Dangers of distilling alcohol –  Safety Tips!

ByThe Brew Mechanic
understanding dangers of distilling alcohol is essential in distillation

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There are strict rules to follow when distilling alcohol with a reflux column and pot still during the distillation process to get the distilled spirit at a high quality. Understanding the dangers of distilling alcohol is essential for making your own alcohol.

Cleaning of your still to stop bacteria growing which can find its way into potable alcohol. Not following the basic rules. This applies mainly to pot stills as they should be cleaned after each run.

Pot still incorrectly managed will produce methanol (wood alcohol) poisoning from mash fermentation.

Sugarwash fermentation does not make methanol.

Ethanol (home spirits) are flammable.

The foreshots and heads must be dumped and not worked back into drinking alcohol.

It is unethical to mask bad alcohol. It is easy to do but chemically the bad guys (tails) will still be in the alcohol. 

When doing a sugar wash or mash the fermentation process must be followed carefully in order to make a successful ferment. A successful ferment will give you good yields and conversions to alcohol. 

The dangers of distilling alcohol safety considerations for home distilling

When it comes to safety there are no borders between beginners or competent distillers.

Ethanol is highly flammable. So treat with respect. All leaks must be repaired immediately.

You must fully understand how to make alcohol, cuts etc. before going down this path.

Never leave the still unattended during home distillation.

No ignition sources.

Minimise or no spillage.

Do not leave containers that have ethanol in them open.

Must be able to shut the still down away from the still during the distilling process.

The alcohol mixture should never exceed 35% in the kettle. If you heat up a wash over 40%, there is a risk here.  This only happens when you rework alcohol.

A kettle heated with an open flame is more dangerous to operate than one that has an element.

Have a portable fire hydrant at hand due to the flammability.

Quality control at home DIY Distillation for ethanol / moonshine

Measure the ABV or proof of alcohol at home by using an alcohol hydrometer.

Do cuts correctly, separate foreshots, heads, hearts and tails from the distillate? This part is where the dangers of distilling alcohol plays a big role.

Never leave the still unattended during home distillation.

Learn to smell and taste the alcohol made.

Do not use the foreshots and heads. Dump or use to clean items.

Do not mask off tasting alcohol.

Know and understand the boiling points, temperatures of what you are making.

Calculate the potential alcohol ABV expected from the batch. This will tell you if your yield and conversions are within the expected results.

Record all work done by taking notes.

Sanitise all equipment used for brewing.

The dangers of moonshine due to methanol

Like with everything in life, there is a risk with every action we take. But the risks will be minimal once you understand the dangers of moonshine or distilling that comes with it. As you learn the foundations of the distilling process from yeast, and vapor to distillation, distilling at home becomes an absolute joy to do. You can make vodka, whiskey, brandy and you name it from the sugarwash or mash used. 

We want your finished product to be high quality, so maybe one day you could open up a distillery or actually just be confident in your process of making moonshine or neutral spirits once you understand the dangers of distilling alcohol. We wish you the best. 

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Last Updated on Nov 19, 2023 by The Brew Mechanic

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With 35 years of knowledge of being a chemical engineer in alcohol manufacturing plants, my mission is to teach the next generation of home distilling alcohol brewers at a supernatural speed.

My reviews are based on real-life experiences with reflux stills, sugar wash, troubleshooting and mystical chemical reactions.

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