We made wine for 30 years and kinda got wined out.
So,
we, no, I started makin beer. I like oatmeal stout and make one damned good brew, from a kit no less. Man, its REALLY good, and OK for breakfast cause of the oatmeal, but I try ta hold off til tenish or so.
My kid is finishing up the pot still Ive got goin. I still need to get the reflux stem and a couple a things before I run a batch. Probably use some horse feed for the first wash..
This is a health foods thread.

Some Pakis I went to college with taught me how, and my Dad used to say "You make it so damn hot but it's good."

I love a good dry stout too.
The boys I used to drink with, often, would say "It takes like burnt toast" and I would tell them that was what makes it good.

Its the pot still thats got me excited tho. I am a Bourbon fan!

I switched to tequila and mezcal.
Best decision I ever made but then I loved the Lemon one usually consumed with either of the above.
It was best if there was a chick bar-hop that would give you a nice big slice rather than those paper thin things you get now.

Bombay Sapphire Collins. (No substitute Gin)

Dark Bourbon with Ginger Ale and a dash of vanilla.

Wine.

Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon.

Any wine from The Ice House Winery.

Beer. (least favorite drink)

Columbus Brewery IPA
Dogfish Head

Non drinker here but have friends that brew their own beer, they also grow their own hops. You should be able to do that FF. They give beer brewing demos at one of the local farmers markets, big pots over those burners that are used for those turkey fryers.

Kate

I've made vinegar, it's fun, and easy.

It's legal to brew beer and wine in MN and I think most states. There are specialty shops dedicated to home brewing.

We used to have a really nice wine club here. we have sowed wines at the county fair and small local competitions. Most beer makers just do it alone, same for shine.

I don't think maryjane should be legal - just because of the damage it does to lungs. Yea yea, just like cigarettes do. But, I think cigarettes should be illegal.

No; that's like saying you gotta get a buzz on in order to party! Alcohol doesn't actually taste good--not to me, anyway.

"From TTB.gov
"You may not produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that also make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are paying special tax, filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.

then you take into account state and local law...

gin is the prefered drink-lots of lime.

We sometimes make clones. We figured out how to make Abita Turbodog by copying the ingredients from the label. My DH figures out the recipe and is the brewmaster. I am the head of the bottling division (well, somebody's got to do it!).

We pretty much don't have to buy beer in stores anymore.

I probably will get with it,. next winter ? I am wanting to get the still going this winter.

Same with coffee with milk rather than cream....you get looked at like you have two heads.

I may have to get a pint.

The Clamato can come in duty free . It's the pre mixed stuff I have to smuggle.

Actually I was surprised to find the rules on bringing alcohol into the States had changed. You can bring in any amount of liquor and the border guard has the discretion of charging you 1 or 2 dollars per bottle or waving you through. We brought in 4 extra and they just waved us on.

I find it frustrating that I cant distill essential oils with alcohol which is a way better method than water without more hoops than is possible.

Since all the alcohol distilling thing is really about taxes and not that you can poison yourself if you dont know you need to toss the first part of the distillant does anyone know if it is illegal anywhere to grow your own Tobacco? Since the biggest part of tobacco costs is taxes which every state maximizes-why Alcohol?

If ya dont over do this stuff, who really cares if its legal??

Chase, why not make your "clamato juice"? How hard can it be?

Chase, I agree about the good bars but they also have it at the diner near me and I have seen it in other places that aren't high end but serve brunch. I can only speak for the greater NY area where it's stocked it in most of the supermarkets but not many of the smaller stores. So, if your travels take you to NYC, you won't have to import any longer. :)

Edited because I was instructed to tell you by mama epi that you can find it in many of the large markets in Connecticut and Florida also.

If you get caught... what? I mentioned above... way above... that I was pretty sure it's still illegal to distill spirits, and that would include anything more potent than beer or wine. I don't know any state that allows the distilling of spirits, even for personal consumption, without the proper permits, fees, and everything else required to be a legal distillery. Making bio-fuel is a little different, and still requires the proper permits.

Anyone who watched "Moonshiners" and thinks that's all there is to making corn liquor will be very surprised by the amount of information... pertinent information... left out.

That moonshiners is a joke, like all the rest o those silly shows! A small pot still is a relatvly simple operation. Mine is constructed from an old DeLaval milking machimne, a stainless bowl 3 feet of 2 inch copper for the reflux stem and 1/2 inch for the dripper. 20 pounds of sweet feed some water, a little fermentation, put some wash in the pot and let er cook. (Simplified somewhat)

There are several web sites and forums dedicated to distilling.

Id swear I just read essential oils can be distilled??

No; Patricia said you CAN'T, and she is frustrated about it. Look at 15:04.

Jodik-I assumed you were talking about subverting the bio-fuel system to make liquor-people do of course.

Everything I have read says ATF isnt really interested in the person who wants to make a little Apple Brandy on the side for fun and entertainment but you never know.

I read not long ago that the people on that moonshiners show are not actually making moonshine since the producers say they are not making anything illegal. I saw a documentary about moonshine and to have the amount of product coming out of the coil that they had from the tiny little still they had you would have had to have a water hose attached to the other end. I havent watched the moonshine TV show. When I was a very little girl I remember my Papa going out to bust up stills (sheriff) that was Mississippi, and my brother and I found one in the woods in Alabama. We did not tell a soul.

Somewhere in there, I noticed that all the spare plastic tubing I had for our aquariums went missing. Found the still in the middle of the forest - they'd cleared a few hectares of palm trees, knocking them over because the yield was much higher, and were distilling the wine by the drum full - my tubing went from the boiling vat through a canoe up on blocks, filled with water, condensing the alcohol.

Pic of palm tree being tapped:

Even if the persons on Moonshiners are really moonshiners, one must be caught in the physical act of distilling, or any part of it, for it to be considered illegal... so a film is nothing more than a film, and a tease for stupid people. Reality shows are not my thing... I think the majority are a waste of time and energy.

There are many methods for making the various types of alcohol found around the world, but moonshining is an American institution... just as growing hemp was at one time. It's really a shame that greed and stupidity have made these things illegal and forced them underground.