Is it illegal to distill your own whiskey for private consumption?

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Looking for a little legal advice...

...pro Bono, of course.



It seems if you're low-key enough--and aren't selling--you can stay off the radar.

[TVDOC]

http://www.ehow.com/way_5476701_legal-make-liquor-private-use.html

Beer and wine are OK for private consumption up to 200 gallons, however distillates are subject to  licensing and taxation:

Stills

You are allowed to own a still without a permit, provided you are only manufacturing distilled water or essential oils. To distill alcohol for running farm equipment or other devices, you still have to have a permit for operating the machine, although you will not have to pay taxes on the alcohol you produce. Be aware that if you are purchasing a still and state that you plan to use it for products other than alcohol, the seller may still be required to give your name, address and equipment purchased to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB).

 
Obtaining a License

To legally distill liquor, you will need to fill out a lengthy application for a license, post a bond, have approved equipment, produce extensive records and file timely reports. You will also be subject to a special tax on every bottle of liquor you produce. For more information on these requirements, view the regulations on the TTB website in the document 27 CFR Part 19, which is listed in the resources section below. For distilling alcohol for farm use, you will still need all of the documentation but will not have to pay the special tax.

doc

[JohnnyReb]

I was under the impression that you could distill small amounts for your personal use.

I had a ...uh...not to close cousin that got caught making his own out behind the church. Came out of church one sunday morning and the parking lot was blocked by several cop cars. They smashed the still and didn't charge him with anything. They said he wasn't even making enough to keep up his own drinking habit so why charge him.

[Ptarmigan]

Before Prohibition, the government got a lot of its revenue from distilling. This is before the income tax.

http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/unintended-consequences/

[Chris_]

And every one of those liquor taxes are probably still there.

[Eupher]

And every one of those liquor taxes are probably still there.

The gubmint never met a tax it didn't like -- and keep.

[Chris_]

The gubmint never met a tax it didn't like -- and keep.

The only one I ever heard of was that $3 telephone tax from the Spanish-American War.  Boy, did Congress make a bunch of noise about that one.

One down, about five thousand to go.

[BadCat]

Well Sgt. Bunny...not that I would know a thing about this, but I have heard that the stuff from this place might be able to help you out...

http://www.milehidistilling.com/

It is "supposedly" very good quality.