Did you know that Australia has laws that regulate how much spirit one person can make? If you own a 5L or a smaller still, you don’t need a permit. However, if you want something bigger than 5l, you’ll need to get permission from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If you’re a beginner, it’s always a better idea to start small and see if you like it. You can easily upgrade later when you become more experienced.
Equipment You Need
Mash Tun
The mash tun is where it all starts. You begin by combining the gris (also known as ground malt) and the water. All of this is done under a certain temperature. The gentle heating will turn the starches into sugar which is a process called saccharification. The tun has a false bottom with a screen which helps you separate the liquid from the grains. This is how you get the wort and you’re now ready for the next step, the fermentation.
Fermentation Vessel
The fermentation vessel is a key component of the process. If you want to get full-flavoured homebrew spirits, the fermentation has to go the right way. It’s a big container into which you pour the wort and stir in the yeast to allow sugars to ferment into alcohol.
To make everything right, you have to be able to control the temperature for a couple of days. Buy a vessel with a pressure release valve. This way the fermentation gases can come out during the process. As a beginner, you’ll only need one vessel. But if you want to make more spirits, you should upgrade after a while.
Pot & Column Still
This is a pot that has one purpose only, to boil the worth in one batch. Some people say it looks like a large kettle because its cover tapers up to a tube that allows the gases to escape. However, beginners should avoid them because they can be difficult to clean and refill.
The column still is constructed of vertical distillation plates and a tube. The plates are there to hold the liquid and to let it evaporate. They don’t add much taste, though. That’s why, experienced home distillers use them to make lighter-flavoured spirits such as rum, vodka and gin.
Condenser
This coiled tube is where the evaporated spirits cool and condense. To do this, it uses cold water circulations. Usually, it is attached to a tank that drops the liquid. There are two types of condensers: active, which uses glycol as a coolant, and passive, which uses water or air. Which condenser you’ll use depends on the still size you own.
Filtration
Never store the spirits before filtrating them. You have several ways to do it. You can use bag filters, filter cartridges or filter sheets. Their purpose is to clarify the darker spirits, polish out the white spirits and remove small particles.
Storage and Aging Vessels
After distillation is complete, you will need a location to store the final product. In some cases, you’ll also need to age it. There are many aging options on the market, but the most popular are oak barrels and stainless-steel tans. Once you complete the aging process, then you can store the spirits into bottles.
Ingredients to Use
Gin
Neutral grains are the main part of gin. This includes wheat, barley, rye, and corn. They’ll provide you with a lovely, clear foundation on which you can experiment with botanicals and add your favourite flavours. Juniper is the most common botanical. It’s the main thing that gives gin its easily recognisable pine smell and taste. To make even more flavourful homebrew spirits, you can use cardamom, citruses, cinnamon or liquorice.
Tequila
Tequila is made from the fermented juices of the blue agave plant. The first thing to do is to cook the plant’s core and extract the juice. Depending on its origin, the agave can add a different taste to the tequila. For example, highland plants are sweet and lowland plants often have a more earthy scent and taste.
The ageing vessel is another factor that can affect the tequila’s taste. If manufacturers want some more colour and aroma, they’ll age it in barrels. Home distillers often use a home brew spirit kit to do this and they don’t get a lot of colour and flavours. With this type of equipment, you can make tequila Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, and Extra Añejo.
Vodka
Making vodka is not a complicated process and it doesn’t have any strict rules. It’s pretty simple, you can use any plant or agricultural product that has sugar or starch in it as a base ingredient. Some of the most popular choices are wheat, corn, rye and potatoes.
Rum
To make rum, you’ll need some kind of sugar. The sugar source is often sugar cane or molasses. The sugar content and the flavour can vary depending on the region. There are two types of rum you can make, dark and light. The dark one is aged in barrels and the light one is in stainless steel tanks. Some people use colouring to make the stainless-steel rum darker.
Whiskey
Whiskey is one of the trendiest spirits to brew at home. The most common base ingredients can be rye, oats, barley, corn or wheat. Oftentimes, distillers mix 3 or more grains to get a certain flavour or smell.
Distillation Process
Cleaning and sanitising your equipment should be your first priority. This is a crucial step because bacteria can infect the yeast and ruin the whole process. Next, you need to make a wash. This is the part where you steep the grains in warm water. During this time, they ferment from the yeast enzymes.
The distillation process is next. Add the wash to the still, raise the temperature, and the alcohol will evaporate and then transform (condense) into liquid once again. Always get rid of the first distillate. That type of alcohol is not meant for consumption. Once you get the distillate, it’s time to dilute it because it’s very strong. Next comes the filtering where you get rid of the small particles.
Once this is done, it’s time to add the flavourings. This comes down to personal preferences and tastes. Don’t be scared to experiment with flavours. There are hundreds of options you can choose from, and thousands of combinations you can make. Play with them, making your spirits at home should be fun.