Home Distillers Workbook – Review

I do notice a few distilling companies ask its customers to do basic research on distilling before even contacting them with any questions. So, this audio book is such a great way to learn the basics. You sit down with one of your best beverages, light your cigar or pipe and listen to this and I guarantee you will know what you are talking about, when you contact them, with questions.

I recommend this audiobook not only to the beginner but to those that think they know what distilling is all about. I am speaking for myself. I thought I knew a lot, it just goes to show you, you are always learning, and there is a lot of room left. For example, I did not know that the word “ZYMURGY”, means the art of fermentation. I do now.

Starts off about distillation history, how it started in Italy and then a year later a Prince taxed the alcohol. Alcohol is what everyone wants, he says, so the authorities want to tax us, saying they are protecting us. He then moves on to the new urban moonshiner, who is not doing it for profit but for a hobby.

Talks about his teens, meeting a man in Kentucky with a still in a barn, who told him the history of moonshine. His three years hanging with him and all he saw.

Then he talks about all his adventures in his life meeting people who make shine like a Grandfathers tequila, and an aunts grappa. Parties where he brought out mason jar of apple pie and what happened.

He talks about the basics of distilling, fermenting and aging. Tells you all the jargon. How it works, definitions, what you need, how it is done, and what with, The new yeasts that are out. Old school and new school ways to distill, all of it he covers. He goes through all the ingredients. Steps to make, in easy instructions. He also has some recipes he is reading out, simple beginner ones. He goes into temperatures and how important this is.

He talks a little about the science, about what happens in distilling. Your relationship with your still, keeping watch over how hot the steam is and how to cool. Teaching you about monitoring. How to run your still, he gives you steps. He talks about foreshots and how they must always be removed and he will give you the basic percentages to the amount of wash. Its a must pay attention to. You learn the rules. He talks about the all the cuts and how to tell where you are. How to smell it, and what it will smell like. Also, how to flavor, filter and age. I don’t want to give away the book, but he has a common sense approach to do your cuts.

Distilling like cooking, is individual taste, and no way is best way. He talks about all the different personalities out there with regards to personal distilling. There are different types of distilling, like steam for example. He goes into each of these.

This audiobook comes with a PDF with all the types of stills, with pictures, you can see how each is built.

He goes into some advanced concepts. For those who want something extra.

He goes into every design of every type of still out there from pot still, thumpers, reflux, lyne arm, slobber box, water jackets, pan or woks from your kitchen and tea pot stills. My favorite is the reflux still! He tells you which still is best for what kind of product you want.

I like when he talks about freeze distillation (alcohol doesn’t freeze so you can separate from fermentation). This is pretty cool. This is a distilling technique used in places like Alaska, Eskimos, etc. You do not have to use a still. You can leave a 20 gallon bucket of beer wort and 90% of it will freeze and you will have a clear liquid on the top. Which will be alcohol.

He talks about abv’s and techniques how to get high proof.

How to make homemade easy stills with diagrams, come with this.

He gives you shopping lists and homework. Where to buy your supplies he tells you also.

Things like dangers, such as proper room ventilation, or fire and seals. He goes into everything in this audio. He says be safe not sorry. Learn the basics well.

I love the recipe section. What exactly whiskey is. All the different types and whats in each. Try them all. This guy uses fans and everything basic to distill. For the home distiller he wrote this.

He talks about legality and laws. He talks about this and why this is. I see his politics here. He assumes this book is for entertainment for you.

I hear all the time, what he says about the myth of moonshine and going blind. Its like the protein myth, you need meat for protein is whats killing us Americans in heart disease. The same thing with moonshine and going blind. This is propaganda by government made in 1920’s to scare people. He explains this and talks about the grain of truth in this, the tiny grain.

Moonshine he talks all about next. What is it, how any fool can make. The blue flame test, he teaches you.

The last part is all his recipes. He gives you some books to read, that he recommends. I recommend them too. People ask me all the time for recipes. I can send them here.

I listened to this a few times while I was working. I had a few stray listeners with me who enjoyed it as well. I am looking forward to his next book.

Thank you for reading my book review. Support people like Jeff King that have spent many years adding solutions to distilling and not expecting anything from public. Passionate distiller.

Happy Distilling

Home Distiller Workbook by Jeff King- Book Review by Anthony Zaca. This is my review of the audio book.