Is rec.crafts.distilling still dead?
Guv Bob
Dick Adams
> Huh?
Probably is. After the ATB busted thatguy fin Virginia
for trying to sell a still on craigslist, the wannabe
moonshiners have been running for cover!
Dick
James M. O'Connell
> Huh?
>
>
Probably not -- remember that Usenet (like this forum) isn't regulated,
since it's a) international, and b) decentralized, and c) just a forum
for ideas. One can't 'shut down' a Usenet group the way a website or
web server can be shut down.
That said, this forum is good for the exchange of information, and
there's no law by any nation in 'the west' that I know of that prohibits
civil discussion of distillation.
Myself -- I don't distill; I Homebrew beer. I follow this forum on
occasion (read: "Very rarely") to better understand and manipulate
flavor profiles in my brews. I'd hate to lose this as a resource.
-Fionn
GuvBob
Glad to see you fellers replied. Usenet is MUCH better than the commercial-loaded forums.
Guv Bob
> public businesses. Name, address, and phone right there on their page
> and they don't get busted.
>
> Stills in themselves are not illegal. They can be used to make things
> other than spirits. For one thing Sears used to sell a still to make
> pure water for any number of uses. They can be used to concentrate
> flavors. There had to be something else about the case you mentioned.
>
> You can legally make your own distilled spirits with some rules and I
> suspect the customary squeeze aka fee. It's been a couple decades
> since I looked into it but, then, it was perfectly doable with the
> FEDs blessing. Selling the hooch is a whole different world.
I remember looking into the distilling laws a few years ago and at that time only a handful of countries allowed it with or without a license. Unless something has changed recently, no one in the US can distill even a drop legally for private consumption or for any other use without a license. Anyone can get a license, however it involves a ton of paperwork, inspections, fees, etc. Not worth it unless you were going to run a full-blown commercial distillery.
I doubt home distilling will every be legal again as it was before prohibition. Due to the huge tax revenue, the govt is essentially a partner. By the same reasoning, I think pot will soon become legal because of its source as another possible tax revenue source.
Best to find that old holler tree where you lay down a dollar or two....