daveflintstone

Buying a bottle of vodka and putting it into a mason jar with a stick of vanilla at home is every bit as illegal as buying a bottle of vodka and distilling it into gin at home. The moment you make the spirit into something that it was not when you bought it, you're "producing" spirits, regardless of the process.

That's just about the dumbest thing I've ever read on this forum. Stop the contest, we have a winner.

Holy cow, I got formula approval in 3 days through formulas online. I was not expecting that. My previous paper submissions took weeks.

I wonder how long COLAs online will take? I've never gotten quicker than 3 weeks before.

Why don't you post a link to your stock mold pdf? Or just post it. Why not make it easy?

Of course many people learn by distilling in their home/basement/garage/separate outbuilding/etc.

Of course you can't get a permit or license to do that (in the U.S.).

Of course people are doing that without a license.

c'est la vie

You cannot get a permit to distill in your home.

The copperman strikes again.

I brought my own ice!

Why don't you just sign up for one of the many distilling courses on offer?

Or is internship your code word for free?

Looking for a filling/labeling system specifically for 50ml PET.

It doesn't have to do only 50ml, but that's what I want it for.

Not small volume.

Any suggestions?

Speaking of the WSWA convention, and hijacking this thread, anyone previously participated with a booth and if so what was your experience like?

Positive, neutral, negative, worth it or not...

This is the same time as the WSWA convention.

Is there anyone on the west coast that does contract 50ml PET bottling, including labeling/shrink sleeve?

Once again, the devil is in the details and the rule for vodka is very clear. Crystal clear, you might say. One sentence seems to cause so much confusion? I do not doubt different responses are received from the TTB about this, and every other, question. The answer you were just given is wrong, or has been misunderstood. But this doesn't even warrant a question. Sure, distilling to 95% is not enough to qualify as vodka, just like the one sentence rule says. Also like the one sentence rule says, charcoal is not required. At all. What does "so distilled, or so treated after distillation" and "with charcoal or other materials" mean? (emphasis mine) Exactly what it says. There is no ambiguity regarding production requirements. There is some ambiguity regarding what constitutes "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color" , but that is not the issue of this thread.

I stand by my previous comments: use it or lose it, charcoal is up to you. And as was mentioned previously, there is no formula requirement for vodka, so asking the TTB how one should filter it is a nonissue.

But I have not really addressed Ray's initial questions directly. You asked "what do I need to do to finish my spirit and bring it down to an 80 proof vodka?" This cannot be answered satisfactorily without knowing more about how you plan to produce the neutral spirit, and what water you are using. It could indeed be as simple as blending the neutral together with water, everything depends upon the quality of those two ingredients and if the final product meets the (admittedly flexible) requirement of being without distinctive character, taste, aroma, or color. I suspect, however, that you are looking for the standard production method. Coop is right that most producers run the 80 proof through granular activated carbon as a simple, inexpensive method to remove unwanted congeners. Search this forum for "activated carbon filtering" or some such variant and you will find information for that. Basically you will need a vessel to hold that carbon, a pump to move it through the carbon (or just use gravity, though that's really slow), and some type of final filter (plate, cartridge, bag) to remove any particulates from the vodka. Personally I don't do that, nor do some notable others, which is the whole point of my contrarian posts.

Vodka=" Neutral spirits distilled or treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials so as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color is what it says. " without distinctive character, aroma, taste or color". As far as I know only activated charcoal is the only way to make it meet this requirement. Any thing else would be sure to add color, aroma or taste to the spirits. You make yours your way and I will make mine my way, Aloha, Coop

You are of course free to make your stuff any way you want, but it's never a good idea to tell other people they must do something that is not required. You did not make a suggestion to the OP, you told him he "must do it". I corrected your error.

Denver Distiller has it right, and with festive greetings to boot. Mele Kalikimaka.

You only need to run it through activate carbon if there are any flavors or aromas that might be interpreted as not meeting the neutral character requirement, or at least to present to TTB as evidence in your process to achieve the same. But it is not required per se.

This is also not true. Read the applicable section: "...with charcoal or other materials...". There is no requirement for using activated carbon (charcoal).

To be called Vodka, you do need to make at least one pass through activated carbon. Do it before or after cutting to 80 proof, but you must do it. Coop

No you do not.

Title 27 part 5.22 The standards of identity

(1) “Vodka” is neutral spirits so distilled, or so treated after distillation with charcoal or other materials, as to be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color.

This is so basic, I'm astounded at your incorrect response.

congrats, and where are you located?

I would love for this or any craft vodka distiller to explain, specifically, what makes 'craft' vodka superior to GNS made by MGPI, ADM, GPC, etc.? I contend that GNS is one thing a factory can make better than a craftsman.

What makes Grey Goose superior to Smirnoff, Absolut to Svedka? In the general public's view, they are, hence the willingness to pay the price.

What makes 'craft' vodka superior to GNS made by the big boys? Point of origin and a hand's on method. In the general public's view, they are, hence the willingness to pay the price.

I think the tremendous success of Whole Foods is evidence enough of people's willingness to pay a premium for real or imagined superiority of 'craft' products.

Also, not everything is about the way to make the most money. Some people enjoy making things for themselves even though a comparable item could be bought for less. These are some more of the people who will enjoy 'craft' vodka, because they know someone made it.

This is really so basic, I know you already know this. I suppose you just like pointing out that vodkas are really similar to each other compared to the differences of more flavorful spirits. Of course, that is so basic that everyone here already knows this. C'est la vie.

uh, dude, I think he wants bottle samples. Although this isn't a particularly effective way to get some.

I'm interested in one.

Just curious. Would this happen to be the Sammy Hagar line of rum I just read about in the paper?

That is beyond start up, it's already in stores. And it's produced on Maui, not Oahu. Also, it's not that good. Just sayin'.

I use a simple in line moisture filter you can get anywhere (Home Depot, etc.) and then a Hankinson HF1 filter. IMHO, your concern should not be just moisture, even with an oil less compressor.

I get dry, clean smelling air, free of any particulates.

Perhaps at some point I'll have to change my marketing materials that say "the only licensed distillery on Oahu".

I guess at that point I'll go with "the oldest licensed distillery on Oahu".

Always plan ahead.

Your email address bounces back as undeliverable.

Any bartenders are welcome to use my products in any way they see fit, including barrel aged cocktails, bottle fermented cocktails, infusions, glass cleaner, alternative fuel, holiday displays, and air freshener.