[jgregory01]

Hello,

 This may be an old question. I have searched without luck. Does anyone know if it is legal to make whisky or some variant at home? I read the law for Florida and it talks about beer and wine...but nothing harder. Is that the case? You can only make those two legaly? Thanks.

[ccarlson]

It's illegal to distill spirits (w/o a license) in the US.

[JKL]

It's illegal to distill spirits (w/o a license) in the US.

But apparently it's legal to sell everything for someone to make illegally?

http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/Distillers-and-Parts/products/981/

-J.K.L.

[Slowbrew]

It's illegal to distill spirits (w/o a license) in the US.

But apparently it's legal to sell everything for someone to make illegally?

http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/Distillers-and-Parts/products/981/

-J.K.L.

The response I've heard to that question is usually "these systems are used to distill water, not alcohol".

Paul

[morticaixavier]

It's illegal to distill spirits (w/o a license) in the US.

But apparently it's legal to sell everything for someone to make illegally?

http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/Distillers-and-Parts/products/981/

-J.K.L.

This is because it is legal to distill spirits for fuel. I beleive there is still federal permits required but they are inexpensive and easy to aquire. This is from research I did years ago but if I recall correctly there is even a federal tax credit for producing ethanol for fuel purposes.

**EDIT** here is a link to a company that makes home ethanol distillers http://microfueler.com/t-faqpage.aspx#legal

[tschmidlin]

You can also use those systems to distill essential oils from plants.

[a10t2]

You can also use those systems to distill essential oils from plants.

Depending on the plants, it sounds like that could be a gray area too.

[morticaixavier]

You can also use those systems to distill essential oils from plants.

Depending on the plants, it sounds like that could be a gray area too.

Nah you don't need a still for that, just some vodka and an electric stove to reduce the volume after... or so I am told...

[malzig]

Can you make whiskey in Florida?  Yes.
May you make whiskey in Florida?  No. 

[tschmidlin]

You can also use those systems to distill essential oils from plants.

Depending on the plants, it sounds like that could be a gray area too.

Nah you don't need a still for that, just some vodka and an electric stove to reduce the volume after... or so I am told...

I thought you were supposed to use butter for that, not vodka?

[a10t2]

I thought you were supposed to use butter for that, not vodka?

I think supercritical CO₂ is the way to go, actually...

[tschmidlin]

I thought you were supposed to use butter for that, not vodka?

I think supercritical CO₂ is the way to go, actually...

A friend of mine specializes in supercritical CO2, maybe he can send me a system.

[sailortodd]

Can you make whiskey in Florida?  Yes.
May you make whiskey in Florida?  No. 

Ha, well put. That takes me back to the first grade

[hopfenundmalz]

At one of the NHC talks the presenter mentioned that you can get a liscense to home distill - to make fuel.  The fuel must have additives that turn the fuel into a poison.

[maxieboy]

At one of the NHC talks the presenter mentioned that you can get a liscense to home distill - to make fuel.  The fuel must have additives that turn the fuel into a poison.

 So it's OK to make poison at home but not spirits...