When Prohibition was enacted, overnight "Malt and Hops" stores sprung up around the nation. They sold everything you needed to make beer and its derivatives, wine, and to distill mash into spirits. It was legal and still is to make 200 gallons combined of wine, beer and distilled spirits each year for one's personal use. However, many people bought the equipment and became small bootleggers. My grandfather bought his still at that time and his crocks. He did not bootleg. He did produce high quality Armenian OGHEE, which is grape or raisin brandy with anise flavor. He would reach 190 to 195 proof and then cut it to 110 to 120 proof. We still have the equipment in the family. I witnessed distillation twice a year.
When Prohibition was enacted, overnight "Malt and Hops" stores sprung up around the nation. They sold everything you needed to make beer and its derivatives, wine, and to distill mash into spirits. It was legal and still is to make 200 gallons combined of wine, beer and distilled spirits each year for one's personal use. However, many people bought the equipment and became small bootleggers. My grandfather bought his still at that time and his crocks. He did not bootleg. He did produce high quality Armenian OGHEE, which is grape or raisin brandy with anise flavor. He would reach 190 to 195 proof and then cut it to 110 to 120 proof. We still have the equipment in the family. I witnessed distillation twice a year.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of the 200 gallon law... huh! And I only recently learned that possession was not illegal... only sales.
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