AKBIGK

Revenoor Built Spirit Column for high proof spirits. Can attach by flange to steam or electric powered stills to bring high proof of your spirits. Condenser operates flawlessly, and column is packed with copper ball bearings. Made clean spirits at 145-155 proof after One run, at a good rate. Perfect condition, made in 2010. $2000, you do the shipping. Email Bare Distillery

Hi, I would like to see photos and hear as much about this equipment as possible. Kyle Ryan Bare Distillery, Inc. Still (used kettle, all else built new to our specification) $60,000 300 gal pot still with 12” diameter rectification column. • Column has 8’ of copper “supper pack” random packing material. • Steam jacketed Kettle rated to 100psi. • 3 hp 22 RPM gear motor (3 phase 240) and Electronic variable speed drive (safetronics CV10) • reflux condenser – shell and tube stainless condenser • Product condenser – Whiskey Barrel w/ copper coil • 8 thermocouples along column w/ computer controlled data logger. Boiler $13,745 (Purchased new) 72kW electric steam boiler system. Rated to 100 psi. Manufactured by Pacific Steam in 2007. Total hours of operation ~ 1320. • Boiler pressure vessel • Make up tank • Blow down tank • Return pump Chiller $7,900 (purchased new) 1.5 hp Glycol chiller from Pro chiller. Total weeks of operation ~50. • 70 gal glycol tank • 1.5 hp compressor / heat exchanger • chiller pump w/ thermostatic control • process pump with thermostatic control $7,900 PD Pump $4,325 (purchased used) Wakasha 25 PD pump w/ 3hp variable speed motor and Electronic variable speed drive (safetronics CV10) and remote control. Heat Exchanger $1,500 Copper tube in tube heat exchanger. Four 9’ tubes. 1” inside tube with 1 ½” outside tube Grundy $2,145 (purchased used, then jacket added) Glycol jacketed 7 bbl Grundy w/ top man-way

Hi guys, Glad you made it to the forum, we'll have to expand the artisan distillers map to include that big state to the north!!! (they'll have to get their Graphic Design guy to draw it from scratch, I'm sure) We all have a lot to be proud of, and it's great to see the acceptance all around us. Back to work, good luck on all that is Alaska Distillery. Kyle Ryan Bare Distillery, Inc.

We applied for our DSP on January 14th, 2010 and were approved today, February 23rd, 2010. 41 days, with little complications. My advice is to submit every page individually, and even write out the statments that don't apply to your operation. EXAMPLE: ("We are NOT denaturing any spirits, at our facility", etc.)

We have submitted our DSP to the TTB, and are awaiting (good) news... We are trying to figure out a game plan for our reverse osmosis system. Do you vodka producers (from raw product), use water strictly from reverse osmosis systems? We have great water, from glacial sources, and don't want to loose our flavor completely. Any opionions?

Hi Bill, My address is kyle@baredistillery.com Love the forum. Kyle Ryan

We were wondering what systems people were using to sanitize and dry their bottles before bottling. State of Alaska wants to see our methods for food safety requirements. Thank you. Bare Distillery, Inc.

I was told by Washington and Oregon distillers that a FDA requirement is a terrorism statement that states the nature of our facility, and deems it safe for production of spirits. I have called the FDA at 18887233366 MANY TIMES to sit on hold for hours at a time. I have emailed them, to no luck. Does anyone know more about this requirement? Thanks, Kyle Bare Distillery, Inc.

Does anyone have a route to go to find the heat shrinking wraps for bottle tops. I can't find sources. Thanks

We are making vodka by taking 10% beer and transferring it to a storage vessel, then pumping it to a beer stripper, then to the still, and then to a dilution tank, then through a plate filter (yet to be purchased, wine plates?) into a bottler(yet to be purchased, heard Enolmaster was good). Would one diaphram pump work until the dilution tank transfer, and then an explosion proof pump for the 190+... We are piecing the puzzle together, and so far have our PDA-2's on the way, with some stainless storage so far. Any advice would be great, we are shopping the different winery supply stores and are putting together a wishlist for each. Thanks from AK. Kyle

Bill, It's good to hear from you. Your name is everywhere in the distilling world, and the information on this forum is extremely valuable. My lawyer told me it would be ok to start using our name, since we have the rights to it, and I hope I didn't cross any lines. But I will explain what stage we are in. We have a distiller from Bardenay, in Boise,Idaho...that lives in Anchorage now, and will be helping us set up and run our plant. The three owners (me being one) are in the process of going to Dry Fly for a week of schooling this next month. We have investors lined up, excited for us to make ground, and our business plan is starting to wrap up. We have a site, and have been setting up a transition into Midnight Sun Brewing Company's old brewery as they have graduated to a larger facility. No DSP as of yet. We plan on producing potato vodka to start, and move into gin, and whiskey later. I would love any help in this process, and appreciate this forum greatly. Thank you so much. Kyle Ryan

We have found different bottle manufacturers that will include graphics in the overall price. One in Shanghai that wants a 50000 bottle minimum with a "Heated Label" that attaches permenently to the bottle and won't warp or smear during bottling, at 1.23 a bottle. That's a hard number to swallow with the minimum bottle number, for investors. We found another for 14,400 bottles, with the attached "heated" label at 3.86 per bottle, and that is in the US. Both of these include shipping to Alaska. Does anyone have a good source for bottles that could include graphics, in the 5000 bottle range for a startup business? I would appreciate any help! Kyle Bare Distillery

I sure appreciate the guidelines. Simplicity is key when undertaking such a big project. Cost cutting is very crucial, and advice can trim away needless waste. Thank you all for your input.

Hello there all current and future distillers, As many know, the process of startup for distilleries is lengthy and costly. Lawyer fees, graphic design artist fees, office supplies, and gas for transportation has all been part of the deal so far. But as my partners and I are starting to realize, we are needing to really look at leasing space, put a down payment on equipment, pay for liscensing fees, talk to marketing experts, etc. These are out of our budget personally, and we seem to have a lot of interested "investors". Getting letters of intent is difficult for spirits, and proving to investors that our product will sell seems to be a challenge. Does anyone have any ideas on gathering information for investors, and startup ideas for investment in Phase 1? Friends and family seems to be the method of preference to those whom don't have equity, but I wanted to see what others think. We are in Alaska, and don't have much of any track record for distilleries, distribution to the "lower 48" states, or volume of local products. Thank you all for any information you might have! Kyle Ryan Bare Distillery Anchorage, Alaska

Had a question on how you process the raw potato before it becomes mash. Clean them, Shred them, up a conveyor belt? And what requirements did you have with the city for disposal, sewer, and water requirements? Thanks.

Does anyone know of classes for up and coming distillers? I want to learn as much as possible! Thanks for the great forum! Kyle

My 2 partners and I are interested in taking distillation courses. We are from Alaska, so airfare is expensive, and $3000 apiece is out of our price range. Do you have any recommendations for less expensive courses we can fly down for? Thanks. Kyle Ryan

Our price of Alaskan potatoes is in the 20cents a pound range, needing 15-18 lbs of potatoes per 1L bottle. Our shipping costs are a little more for anything in Alaska, including equipment and bottles. Our labor will be a little higher, due to extra cleaning steps in the potato vodka process, and bulk leftover removal.

We plan on getting on shelves at under $20 a bottle. Selling about 1000L a month at first. We will be self distributing at first until production outpaces us. We will be producing in Palmer, and distributing in Anchorage about 40 minutes away. The potatoes are in Palmer, and we don't want to move our product until it's sold. We hope to get in at a lower price point for our locals!

I must not be coming across correctly here. We spend day in and day out, crunching numbers. Looking at options, talking about production volume, market feasibility, cost of goods sold, looking at used equipment, judging taxation implications, working out bottle costs, lawyer fees, energy options, waste output, excavation requirements. We aren't shooting from the hip, we are in the process of doing our math, and our extensive business plan. My original question was what are some of less expensive potato vodkas, and does anyone have any ideas on cost cutting?

We were wondering what kind of pricepoint can be established from potato vodka? Our COGS isn't done yet, and need to work our marketing costs... Any ideas?

We enjoy what we are doing, and have the success of the distillery in mind, it's a project to provide local Alaskans with a product they can afford, and work from there. Financial gain is secondary until we have established ourselves in the local market. We have not yet determined that we won't make money off of our product, we just find it beneficial to reinvest our earnings.

Our upcoming distillery will be using alaskan grown potatoes, and we are trying to come in at an affordable pricepoint. We are trying to combat the high prices with our low price potatoes, higher volume goals, larger equipment, bulk bottle purchases, etc. What else can we do to keep our prices low? What are the least expensive potato vodkas worldwide? We have already eliminated all salaries from our business plan for the first year, maybe the second, or however long it takes.... Thank you for any suggestions/information! Kyle

For distilling potato vodka with a 500L reflux column still, bottling, etc. We were told from the manufacturer that 2000 sq feet would work. I think that might be a little tight.

We have determined that potatoes would be our best bet for a local starch base for our vodka. We have been talking to Bavarian Holstein, and for the ability to produce 1000 litres a month, with the potential to quadruple in volume, they determined a 500 L distillation unit would work. The price is high, but the equipment is beautiful and has the ability to maintain it's value over a long period. Are there other companies with a good reputation, or preferred equipment choices out there? I would love to hear opinions.