How to Distill: A Complete Guide from Still Design and Fermentation through Distilling and Aging Spirits

In How to Distill, you'll learn every aspect of home distilling, from the fundamentals to controlling flavor development to packaging.

Whether you want straightforward information for your first moonshine distillation or you're a home distiller looking to learn more and perfect your gin or bourbon, you've come to the right place. In this book, certified industry expert and knowledgeable home distiller Aaron Hyde lays out the how and why of all the key processes, starting at the mash and fermentation, through distilling, and ending with expert information on aging and blending spirits. You'll find:
 

• An Overview of Distilling and the Process: The fundamentals of distillation, concise distillation theory, still design, distilled products, and ingredients are all covered.
• Pre-Distillation: Move on to learn about the fermentation process, making your own wash from sugar or cereal mashing grain.
• Distilling: The main event! A robust section on distilling covers modern distillation techniques, the distillation process, key decisions during distillation, process control, collection, and further distillation runs.
• Post-Distillation: Work your way through flavor development and control, polishing spirit, the aging process, quality considerations, blending, and packaging considerations.
• Recipes: Whether you're interested in making bourbon whiskey, scotch whisky, gin, rum, or vodka, you'll find an easy-to-follow recipe.

For those of you looking for your first book on distilling, whether it be moonshine, gin, rum, vodka, bourbon, or Scotch whiskey, you've come to the right place.  After more than a decade of distilling at home and working with commercial distillers, I wanted to filter out all of the information I've learned (and didn't learn but should've known when I started), from other books and other resources.  Laying a strong foundation in the full process is important- from cereal mashing, through making cuts, to aging on oak and waxing bottles. Having this complete set of information will make it much easier for you to create whatever sort of spirit you would like.  Several beginning recipes are included as well, giving you the option of starting on several different spirits right away.

If you are interested in learning how to distill, I believe this book will be your best starting place. If you want to take your distilling to the next level, I believe this book will fill in the knowledge gaps you may have, and give you the confidence to become a better and more creative distiller!

Aaron Hyde has been homebrewing since 1996 when he started with his father in the kitchen. From there he picked up home distilling in 2008, piecing together a still from an old keg and copper piping. As the owner and operator of Brewstock Homebrew Supply in New Orleans, he sold home brewing and distilling products, helping many get their start in the hobby. He also provided educational classes on brewing and winemaking to those in the community and continued to spread his knowledge by writing articles for Brew Your Own magazine. After five years he moved on to work for Briess Malt & Ingredients where he was a Sales Manager selling into homebrewing stores as well as craft breweries and distilleries. He currently manages global product strategy for Bevie, providing high-quality equipment and ingredients to home brewers and distillers across the globe. He often consults on home still design and development, as well as distilling-related products and accessories such as fermentation vessels, oak products, and yeast. Aaron is one of the few people globally that has received their certifications in brewing, malting, and distilling through the Institute of Brewing & Distilling. He also manages the website which provides supplementary information and support to the book.