I am not only a seller, but also a practitioner, a distiller with great experience. On all moonshine stills, from my store, I worked personally and I know all their strengths and weaknesses. Proof? Video channel Sur-Likbez .
Do not hesitate, all the mistakes are not taken from the ceiling, this is the experience of 3638 buyers, most of whom were novice distillers. So:
1. Think long and hard to gather information. Yes, of course, you should not rush headlong into the pool. Especially if you are completely off topic. But there is a lot of information on the Internet, it is contradictory and scattered. The more you read, the more confused you become and the less you understand which moonshine is better.
Think about how you learned to drive a car. It seemed so unrealistically difficult. But as soon as they got behind the wheel and started driving, things got better. Right?
So it is here, because at the beginning of the journey you can’t even imagine what you will encounter. Maybe you like distillate more than rectified or vice versa? You tried? At a neighbor? What if you do better?
We can say that moonshine is one of the sections of cooking. There are a lot of nuances, directions, assumptions and almost no rules. Someone likes fried, someone steamed. You put so much salt, I put so much, you put so much pepper, I so much. Trying to study the theory completely and thoroughly, as in higher mathematics, will not work here. Understanding comes with experience.
Do not hesitate for a long time, buy what you like and make the first stage. Only practice will give you answers to all questions. Even if you made a mistake, and the first moonshine will soon cease to suit you. Then do not hesitate, such a product will leave you pretty quickly. Though on Avito, even to a neighbor. It's me again, as the owner of a moonshine stills store, I'm telling you :)
2. Search miracle, so-called - " best moonshine still". Unfortunately, it is not.
What is good for one distiller is absolutely unacceptable for another. I write more about the best device here. There is no such miracle apparatus from which Hennessy flows. In many ways, success depends on you, how you follow the technology and select the ingredients.
But at the same time, due to the great interest in this topic, every day there are various most “cool” and “fancy” moonshine stills.
The main task of such creators is to pump out as much money as possible from newbies like you. Taking advantage of your ignorance and lack of experience, various fairy tales are composed on the go, for example, some of them:
The double distillation apparatus is complete nonsense. I won't even discuss it.
100% cleaning. Explain to me how there can be 100% cleaning, if the alcohol can only be 96%, huh???
Two dry steamers replace the second distillation. What are you, really, or what, but three dry steamers a third? Absolute nonsense.
Moonshine still with five, six or ten steamers - gives a crystal clear product. This will only lead to large losses, but not to crystal clearness.
And so on, go online and you will be showered with such offers. Fake goods are easy to recognize, as a rule, they are sold through landing pages (single-page) sites and at the same time they promise simply unrealistic product quality. They also offer a bunch of useful and useless gifts + 250% discount today only.
3. Want buy imported device. This is in some way a continuation of the second paragraph. Here in Russia they make a complete g ... I'll take an imported moonshine, that's where the quality is. Perhaps the quality abroad is better. Yes, but we do not have imported devices in Russia.
At least in bulk sales. You can, of course, find and buy something abroad. And the price will match. But those products with loud names of European and Asian countries, which the Internet is full of, have nothing to do with imports. Well, perhaps, some parts for "European" moonshine stills are purchased in China.
Of course, among such pseudo-Europeans there are worthy models and they can be considered for purchase. But only as an ordinary moonshine still, and not as an example of European quality.
4. Buy a device according to the principle: " apparatus for 5000(6000, 7000, etc. rubles) and that's it. The rest doesn't interest me." Of course, I understand that everyone has their own opportunities. And, besides, I do not urge to buy the most expensive device at all. There are quite normal budget models. But it's better to save up, and not take frank nonsense, just because it's cheap. What is hidden under a cheap moonshine, read here.
5. Buy moonshine with small alembic. “What are you, I'm not an alcoholic, me for myself! Why big tank? Give me the smallest one! And at the same time, the theatrical roll of his eyes is a typical picture of a newcomer to my store.
Dear distillers, a 20 liter tank is still FAR short of 20 liters of moonshine, which you need to drink without a snack. Believe me, they still need to be made, and with a small cube, it will take you a LOT of time.
Braga is poured into the cube by ¾ of the volume of the cube, you need to proceed from the planned production volumes. And strive to distill all the mash in one, maximum two times.
Remember, a small cube is not a little moonshine, it's a lot of wasted time.
60% of the buyers of my store, who did not believe and bought a small cube, come back to buy an additional cube of a larger volume.
6. Do not analyze your own before buying living conditions. For example, buy a columned moonshine and only find out at home that it rests on the hood. Such an irresponsible approach, although rare, does happen.
7. Check stainless steel magnet. Well, this is a bearded anecdote for me. Believe it or not, this still happens, people with a magnet come to the store. This is a method from the 80s of the last century, then it was relevant. People, it's the 21st century! For a long time there are grades of stainless steel that are magnetic!
8. Look for moonshine with thick metal like a tank. Tell me, why is this necessary? Will the bottom burn? Seriously? Think for yourself how you need to operate the device so that the bottom burns out. Do you really have such volumes? So that the mash does not burn. Again, thick mash on an open fire is still not distilled, it will really burn. You need a steam generator. In general, the cleaner the mash, the better for the product. Clean with bentonite, or simply through cheesecloth (colander) and you will be happy.
A metal thickness of 1-1.5 mm is more than enough. Thick metal, this is a big price + heavy device. And if the properties of the metal allow you to work on an induction cooker, then this is generally a song. There, even not quite liquid mash will definitely not burn and the bottom of the cube will not burn out.
9. Expect moonshine still performance 5.7 or more liters per hour. Yeah, put the buckets up. Think about it, how realistic is this? I do not argue, sometimes in the descriptions you can find such figures, but we are educated people.
10. Wait for that collapsible steamer- this is a panacea for the smell of moonshine. Yes, steam maceration takes place, it is needed and very interesting. Taking this opportunity, I recommend that if you need a moonshine still with a steamer, then let it be collapsible. You will be able to get drinks with a green flavor and with a red color. BUT, don't expect a miracle. Few people know that moonshine obtained in this way is saturated with essential oils and will most likely turn white if diluted to 40%. That is, transparent drinks may not work. The smell is also a moot point. Only from a collapsible sukhoparnik it will not disappear. This is a set of activities.
11. Pray for Panchenkov nozzle. Hooray, it's there, I'll get alcohol, cool! Yep, now. If you put a nozzle in a moonshine distiller, then we will not get alcohol. The nozzle increases the area of interaction of phlegm and steam. It works only on column apparatus and only on those where there is a reflux condenser. In other devices, it is nothing more than a pleasant, but useless addition.
12. Buy a device with narrow filler neck. Yes, they are cheaper, but you are tormented to wash and clean it. Your hand should go through the neck.
13. Sukhoparnik without drain. From the same opera. Inexpensive, but it's like putting pants over your head. It's possible, but damn inconvenient.
So, dear distillers, I shared with you the most invaluable - the experience of 3638 novice distillers who have already gone through the agony of choosing a moonshine still. They say you need to learn from the mistakes of others. What do you think?
If you have any questions, call 89627664555.
Those who take their first steps in the field of making homemade alcohol are at a loss with the question of which moonshine to choose. Now on the market there are many manufacturers offering to buy a variety of models of units. It is easy to get confused in the choice. We will tell you how to choose a moonshine, and this problem will no longer bother you.
The first step is to determine where you will be engaged in moonshine. If in a city apartment or in a well-maintained house where there is running water, you should buy a flow unit, but if in a country house where there is no central water supply, it is better to choose a non-flow unit. Flow-through units have a special hose (usually made of PVC) through which cold water from the water supply is continuously supplied to the cooler. And non-flowing units do not need such a hose, since the cooling water is poured into a container with a coil.
Next, we choose the option of heating the distillation cube - with the help of heating elements built into the apparatus, or on an induction, electric or gas stove. Sam-machines offers an excellent selection of both types of moonshine stills. If you decide to choose and buy units with integrated heaters, we note that they usually cost more and require more careful handling.
The choice of a moonshine should take into account what specific types of alcohol you plan to produce. For the manufacture of tinctures, alcohol, vodka, you should buy distillation columns, and for the production of brandy, calvados, cognac, moonshine, tequila, whiskey, chacha, it is better to choose classic distillers.
In most cases, modern distillers are equipped with a dry steamer. It is recommended that these settings be selected. A steamer can be used to flavor moonshine, but its main task is to clean the finished product from getting fusel oils into it. Please note: there is no structural dryer in the distillation columns.
An important stage in the choice of a moonshine unit is the selection of the material from which the apparatus is made. For these purposes, stainless steel or copper is used. Nowadays, stainless steel installations are more popular. They have many advantages. We recommend buying stainless steel distillers as they are durable, very strong and almost perfect for making homemade alcohol.
After solving all the problems described, it remains only to decide on the type of unit (on a flask, on a pressure cooker) and the capacity of the distillation cube (14 liters, 20, 40, etc.). Now you know how to choose the right moonshine!
The Sam-machines online store presents a large selection of various moonshine stills that you can buy on our website. If you find it difficult to choose a unit yourself, our staff will help you choose the best option that will meet all your requirements.
 |
 |
 |
 |
The moonshine market is so large that it is quite difficult for an experienced distiller to understand it, not to mention beginners. If earlier in the hardware store you could meet 1-2 models, today 10-20. All of them have a different design, shape, country of origin. If you ask the seller to advise on the choice, the understanding comes that he knows less than you. The story that one apparatus has a dry steamer, while the other does not, does not solve anything. Connoisseurs of homemade liquor need other information regarding performance, distillation quality, service life, etc. This begs the question: “Where can I find a good moonshine in Moscow, and how to determine its quality?”.
If you have firmly decided to start moonshine brewing, then you need to choose at least a specialized place to buy equipment. Small retail outlets that have products from one manufacturer in their assortment will deprive you of a choice. There are practically no large stores in Moscow, and those that exist may not satisfy all needs. We can read the technical specifications ourselves. Is this what consultants should say?
Online platforms with offline points of sale
As always, the Internet comes to the rescue of all of us. People involved in sales in large online stores, such as AlcoPribor, are real experts in their field. As a rule, a business begins with a small personal passion, which eventually develops into something more. Very often, the creators of online stores are personally engaged in advising their customers. Why do they need it? Firstly, it helps to sell more goods, secondly, they are completely immersed in the topic, and thirdly, they like to share their knowledge and experience with other people.
If you wondered: “Where can I find modern moonshine stills in Moscow?”, then you want to buy the equipment personally. Internet order for many people is still unacceptable. There is nothing strange in this. This approach does not allow you to see the products live, talk to real people, see the level of the store, etc. In a word, assess the situation and understand whether sales consultants can be trusted or not.
Online stores with retail outlets in Moscow are the ideal solution. On the web, you can:
- slowly explore the lineup;
- read analytical articles;
- read reviews from real customers;
- get a preliminary consultation;
- find out about the availability of a particular model.
After that, you can safely go to the store and, based on a real acquaintance with the products and consultation with a real specialist, make your choice.
What stores should you avoid?
There is no need to rely that every retail outlet in Moscow that has a website is trustworthy. Before choosing a supplier, carefully study its history. You should be primarily interested in:
- time of existence of the company;
- breadth of assortment (not only the model range, but also additional equipment, materials);
- availability of goods (it happens that a retail outlet bases its work on ordering products from another online store);
- warranty obligations.
I would like to focus on the last criterion. We all understand that no one is immune from factory defects. Even the most eminent manufacturers can allow products of poor quality to be sold. Sometimes defects appear only after a month of using the equipment. You can protect yourself from various kinds of troubles by buying a moonshine still with a guarantee. Follow our recommendations and you will definitely be able to find and buy a good modern device that is ideal for your needs!
Have you thought about joining a hobby popular at all times - moonshine? If you decide to purchase a moonshine for yourself or as a gift, then this article will help you make a smart choice and answer your questions.
How to choose a moonshine still?
When choosing and buying a moonshine still (distiller), you need to pay attention and decide on the following characteristics:
- Volume of alembic
- Material type and thickness
- Distillate cooling
Volume of alembic
An important criterion in choosing a distiller is the capacity of the tank for mash. For distillation of small volumes of drink (up to 20 liters), a cube with a capacity of up to 10-20 liters will be quite sufficient. If you want to produce large volumes of alcohol (more than 30 liters), then a tank with a capacity of more than 20 liters is an excellent option. Capacious flasks of 25-40 liters are especially popular today. As a rule, each distiller model has several options for the volume of the distillation cube, so choosing the right one in terms of volume should not be difficult. Also pay attention to the filler hole of the tank: the wider the neck, the easier and more convenient it is to pour the mash and clean the cube.
Type and thickness of the moonshine still material
The most successful material for a moonshine still is factory-made stainless steel that complies with GOST. In SamogonMagazin, absolutely all models are made of high-quality stainless steel used in the food and medical industries.
It is important to pay attention to the thickness of the metal. With a high probability, in a cube less than 1 mm thick, the mash will begin to burn, evaporating unpleasant odors and tastes. Therefore, the optimal thickness is 1 - 2 mm. At the same time, walls with a thickness of 3-4 mm will only increase the weight and cost of the moonshine still.
Purification of received drinks. Sukhoparnik.
The presence of a distillation column by itself means obtaining the purest end product. In a classic distiller, it is important to have a sukhoparnik - an additional container between the distillation cube and the coil. The sukhoparnik cleans the drink from harmful impurities (fusel oils settle in the container itself) and prevents the mash from entering the final drink.
A bubbler is a device for passing gas or vapor bubbles through a liquid layer. Using a bubbler, you get concentrated drinks with even more strength (on average 20 degrees more).
Sukhoparnik and bubbler favorably affect the purity, strength, taste and aroma of the resulting drinks. The presence of these devices in the moonshine is desirable, but not necessary.
Distillate cooling
In the process of distillation, full cooling of the coil is necessary. When choosing a moonshine still, it is important to think about the cooling method, which can be open (using running water) and closed (using a tank filled with the right amount of water). Flow distillers are conveniently located near the water tap. In the absence of a tap with a continuous supply of cold water (for example, in a summer cottage), we recommend that you opt for non-flowing models.
When buying a moonshine, it will not be superfluous to have additional devices in the kit, such as a thermometer for temperature control, hoses, a drain tap, connecting elements, etc.
Where to buy a quality moonshine still?
We hope that now you can easily decide on the choice of a distiller. You can always find equipment of any characteristics and other necessary details in our online store and be sure of its quality, safety and durability. Here you will find moonshine stills of reputable manufacturers:
We give guarantees for our products and confirm this with appropriate certificates. Among the wide range, we are always ready to help determine the choice of the most suitable option.
10 typical mistakes when choosing a moonshine still
1. Delay the purchase decision and study the information for months
You should not focus too much on searching for too long, especially if the topic is not entirely clear to you. The more you dive into the whirlpool of moonshine, the more difficult it will be to make a choice. After all, there are many varieties of moonshine stills, and understanding them is not a matter of one month. Professional moonshiners learn all the charm of moonshine in the process, when they feel the “taste”! Stop studying theory. Proceed to purchase as soon as you read and understand the main differences!
You learned to drive a car by practice, right? But before that, they studied the theory for a whole month, only this whole theory will not help you get comfortable in a car while driving. If you have never been engaged in moonshine - this "high art form!" - you can’t even imagine what nuances await you! Do you like rectificate more than distillate? And how do you know which is better? Tell a neighbor? Is he a reliable guarantor of quality? Hardly! This is a "live" process that you will learn to manage already "in the course of the play." It's like every housewife - she bakes her bread in her own way, although everyone starts the same way, as expected, "according to the recipe"!
Make your choice quickly. Experience and understanding will come to you with time, only practice will help you here. Do not like the first device? Sell it to Avito - they are in great demand in the secondary market. Perhaps you will have to try many options in order to find your “most delicious” one and develop a new technology.
2. Search for the “best apparatus” that does not exist in nature
For each moonshiner there is his “best machine” - as they say, “one likes watermelon, the other likes pork cartilage”! "Martini XO" still will not make any moonshine. Follow the technology and choose the right ingredients. Over time, you will start “variations on a theme” - and you will be happy!
You might argue that the price matters, and the manufacturers offer this one and this one, and they are much better than these. All this is a marketing ploy to lure those who are looking for "the best" and sell it to them for the highest price possible! You will be told about 100% cleaning, although the alcohol in any device will be 96% at the output. Double race? What does she give? Does an apparatus with two or three dry steamers produce 100% alcohol at the output? Unlikely) More dexterous managers want to sell you not only a fake "best product", but also with a huge discount on the stock - I hope you don't need to explain where this discount comes from) Buy your own - albeit not very expensive, but one that " by heart."
3. Look for a device for a certain price
Don't try to settle for a certain amount. Let you have only 5000, 6000 or 7000. Look, read, and choose exactly the one you want, and not the one for which there was enough money. Price should not be the determining factor in choosing such a specific product.
4. Choose an apparatus with a small volume of alembic
Although you are planning a purchase “for yourself”, and you do not need a large amount of moonshine, since there will simply be no one to drink it, believe me - a large cube does not mean a large amount of alcohol at the exit. The tank only fills up to ¾ of the total volume of the cube, and it is best to distill the entire mash at one time. Then you do not have to cook moonshine in 2-3 steps - save your time!
5. Focus on the thickness of the metal of the device
A metal thickness of 1-2 mm is enough to ensure that nothing burns or burns out for you) The bottom will not burn out under any circumstances - you can be sure of this. On an induction cooker, your mash will definitely not burn, but for an open fire you still need a steam generator. It is better to clean the mash with bentonite or just strain through cheesecloth. Thick walls only mean more weight and more cost - why do you need it?
6. Believe the promises of sellers that the device is capable of making 5 liters of moonshine per hour or more
Another trick in order to breed newcomers and "promise them with three boxes." If you see such performance in the descriptions, pass by - this is basically impossible.
7. Buy a device with a narrow neck
Do not complicate your life - washing a device with a narrow neck is very difficult. Buy one so that your hand can freely pass into it, otherwise you will just lose a lot of time and nerves.
8. Buy a dry steamer without the possibility of draining
Yes, it's cheap, but you're tormented. Be smart - don't skimp on what makes moonshine brewing enjoyable. You still have to drain the leftovers, whatever one may say.
9. Look for imported analogues
They are supposedly more expensive and better than Russian devices. After all, in Russia they can’t really do anything. Yes, the quality may be higher, but the price is appropriate. And you can only buy it abroad, since you simply won’t find them in Russia! And if you find it, then this device will have little in common with a real imported one. Do not focus on "foreignness". If you are considering it, then compare the characteristics, they will serve you very well.
10. Expect the Panchenkov nozzle to start making alcohol
In fact, there will be no alcohol even if you put it in a distiller. It will simply increase the area of \u200b\u200bcontact between steam and phlegm. If you have a column apparatus with a reflux condenser, then it will help. In other cases, the Panchenkov nozzle will not be useful to you!
What is moonshine?
A strong drink containing ethyl alcohol. Moonshine is obtained by distillation of mash.
How to make moonshine at home?
Moonshine stills presented in online store SamogonMagazin.ru easily cope with the task of making high-quality moonshine right at your home.
First you need to make a wort (for example, from sugar and water). Then, mash is made from the resulting wort with the addition of yeast. After distillation of the mash with the help of a distiller, moonshine is obtained directly. The apparatus brings the mash to a boil, the steam is cooled to condensation, and the condensed liquid is drained.
Is it possible to obtain pure alcohol after several distillations?
The distillation can be repeated several times in order to improve the taste and increase the strength of the drink. However, it is impossible to obtain pure alcohol by distillation.
What is rectified alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol obtained by rectification and maximally purified from impurities. For convenient preparation of a rectified product, you can buy a distillation column from the website of such well-known manufacturers as Dobry Zhar , Phoenix , Cuprum & Steel (Cuprum Steel).
Why and how to clean moonshine?
The main reasons are the presence of a not very pleasant smell in the resulting drink and the presence of harmful impurities to one degree or another. The most affordable methods for cleaning moonshine at home, which are more effective to use in combination:
- adding potassium permanganate or charcoal to moonshine;
- filtration of moonshine through activated carbon;
- cleaning with milk, eggs;
- repeated distillation, etc.
What is a braga?
The product obtained from the fermentation of must. After the yeast has fermented, ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide are formed from sugar. Braga is used for distillation (distillation) in a moonshine still.
What is wort?
A mixture of starchy, sugary substances with water, made to produce mash. You can prepare the wort using ordinary sugar or some fruit and berry raw material containing sugar or starch.
Is it possible to make whiskey, cognac, calvados at home?
Perhaps using certain raw materials: for whiskey it is barley malt, for cognac it is grapes, for calvados it is apples. And the maturation of the drink at home is also possible - small kegs will allow the drink to be prepared quickly enough.
Common equipment for creating such drinks are copper moonshine stills, such as Cuprum Steel (Cuprum-Steel) which can be purchased from our online store.
Safety measures during the operation of moonshine. What can be dangerous when brewing moonshine and how to ensure safety?
As in any business, care and accuracy should be exercised in moonshine brewing in order to prevent possible troubles. It is important to remember: firstly, moonshine is a flammable substance that can cause burns; secondly, when boiling in the tank, a very high temperature is observed; thirdly, during continuous boiling, steam is formed, which is released through a steam tube, the patency of which must not be disturbed.
Therefore, before starting distillation, it is necessary to carefully study the operating instructions for the equipment. It is also a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby. Distillation is best done in a well-ventilated area, and to protect hands, use special means - for example, cotton gloves when in contact with metal parts of the equipment.
