Furlongmx

_{I like the idea as I am from Oregon. Maybe you could make some concept sketches of some stills with estimated prices. Then you could adjust prices for options that may be needed. Overall I think your work looks fantastic and would love to see some of your ideas. Are you thinking the stills would be direct fire, immersion heating element, or a jacketed steam/ Bain marie?}

If you've got the money then by all means go big.

But, if you're like many of us poor folk, you might think of going smaller till you work out the process. Craft distilling is an art form that needs a ton of practice. From milling to mashing to fermenting to distilling to aging to proofing to TTB reporting (that's if you live in the states), it all takes a great deal of time to learn what not to do. With a small test still you can work on many different recipes and processes without the huge costs that go with making a 50, 150 or 300 gallon wash. Get the process down and how to make your cuts, along with how to use your backset and souring. Once you feel confident, step up to the size that you can afford. This step up includes not only a bigger still, but a bigger mash tun, bigger hot liquor tank, bigger fermentors and a bigger grain bill.

We have purchased a small 26 gall still to learn on and will be keeping our doors open with infused GNS & unaged corn whiskey till we feel confident in our distilling abilities. Then, use the funds of the bulk sales to fund our larger still/mash tun/HLT/fermentors. Sure I wish I could roll with a 150 gallon still, but I'm afraid I'd have 15 gallons of non drinkable spirit because I haven't put in the time to learn the craft. I'll be taking baby steps while learning how to run.

Thank you for your input. Yes we are part of the working poor folk. lol! I like the baby step idea, just woried about it not even being able to produce enough to cover the fees, taxes, insurance, etc.. I know it is gonna take some time to get all the recipies figured out. It is disheartening to work hard to go poor. Thanks again.

That is one of the reasons I was looking at this size. With this size the ability to do some stripping runs after hours and then a spirit run on the weekends.

Thanks for the reply. I understand the math and your right that isn't much product. I guess I don't really know what a realistic sales volume would be to start out. I know it depends on marketing and quality of product. 5- 10 cases a day sounded alright for a small start up, but I guess you would hopefully out grow that volume in a little time.

I am in the planing-feasability stage of a small craft distillery. Are the 50-60 gallon stills really feasable? How large have most people started, or how large have they found they needed to start? This will be a small family opperation and more of a second and third job type deal. Family owned building and day jobs so not the pressure to make money right away. Could you produce enough product to get going and later on add a 250-300 gallon stripping still to up production or do we need to bite the bullet and go big right away. We have been eyeballing Artisen still design 60 gallon pot still for rum and white whisky. Any help would be greatly appreciated.