How to choose a beginner distilling kit for a New distiller?

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ByThe Brew Mechanic
How to choose a beginner distilling kit for a new distiller

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 So you are in the market for a beginner distilling kit. Well, you are a safe place where we explain what factors are needed for your new distilling equipment for your home distilling. We want you to understand the decision needed before purchasing distillation equipment.

After reading this, you will understand the need for distilling at home. We want your experience from batch to spirit to be the best.

Before beginning, remember it’s illegal to distill spirits at home for sale. This guide is a theoretical walkthrough. It doesn’t endorse illegal actions and isn’t liable for any law breaches by individuals. This content is solely for informational use, aimed at legally permitted distillers.

The first thing to consider when going this route of buying a beginner distilling kit. 

Have all the equipment required for the kit.

Back up and they are a reputable company that you buy the goods from should you pick up a problem with the equipment.  

What type of alcohol do you want to produce, reflux still vs pot still? Sugar wash vs mash?   

Can this entry still be used to make other products when venturing into big and better type stills?  

How to Choose the Right Alcohol Still for You (Copper/Stainless Steel)

The still you want will be based on what you want as the final product. There are basically four options.

1. Reflux column type still

2. Pot still

3. Combination reflux and pot still here you  get the best of both worlds (you can change the top to reflux or pot)

4. Hybrid still where you can mix stainless steel with copper.

If you are starting out, we highly recommend the sugar wash with the combination reflux and pot still BUT solely starting with the reflux still first. As making a mash can be complicated and sugar wash is simple. 

Suppliers of the Still Starter Kits

Amazon, E Bay, Brew Shops and manufacturers of the kits.

Local or imported, brand is important when making your choice. I would go for a locally bought one mainly because of the customer care. 

What I would suggest is to go online and check out your options for:

Type still you want for the area you are living in and availability.

Local brew shops will give you lots of options

Benefits of Buying a Pre-Made Distilling Kit for Spirits

By this time you know what type of still you want to purchase and the essential equipment/fermentation side that goes with it.

I am not going into this as there is such a wide variety online. Either Homemade or bought Kits. 

The bought kits one’s are generally the better way for the person starting out if you are not a hands-on person.

Normally the supplier will supply you with all the equipment that comes with the kit.

Benefits of Using a Beginner Distilling Kit

Again here you must know what equipment to purchase before placing the order for a full distillery kit. Don’t buy the car if you only need the trailer.

The major benefit here is that they will supply you with everything needed to make the product within the kit. From the basic equipment like hydrometers, pH meters, fermenters, distilling columns, heating units, boilers etc. 

Simple all you have to do is follow the instructions and put it together. This is time-saving and safer as you do not have to do any welding, brazing, soldering etc.

Normally they will also supply the ingredients needed to make the product. 

Ease of Use of This Distilling Kit

Simple a bought kit is the way to go for a newbie just starting out as it has minimal controls on it for making the product you want.

This is not a shortcut as before you purchase a kit. There is lots of reading and YouTube watching to do on this subject. 

Start your distilling journey here

Additional Information to Consider When Choosing a Beginner Distilling Kit

Fully understand the law of your country and running an ethanol still

Before purchasing the distilling kit, you should be well versed on the subject as making “moonshine” can be quite tricky for a newbie. There are lots of things that can go wrong.  

Start with a simple sugar wash to make ethanol. Minimal ingredients in the fermentation stage. But lots to understand.

One thing to remember is the starter kit cost will be a low-end budget one.

The cost to purchase the kit and availability of spares. 

What is the best size still for you to get that suits your entry-level? 

What equipment will be needed when purchasing the beginner distilling kit? 

The ease at which the still can be cleaned and the frequency it must be done.

The material chosen for the kit, stainless or copper. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

What is your budget? If yes you have decided on a beginner’s starter kit, get one that is not expensive for you to learn on. Why? A top end distilling kits are for advanced brewers and come with lots of other tricks. Choose the kit that fits your budget and relative to your entry level.  

The beginner distilling kit is easy and simple to put together.

Regardless of the entry-level, there are safety rules to follow.   

Ethanol is a flammable product so must be handled correctly.  

Kit Purchased Must

Produce a good quality product. This will depend on the kit you get. Read the reviews.

Kit must be designed to reduce methanol production. Reflux is the safest.

The heating method used can be either gas, firewood or electric.

All that the items downstream of the fermentation stage do is distil the product. 

Pure Distilling Kit

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T500 Distillery kit

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Yuewo Distilling Kit

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Air still Distilling Kit

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Types and Size of the Still

Here there are many types and sizes to choose from. The first thing you must decide is a pot still (moonshine) or Reflux distillation still that makes higher ABV ethanol that can be turned into many different flavours by infusion. 

The types are Claw Hammer, Vevor, How to Moonshine, Still Spirits, and Turbo 500 are a few to mention. The size can vary from 10 litres to 50 litres depending on your entry level into this wonderful journey. 

Reflux Column still

Heating source

Kettle

Reflux column with cooling section near the top of the column

Condenser

Parrot to measure the ABV%  

Jars for the distillate made

Pot still 

Heating source

Kettle with short column (No cooling top section) 

Condenser

 Parrot for continuous ethanol flow to determine the ABV

Collection jars

Two Fermentation Types

Sugar wash is simple. Beginner friendly.

 Mash is complicated. Experience needed.

What would we recommend for a beginner distilling kit?

As mentioned before it boils down to your entry-level skill. Let’s look back, if we were starting, I would get a beginner distilling kit that includes the sugar wash fermentation to reflux still route as it is the safest starting point. You will create a sugar wash, distill it then flavor your neutral spirit through infusion. 

We hope that this answers your queries about this as it can be complicated. We will have to recommend some kits before for beginner distilling kits. Hope you enjoy the start of this SPIRITual journey. 

Last Updated on Dec 13, 2023 by The Brew Mechanic

Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a product or service. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. The information provided is for entertainment only.

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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