Since American colonial times, whisky stills have been a part of our culture. Most colonists had their own whisky still recipes that were a staple in their homes, passed down to the next generation. Stills (short for "distillery") became illegal in the Prohibition Era and again in the Depression when the government placed a heavy tax on alcohol. Bootleggers and Revenue Agents became mortal enemies. Unfortunately, many recipes for whisky stills were lost in this struggle.
Today, having your own distillery is completely legal as long as you don't sell your product; this is considered to be income tax evasion. Whisky still construction and recipes are found on the internet and at your local bookstore. Brewing your own beer, wine, and whisky is becoming a hobby of great interest. You can also ask fellow brewers for their best whisky still recipes and tips on aging, bottling and other necessities.
Essential Ingredients of Recipes for Whisky Skills
The first step is deciding what kind of whisky you'd like to distill. For any whisky still recipe, you must decide on the type of grain you wish to use; potatoes, rye, rice, wheat and corn all yield a different flavor. "Corn liquor" was the whisky originally called "Moonshine" during the Depression era. This whisky still recipe is available through books and the web, but use caution; this recipe is easy to make but has very high ethyl alcohol content and has an unpleasant taste.
Rye, rice and wheat whisky still recipes are not only easier to make, but much more pleasant tasting. Many specialty stores contain all the ingredients you will need, including the grain, a sugar source, yeast, and ethyl alcohol in small quantities to "jump start" the distillery. If you'd like to make your own whisky, you will find the necessary components with which to build your distillery; you may prefer to buy a ready-made distillery.
Wheat is not often used in recipes for whisky stills since it tends to yield a rather frothy liquor. It is more popular in distilling homemade beer. If you're uncertain about which grain to use, consult your guidebooks, search internet chat rooms, or simply look at the label of your favorite liquor to determine which grain has been used. Like wheat, potatoes are not for the novice whisky maker. Potatoes are used in distilleries to produce Vodka. Although this has historically been the favored liquor of the Russian people, Vodka is difficult to make unless you are a skilled distiller.
Your recipe for whisky stills must also contain just the right amount of sugar. Light brown "raw" sugar is easily obtainable in any supermarket, and is preferred over white processed sugar. Each liquor has a different sugar requirement, so be sure to follow the recipe directions completely.
The days of bootleg moonshine and bathtub gin are long gone. Today you can use the recipe of your choice for your whisky still. Be aware, however, that it is illegal to sell your homemade whisky without IRS tax stamps on the bottle. Nevertheless, you can enjoy making and sipping your favorite liquor for your own personal use.
