# Distilling Whiskey at Home **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216 "2004-02-09T01:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oat1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Oat1957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oat1957)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/1 "2004-02-09T01:53:08Z")
Can I make my own whiskey at home? Is there a allowable limit I can make here in the US? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/2 "2004-02-09T02:07:48Z")
As far as I know, no you can’t legally do it. The allowable limit for home distillation is zero. In this regard it is different from home brewing beer or making wine. ---
**Author:** ![Oat1957](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Oat1957](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oat1957)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/3 "2004-02-09T02:14:42Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/4 "2004-02-09T02:16:01Z")
If it is not legal then this [**site**](http://www.jerryeden.com/alc/) is breaking the law. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/5 "2004-02-09T02:37:36Z")
From [this BATF page](http://www.atf.gov/alcohol/info/faq/genalcohol.htm): > [@](#): > > Spirits > You cannot 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 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. > > Spirits may be produced for nonbeverage purposes for fuel use only without payment of tax, but you also must file an application, receive ATF’s approval, and follow requirements, such as construction, use, records and reports. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/6 "2004-02-11T23:48:43Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > If it is not legal then this [**site**](http://www.jerryeden.com/alc/) is breaking the law. They don’t seem to be selling stills though, or even parts to make them. All they sell is instructions on how to build them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distilling-whiskey-at-home/228216/7 "2004-02-12T03:28:41Z")
if you’re curious about amateur distillation of spirits, [http://homedistiller.org](http://homedistiller.org) is THE site on the net with the best technical info AFAIK. And, as others have said, it’s 100% illegal in the “Land of the Free.”