Rakija (fruit brandy): method and legal notes

In short

• Distilling without a licence is illegal in the UK, IE, US and CA. Before anything else, ask the excise authority (HMRC, Revenue, TTB, CRA); selling without registration is banned everywhere.
• Only sound fruit, no rot, leaves or stalks; stones are never crushed; no pectic enzymes.
• The heads (foreshots) are always separated and never drunk, added to the spirit or rubbed on skin.
• A still is filled no more than three-quarters, the outlet is never closed, no naked flame near the outlet, a fire extinguisher by the still.
• Blurred vision, headache and nausea 12–24 h after drinking spirits can be methanol poisoning: call emergency services at once.

What's inside

Chapters

1. Fruit brandy and the law: what you may do
2. Methanol and other dangerous substances
3. Fruit and mash
4. Fermenting the mash
5. The still and safety when distilling
6. First run: low wines
7. Second run: heads, hearts and tails
8. Strength, dilution and ageing
9. Fruit and herb liqueurs
10. Spirits and health
11. Common mistakes
12. Printable checklist

Worksheets

• Fruit brandy calendar
• Yield calculator
• Dilution calculator and dates
• Distilling log
• Records and stock
• Questions for the authorities