Alcohol fumes can get you drunk! DO NOT distill when children are present and use a well ventilated area, outdoors is best.
• Only use copper or stainless metal. Alluminum and tin will cause the liquor to make you sick or blind.

[kodiewm]

on 7/20/2009 By distilling beer or wine in this manner do you still have to worry about head/tails etc?

[gntlben]

on 4/22/2009 Great article. Five stars.

[Upon-Request]

on 3/13/2009 Making your own still sounds like a fun project -- away from the main house! :)

[nikhilkariya]

on 2/28/2009 ITS A BAD IDEA IT CAN BE DO YOU BLIND

[nikhilkariya]

on 2/28/2009 ITS A BAD IDEA IT CAN BE DO YOU BLIND