homemade whiskey

[velocci]

Hi all, anyone know how to make homemade whiskey using standard kitchen equipment?

[gothbat]

It's likely illegal to do and I'm sure there are several risks associated with distilling at home, with homemade equipment no less, such as an explosion or blindness, but I did a quick google search and found this:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2091257_still-out-common-household-items.html

It wasn't quite what I was picturing, I think I've seen better ones in the past but can't seem to find them now. I don't know anything about making your own barrels to age in if that was something you wanted to know about as well. Good luck!

[LeoDLion]

Unfortunately making alcohol from barley is illegal in the US no matter what the size is or whether its for your own consumption or whether its just a hobby. Unlike wine and beer which you can make at home for personal use, whisky carries a stiff penalty of $10,000 I think and confiscation of you home (ugh!).

If you want to buy cheap whisky at the liquor store and put it in a oak barrel to enhance the flavor and taste, I have been doing that myself. If that is what you are looking for, let me know, I can help yah.

[cowdery]

What some people consider home whiskey-making is combining vodka with a bottled "whiskey essense" that they sell in home brew stores.

As for actually making whiskey at home from scratch using kitchen stuff, it is, as others have mentioned, illegal. It's also just a bit dangerous, especially if you're just doing it as a goof. The problem is, it would be rather a lot of work for very little benefit, and that's even before you deal with aging.

So both methods here are possible, one is easy, the other is hard, and neither is worth the trouble.

[camduncan]

Slightly off-topic - I was always a fan of the still seen in many episodes of MASH and thought it would be great to replicate at home. Even though (I know) it was acting, it looked to really work.

[gothbat]

What some people consider home whiskey-making is combining vodka with a bottled "whiskey essense" that they sell in home brew stores. [...] neither is worth the trouble.

Damn, I had such high hopes for that little bottle of Liquor Quick Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey Essence I picked up! :]