State Overview state laws It is legal to own a still in Oregon and to manufacture essential oils and distill water. It is illegal to manufacture moonshine or to be in possession of materials to ferment or use in the production of spirits regardless of if it is for personal use or sale without a commercial license.
Is it illegal to own a still in Oregon?
The possession of a still and the manufacture of essential oils and distillation of water are legal in Oregon. In addition, it is illegal to own or possess materials for fermenting or producing spirits, regardless of whether they are for personal use or sale.
Can I distill my own alcohol Oregon?
Liquor in Oregon
An OLCC Distillery license and a Distillery Permit issued by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is needed for this activity. Note: there is no exemption from this requirement for “home-distilling.”
Is it legal to make mead in Oregon?
The aggregate amount of the beer, mead, cider, and table wine permitted to be produced under this act, with respect to any legal residence, shall not exceed 15 gallons for each quarter of a calendar year.
Is it legal to own a still in the United states?
Federal Distillation Laws
Federal law states that it is legal to own a still of any size. It doesn’t matter if an individual has a 1 gallon still or a 100 gallon still. According to federal law, it is legal to have a still for decoration, distilling water, distilling essential oils, etc.
Can you distill alcohol at home?
Home made spirits and liqueurs are as easy to produce as any other home brewed drink. Using similar equipment to wine making you can produce high quality, high alcohol drinks which are almost indistinguishable from their commercial counterparts and at a fraction of the price.
How do I start a distillery in Oregon?
You will need a distillery permit from the Federal Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) before you produce, bottle, rectify, process or store distilled spirits. The OLCC recommends that you apply for your federal permit and label approval 90 or more days before you plan to begin operations.
Is making moonshine illegal?
The production of moonshine — or really any spirit — without a license is prohibited by the U.S. government and is very much illegal. Although you might see “moonshine” sitting on your local liquor store shelves, it’s not exactly the most accurate moniker for a bottled brand.
Why is moonshine illegal?
So why is moonshine still illegal? Because the liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. Uncle Sam takes an excise tax of $2.14 for each 750-milliliter bottle of 80-proof spirits, compared with 21 cents for a bottle of wine (of 14 percent alcohol or less) and 5 cents for a can of beer.
Can you sell homemade wine in Oregon?
The definition of “homemade” as “noncommercial” means there are no limitations on where homemade beer, wine and cider can be made, so long as the maker does not receive any financial benefit for the beverages he/she makes. Oregon homebrewers are subject to the same annual production limits as the federal statutes.
Can I sell wine in Oregon?
You must have an address in Oregon where you will do business. You must currently own, lease, or rent the business property or you must be in the process of purchasing, leasing, or renting the property. You may make any purchase, lease, or rent agreement contingent on obtaining a liquor license.
How much can I homebrew?
Most states permit homebrewing of 100 US gallons (380 l) of beer per adult (of 21 years or older) per year and up to a maximum of 200 US gallons (760 l) per household annually when there are two or more adults residing in the household.
Why is alcohol still legal?
The main reason why alcohol remains legal in the U.S. – despite mounting evidence of the harm it can cause – is that banning it a century ago failed. In 1920, following passage of the Constitution’s 18th Amendment, the federal government prohibited the making, shipping and sale of alcoholic beverages.
What proof is moonshine?
Moonshine
| Type | Whisky |
|---|---|
| Alcohol by volume | At least 40% |
| Proof (US) | At least 80° |
| Colour | Clear to off-white depending on ingredients |
| Ingredients | Grain (mashing), sugar (fermented water) |
What is the easiest liquor to distill?
The easiest alcohol to make is probably mead. Making mead is very straight forward but it is not the fastest alcohol to make. If you want to make alcohol that you can enjoy fast, beer is probably the way to go for you. Wine and spirits generally have longer fermenting processes than beer.
What temperature do you run moonshine?
The temperature that ethyl alcohol boils off at is 78C-82C and therefore if your still has a temperature gauge in the top of the condenser (usually in a rubber bung situated at the top) it should run between 78C-82C (with 78C being ideal).
Can you distill beer into moonshine?
In spite of being legal at the federal level, distilling is illegal in California. The privileges and acts that a licensee may exercise and perform under the authority of a license may not be exercised or performed by anyone unless authorized by an appropriate license.
How much does a still cost?
Distilling equipment
At the most basic level, you’re going to need a cooker (or mash tun), a fermenter, and a still. A cooker can cost roughly $11,000, a fermenter $6,500, and a still anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000.
Is a distillery profitable?
Distilling is less expensive—and more profitable—than brewing, if you don’t count the cost of holding your inventory in oak barrels for years as you wait for it to age into sippable whiskey. It’s why distillers always start by selling vodka, gin, or white (unaged) whiskey.
How much does it cost to start a whiskey distillery?
Many craft distilleries state it takes an about a million dollars to get a distillery up and running. Thoroughbred Spirits Consultants, who specialize in helping new, regional and national spirits companies start and build their brands, states it takes anywhere from $3-5 million at a minimum.
How much will a 5 gallon still produce?
General Alcohol Yields
You can generally assume that your alcohol still will produce a final batch that is about 20% of the size of your copper still’s pot. For example, the average run in a 5 gallon still can be expected to produce about a gallon or a gallon and a half of moonshine.