# Craythur

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 16, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557 "2007-02-16T22:02:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557/1 "2007-02-16T22:02:21Z")

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When my wife and I went to Ireland for our honeymoon many years ago, we visited all of her great-aunts and –uncles. One of them knew a gentleman who made his own poteen, or craythur. I had a small glass and while it went down with a nice burn and smooth taste it also felt like I got socked in the gut. WOW! I was in love!

This great-uncle is coming to the US around St. Patrick’s Day (gee, what a shock) and I was wondering if anyone knows how difficult it would be for me to make my own to serve him. He’s 94 and I know he would get a kick out of it.

Is building and running a still hard to do? Where can I find a recipe? If it would be too hard to make my own, is there someplace I can buy some?

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557/2 "2007-02-17T01:24:07Z")

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Just as a legal note, it’s illegal in the US to distill alcohol for drinking without a permit.

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**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557/3 "2007-02-17T01:37:21Z")

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However, unlike Ireland (where I hear it’s still illegal to sell) you might be able to buy him a bottle. I’ve seen several brands available ([Bunratty](http://www.alcoholreviews.com/SPIRITS/knockeen2.shtml), for instance)

I’ve never had the real stuff, but I’d much rather you disappoint your great-uncle slightly than run afoul of them revenuers.

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**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557/4 "2007-02-17T06:09:06Z")

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[QUOTE=Captain Amazing]  
Just as a legal note, it’s illegal in the US to distill alcohol for drinking without a permit.  
[/QUOTE]

Out of curiosity, why doesn’t this apply to home beer brewers? Or does it?

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**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craythur/392557/5 "2007-02-17T06:32:05Z")

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The Feds allow natural fermentation but not any other method to increase the alcohol content. Distilling or concentrating is strictly regulated, beer and wine are specifically allowed (within specific limits).  
[Random site](http://www.happymountain.net/the%20law.html) that isn’t as difficult to navigate as [http://www.ttb.gov/](http://www.ttb.gov/)

As for _why_, I believe it’s related to the Whiskey Rebellion.