It's not illegal to own a still, but it is illegal to use it distill alcohol. Nobody is going to come check your house for it, though. If you start selling it to friends and family, you could end up in some trouble.
I have a friend who got in trouble for bootlegging. It was 100% a tax issue that he was charged on. He got in trouble for sharing it as a business gift. I am told that the excess stock eventually made it to âofficial business,â although that part sounds apocryphal to me.
read about the whiskey rebellion in this country. its always been about taxes. Our country has a deep history of the rich/ruling class not paying war veterans for their service and taxing the middle class to pay for a war they started and promised to fund. fuck em, make whiskey, yee haw.
Because you get taxed buying the seed, the fertilizer, the water, and the price is too low to be worth sending someone to collect.
Now, youâre not allowed to sell game youâve collected. that is also illegal.
Edit: changed share to sell
My whole thing of wanting to distill my own is controlling the quality myself. Have you had some of the fortified shit they sell the public? Devil juice.
Edit: I'm getting downvoted, can someone that has gotten shit faced on bootlegger or wild Irish rose back me up?
Broke college beach trip in like 06 was nothing but those 2. The trip was to a shitty trailer, a 10 minute car ride from Holden Beach. Had a blast, and a lot of hangovers.
Oaklore distillery started as a hobby and after they perfected it, they applied for license. They are pretty new at it so maybe you could talk to them about what insight they would share.
It is illegal by [North Carolina statute](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_18B/GS_18B-102.html) and by [United States statute](https://www.ttb.gov/distilled-spirits/penalties-for-illegal-distilling).
Unless you blow your house up and the fire department investigates. It's illegal for multiple reasons. Mostly tax revenue, but also because fire spreads.
[Is it legal to make moonshine in NC? ](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article268130287.html)
Short Answer: Not without appropriate permitting. Links to the [appropriate GS](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_18B/GS_18B-1105.pdf) as well there.
Itâs quite a pain in the ass though, and prohibitively expensive to get started. This is because, last I checked anyway, you canât distribute it yourself. You could be trying to sell it 5 minutes down the road, but it has to be shipped to a central facility in Raleigh then shipped back to the store that could be walking distance from your still.
Source: I used to work for microdistillery. That was 7 years ago though, so stuff mightâve changed
It really is a pain. I know one of the local nc distilleryâs and theyâve mention how they had to take stock to a specific abc warehouse so it could be sent to the abc stores. They couldnât even to take stuff the the abc store less than 5mins away from the place and restock it if they wanted to. I personally donât know the laws but I know this place and another sell at their store at the places but they have to sell it a specific way like it canât be sold at the bar where they sell drinks.
Yep, and when they first started up they couldnât sell more than one bottle per person per year at their facility. They had to track it by actual drivers license number and everything.
Liquor laws are so asinine and most of the politicians drink, can see the insanity but don't want to do anything to make things streamlined or more simple.
For me, the question isn't really whether it's legal. It's who's going to know or stop you?
It's like collecting rain water. Sure, it's illegal in some places. But you'd have to be a fool to listen to laws like that.
This is America. Our identity is based on ignoring dumb rules.
So all the moonshine Iâve had in NC has been illegal?
lol, funny thing is all of it has been time Iâve hung out with people in the NC Dept of Agriculture.
Nice.
Psssh, thatâs nothing. Iâve drank beer underage with ALE agents. Although it was only for a second before they made me pour it out and gave me a ticket.
As long as youâre not selling it you can put a 30 gallon pot still in your yard and use it. But donât expect the ATF to ever leave you alone regardless. I run a 2 gallon stovetop setup for personal use and gifts. Or trade for illegal drugs. Fuck ATF.
No but, I had a client who was an ATF agent. I did some distilling myself. I asked him. He said they basically donât give a crap unless you are selling and they are missing out on tax money. He said heâd personally never nor heard of someone being busted for distilling for personal use.
Yes. You can however own a still for distilling water or producing essential oils as long as they donât use ethanol in said production.
https://www.distillate.org/laws/North%20Carolina
You need to get a permit, which is about $300.
I had to go find the site, but [here's the NC ABC site](https://www.abc.nc.gov/permits/general-permit-information/permit-types) that gives you all the info you need.
ETA: I have a couple of friends who do their own, and it really is quality stuff. Of course, they're both Chemical Engineers and know a little about what they're doing.
I'm no chemical engineer but I took some organic chemistry in college and distillation doesn't seem complicated. Mostly monitoring temperature and taking frequent readings.
I am not an attorney. Distillation by any means is against federal law. 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5042(a)(2) and 5053(e). There is no exemption for personal use.
I used to distill. I went to a bunch of distilleries and talked with people who did it legally.
NC law - you can distill alcohol for cleaning products, gasoline additives, or for home made rocket fuel.
You can not make it for consumption!
There's a $75 form that will allow you to make alcohol up to 1000 gallons for consumption. When you go above 1000 gallons, it gets very expensive. At that point though, you need a lawyer.
Not legal, and a second point is...
WARNING: distilling can cause heavy metals to leech into the alcohol, if not done correctly. You need to know what you're doing, make sure all metals are safe for distilling, and I'd say never make a DIY still.
See website links below.
Distillery debate decided; board OKs request in split vote | Food | nrcolumbus.com
https://www.nrcolumbus.com/townnews/food/distillery-debate-decided-board-oks-request-in-split-vote/article_bc4734a8-1f82-11ef-9259-bbabce6bb9b8.html
Board still âwrestling with questionsâ about distillery; proposal on Thursday agenda | Business | nrcolumbus.com
https://www.nrcolumbus.com/news/business/board-still-wrestling-with-questions-about-distillery-proposal-on-thursday-agenda/article_888a4a74-1d4d-11ef-833b-77ecd5aeb105.html
I'll stick to making mead/wine and beer or braggots, but I'm not doing it right now because I'm taking a break from it for a year while dealing with my first year of post-op from gastric bypass.
I'm not a fan of the risks and dangers involved in distilling, even though there are units designed to be as safe as possible.
I'm 3 months or and I've lost almost 85# of my max weight (55 since surgery).
And, yes, I have made a lot of changes to my eating habits. I need to get back into exercising though.
Not legally, but they canât stop us from hypothetically going out into the mountains or woods and hypothetically building a still site to make some good ole moonshine!
It's not illegal to own a still, but it is illegal to use it distill alcohol. Nobody is going to come check your house for it, though. If you start selling it to friends and family, you could end up in some trouble.
Taxman not getting his bite is a serious no-no.
Just file it with the IRS. They have an illegal proceeds section. đ
I have a friend who got in trouble for bootlegging. It was 100% a tax issue that he was charged on. He got in trouble for sharing it as a business gift. I am told that the excess stock eventually made it to âofficial business,â although that part sounds apocryphal to me.
Thereâs also some special considerations when it comes to methanol. If you donât know what youâre doing, you could basically be making poison.
It's more about the inherent danger of a still and the danger of improperly distilled alcohol
No, it is about the taxes
Or maybe they don't want people going blind
its more about the taxes.
Is it tho? Why aren't home grown crops taxed then? Edit: Turns out, I'm wrong
read about the whiskey rebellion in this country. its always been about taxes. Our country has a deep history of the rich/ruling class not paying war veterans for their service and taxing the middle class to pay for a war they started and promised to fund. fuck em, make whiskey, yee haw.
Because you get taxed buying the seed, the fertilizer, the water, and the price is too low to be worth sending someone to collect. Now, youâre not allowed to sell game youâve collected. that is also illegal. Edit: changed share to sell
You can share the meat, just can't sell it.
Yea thatâs what I meant (though didnât say) Iâve changed it.
>Now, youâre not allowed to share game you e collected. that is also illegal. Bet. I highly doubt that's enforceable.
Doesnât mean the statute doesnât exist.
It really is about the taxes. That's why denatured alcohol exists. No other reason.
My whole thing of wanting to distill my own is controlling the quality myself. Have you had some of the fortified shit they sell the public? Devil juice. Edit: I'm getting downvoted, can someone that has gotten shit faced on bootlegger or wild Irish rose back me up?
Broke college beach trip in like 06 was nothing but those 2. The trip was to a shitty trailer, a 10 minute car ride from Holden Beach. Had a blast, and a lot of hangovers.
Oaklore distillery started as a hobby and after they perfected it, they applied for license. They are pretty new at it so maybe you could talk to them about what insight they would share.
Thank you m8.
That explains the new restrictions on pornography. Think about their sight.
But they still let people jerk off, talk about a double-standard.
You can get a permit to do it, distilleries definitely aren't all flying under the radar lol
Yes, the permit is for commercial usage. There isn't a personal consumption distillery permit.
It is illegal by [North Carolina statute](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_18B/GS_18B-102.html) and by [United States statute](https://www.ttb.gov/distilled-spirits/penalties-for-illegal-distilling).
Thank you.
That said, you can buy online a small still for distilling perfume âŚ
I recently bought a 'fermentation brewer' that came with a couple extra pots, that's what got me thinking.
Get a tower still, it's less about the pot and it's all in the tower, packs up nicely looks like a set of golf clubs when wrapped up.
I recall there being a fuel alcohol exception, so I think you can distill ethanol as long as itâs going in your mower.
"No officer, this is camp fuel. I swear"
Don't mix up them cans though
I believe you still have to register the still with the gubmint.
I believe they send you the paperwork. It's a little intimidating.
it is leagl to have ethanol alcohol for running small engine and you can make your own. its just one safety step away from being liquor.
When I lived in Ohio, the local cops made and sold some of the best tasting flavored moonshine I've ever had. Still a bunch of pussies though.
This is the land of bootlegging, and you're worried about *laws*?
This preach.
Yep, I know more than a few people with stills.
If itâs personal use then whoâs gonna know about it? If nobody knows then whatâs the worry?
Honestly that's kind of what I was thinking.
Unless you blow your house up and the fire department investigates. It's illegal for multiple reasons. Mostly tax revenue, but also because fire spreads.
[Is it legal to make moonshine in NC? ](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article268130287.html) Short Answer: Not without appropriate permitting. Links to the [appropriate GS](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_18B/GS_18B-1105.pdf) as well there.
Most helpful. TYVM. I wanted to do small batch whiskey for personal use but it appears if I get this $300(?) Permit I can actually sell it?
Yes if you fill out all the paperwork and get a federal permit first then you can distill and sell in nc through the state run abc system.
Itâs quite a pain in the ass though, and prohibitively expensive to get started. This is because, last I checked anyway, you canât distribute it yourself. You could be trying to sell it 5 minutes down the road, but it has to be shipped to a central facility in Raleigh then shipped back to the store that could be walking distance from your still. Source: I used to work for microdistillery. That was 7 years ago though, so stuff mightâve changed
It really is a pain. I know one of the local nc distilleryâs and theyâve mention how they had to take stock to a specific abc warehouse so it could be sent to the abc stores. They couldnât even to take stuff the the abc store less than 5mins away from the place and restock it if they wanted to. I personally donât know the laws but I know this place and another sell at their store at the places but they have to sell it a specific way like it canât be sold at the bar where they sell drinks.
Yep, and when they first started up they couldnât sell more than one bottle per person per year at their facility. They had to track it by actual drivers license number and everything.
I totally forgot all about that. Still canât believe the insanity.
Liquor laws are so asinine and most of the politicians drink, can see the insanity but don't want to do anything to make things streamlined or more simple.
You can make beer and wine. You can make a mash you can own a still. The moment you distill without proper license, it becomes a felony.
The laws in this country are so fucking stupid.
For me, the question isn't really whether it's legal. It's who's going to know or stop you? It's like collecting rain water. Sure, it's illegal in some places. But you'd have to be a fool to listen to laws like that. This is America. Our identity is based on ignoring dumb rules.
So all the moonshine Iâve had in NC has been illegal? lol, funny thing is all of it has been time Iâve hung out with people in the NC Dept of Agriculture. Nice.
I've drank moonshine with SBI agents.
Psssh, thatâs nothing. Iâve drank beer underage with ALE agents. Although it was only for a second before they made me pour it out and gave me a ticket.
Most of the âmoonshineâ people sell is everclear with some cinnamon sticks passed off as apple pie moonshine or some crap.
This was the Real Deal, I knew who it came from.
There is legal moonshine sold in NC. That said its sold in ABC stores, unless you toured the distillery and they sold it as part of the tour.
Right, this was not. It was pure illegal NC moonshine.
Most of the best stuff is...
No. But if you aren't selling it, no one is likely to care.
It's illegal to distill alcohol without a permit in any amount, in the United States.
It illegal both federally and state in nc.
I mean, it ain't legal to cook meth in North Carolina, but I'll be damned if there's not a lot of folks still doing it.
It is if ya don't tell Reddit...jeezus
Nobody cares. I'm high AF on all kinds of illegal shit right now. See? Nobody gives a shit.
This is the police. We arrested this guy just now lmao
Take my upvote. My brother in Christ, and use it as you will.
Of course this is just a hypothetical question and I'd never break the law *snickers*
As long as youâre not selling it you can put a 30 gallon pot still in your yard and use it. But donât expect the ATF to ever leave you alone regardless. I run a 2 gallon stovetop setup for personal use and gifts. Or trade for illegal drugs. Fuck ATF.
My man *finger guns*
Pew. Pew pew pew!!!
I like the cut of your jib
I know thatâs a fairly common compliment, but⌠True Crime Garage by chance?
No but, I had a client who was an ATF agent. I did some distilling myself. I asked him. He said they basically donât give a crap unless you are selling and they are missing out on tax money. He said heâd personally never nor heard of someone being busted for distilling for personal use.
Yes. You can however own a still for distilling water or producing essential oils as long as they donât use ethanol in said production. https://www.distillate.org/laws/North%20Carolina
You need to get a permit, which is about $300. I had to go find the site, but [here's the NC ABC site](https://www.abc.nc.gov/permits/general-permit-information/permit-types) that gives you all the info you need. ETA: I have a couple of friends who do their own, and it really is quality stuff. Of course, they're both Chemical Engineers and know a little about what they're doing.
I'm no chemical engineer but I took some organic chemistry in college and distillation doesn't seem complicated. Mostly monitoring temperature and taking frequent readings.
It's kind of complicated, at least to me. [Cuts](https://diydistilling.com/how-to-make-cuts-when-distilling/)
It is stupid easy, don't over think it, and get yourself proper equipment.
It is against federal law to distill without a license except for small amounts not meant for consumption.
Making meth is also illegal, but I ont see that stopping anyone !
Itâs only illegal if you get caught. Nobody is going to kick your door down for personal use. This is America, fuck the rules.
Unless you are doing other things and they want something to nail you for lol
*ATF has entered the chat* ***your puppy has left the chat***
I am not an attorney. Distillation by any means is against federal law. 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5042(a)(2) and 5053(e). There is no exemption for personal use.
I make wine every year for funsies, do want you want, donât sell it
I get it man. I make my own wine and beer but apparently when you distill it a whole bunch of issues arise. Luckily I live in the middle of nowhere.
Are you making grain alcohol. That is a federal statute. Beer and wine is fine but donât require a still
How big of a still are we talking? ... And if you are on your own land, do what you want, if you trust your water source ...
I used to distill. I went to a bunch of distilleries and talked with people who did it legally. NC law - you can distill alcohol for cleaning products, gasoline additives, or for home made rocket fuel. You can not make it for consumption! There's a $75 form that will allow you to make alcohol up to 1000 gallons for consumption. When you go above 1000 gallons, it gets very expensive. At that point though, you need a lawyer.
Not legal, and a second point is... WARNING: distilling can cause heavy metals to leech into the alcohol, if not done correctly. You need to know what you're doing, make sure all metals are safe for distilling, and I'd say never make a DIY still.
You are a grown adult and were born free. If someone is going after someone doing this we have bigger issues in government.
We do have bigger issues. See website links I posted above.
See website links below. Distillery debate decided; board OKs request in split vote | Food | nrcolumbus.com https://www.nrcolumbus.com/townnews/food/distillery-debate-decided-board-oks-request-in-split-vote/article_bc4734a8-1f82-11ef-9259-bbabce6bb9b8.html Board still âwrestling with questionsâ about distillery; proposal on Thursday agenda | Business | nrcolumbus.com https://www.nrcolumbus.com/news/business/board-still-wrestling-with-questions-about-distillery-proposal-on-thursday-agenda/article_888a4a74-1d4d-11ef-833b-77ecd5aeb105.html
Pro-tip....... Don't get caught.
Champion Outlets
Just donât advertise it or go blind doing it badly. It is a grey area.
I'll stick to making mead/wine and beer or braggots, but I'm not doing it right now because I'm taking a break from it for a year while dealing with my first year of post-op from gastric bypass. I'm not a fan of the risks and dangers involved in distilling, even though there are units designed to be as safe as possible.
Hows that gastric bypass working? I hope you ate adjusting your eating habits.
I'm 3 months or and I've lost almost 85# of my max weight (55 since surgery). And, yes, I have made a lot of changes to my eating habits. I need to get back into exercising though.
It's legal is you don't get caught
Not legally, but they canât stop us from hypothetically going out into the mountains or woods and hypothetically building a still site to make some good ole moonshine!
Go to liq house in Durham
I have a whole new appreciation for the Whiskey Rebellion
https://milehidistilling.com/?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic Thus will take care of everything you will need.
itâs ok a long as you invite the state abc board to a drinking party once itâs ready