Spirits and Liqueurs

HomeBrewWest stock distillation devices (see Distillation Equipment). These devices can be used to distill full strength spirits in countries where distillation is legal. 

In Ireland however, the proper permits and licences must first be obtained in order to produce spirits by distillation. The stills can also be used for water distillation (perfect for making beer and wine, especially in areas where water contains excessive chlorine), and they can also be used for essential oil extraction.

Distilled water is the purest water you can drink, and the electricity cost to make it using our stills is only about 10 cents per liter, a fraction of the cost of shop bought bottled water.

It is legal in Ireland to ferment alcohol, and modern yeast technology enables the fermentation of sugar (or dextrose) to produce up to 23% alcohol by volume (ABV). This low base spirit will contain impurities and must then be cleaned using liquid activated carbon treatment techniques to produce a neutral base spirit which can be flavoured using dozens of different essences. It is worth noting that developments in yeast technology over the past decade have resulted in vastly improved fermentations with much fewer impurities.

Ways to produce your own spirits and liqueurs without distilling

- purchase a Prohibition or Classic Liquors kit (see below) containing all the ingredients necessary to make 6 bottles of a specific spirit or liqueur,
- purchase the modern Alcotec Spirit Base Kit containing all the ingredients necessary to make 6 bottles of quality base spirit, and then select from a wide range of essences to flavour 6 bottles of different spirits and liqueurs, or;
- purchase modern Alcotec yeasts and other ingredients separately and produce 6 to 30 bottles of various spirits and liqueurs.

At HomeBrewWest, we suggest you start with the Alcotec Spirit Base Kit because its modern ingredients will yield a quality 20% ABV base spirit. Just select any three essences, enough to flavour 6 bottles. So, for example, you could make 2 bottles of vodka, 2 bottles of brandy, and 2 bottles of tequilla. More experienced brewers might purchase all the ingredients separately and produce from 6 to 30 bottles.

Prohibition 6-bottle kits produce an amazing 21% alcohol by natural fermentation. They're fun and easy to make, and great value. All you need to do is add sugar and water. These are the kits that Eason's used to sell in the 80s.

Classic Liquors has created an easy way for the home brewer to produce 6 bottles of the most delicious liqueurs in just three weeks. Classic Liquors starts with water, sugar and our kit. You produce your very own 40 Proof (20%) alcohol that you brew and clarify at home.

Unless you already have the equipment, you will also need to purchase a Liqueur Starter Kit. Three weeks later, you can enjoy your own home-made liqueurs.

http://homebrewwest.ie Bringing real value to Irish liqueur makers