Starting My own Business
violentblue - 14/5/12 at 03:25 AM
Just felt like sharing with you folks here my business venture.
I'm a hard core locoster, located in Canada who had been hit hard by the economic downturn, I decided to start my own business venture. I'm
sure my wares aren't much use to the good people here, but I'm loving my work and seeing some moderate success, designing Whiskey
stills.
this little beauty we built for a trade show (American Distilling Institute Convention)
I know the pictures aren't good, but it was built as c design concept/prototype.
not nearly as large as some stuff we've built to date, but I had to show it off a bit.
rules of Economy: when times are bad, people drink. When times are good, People drink.
finally found the right business to be in.
Steve
snapper - 14/5/12 at 05:21 AM
I thought for a moment you were distiling illegal hooch and would use the Locost to run it across the boarder!!!!
t11 - 14/5/12 at 06:05 AM
Hi Steve...good luck with your new venture.........I had a friend a few years ago, she built a home made stil in her garden shed untill 1 day when the
said shen was air born....lol
hughpinder - 14/5/12 at 07:13 AM
Looks good.
You may fine this site interesting http://homedistiller.org/
Regards
Hugh
ETA by the way, if you've soldered those cooper joints, I hope you used lead free solder! IT looks like a professional job so I assume so.
[Edited on 14/5/12 by hughpinder]
maccmike - 14/5/12 at 07:52 AM
best of luck mate
designer - 14/5/12 at 08:09 AM
That is a very well made, and finished, work of art.
Not Anumber - 14/5/12 at 09:57 AM
An excellent piece of engineering and built for a very fine purpose. I wish the government here would legalise home distileries here as I'd
certainly like to give it a try, i'll just have to put up with homebrew beer til then.
Is that stil for scotch or bourbon ?
violentblue - 14/5/12 at 12:07 PM
everything is TIG welded. no solder to be found.
its a design that is commonly used for brandy, but can easily do wiskey if tuned right.
the one in the picture is going to Texas and will be used to make Bourbon.
Registered with TTB as a still manufacturer so we can only sell to legal distilleries.
[Edited on 14/5/12 by violentblue]
Dick Axtell - 14/5/12 at 01:59 PM
Best of luck, Steve.
Your producxt looks a) very interesting, b) highly illegal (from the GB standpoint - check out with any Irish posters on here
), and c) well
assembled.
Apart from the legal issues, which you will undoubtedly know much more about in your country, what have you done about limiting personal liability? Am
thinking that you should consider setting up a LLC, so that there is a separate legal entity which conducts the business of making & selling your
stills.
Maybe you've already done so? Just thought I ought to raise the point.
violentblue - 14/5/12 at 02:04 PM
good point, and yes, we're already set up as a limited company.
we only sell to people with distilling licences, so Illegality is a non issue, and every unit is serial numbered and registered with the proper
authorities.
got to do things right, plenty of less than legal still suppliers out there, these are professional only units.
fullpint - 14/5/12 at 06:19 PM
Wishing you all the best mate. I started mine 2 years ago and have no regrets and I'm sure you will be the same.
MakeEverything - 14/5/12 at 07:20 PM
Good Luck with that. Looks like a work of art & Labour of love!
Not ANumber, i made Brandy using the fermentation process and a shed load of sugar! It was very sweet and a bit ont he rough side, but still had a
decent kick.
I suppose if you wanted to make it stronger, you could evaporate off the alcohol, but then that would be distilling...... and subsequently illegal!
cliftyhanger - 14/5/12 at 07:26 PM
Ever thought of freezing? ie freeze until about 10% is ice, which is mainly water, remove that and you have upped the alcohol % of what remains. Safe
too. Illegal distilleries sometimes cause rather nasty health issues by concentrating toxins
violentblue - 14/5/12 at 07:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
Ever thought of freezing? ie freeze until about 10% is ice, which is mainly water, remove that and you have upped the alcohol % of what remains. Safe
too. Illegal distilleries sometimes cause rather nasty health issues by concentrating toxins
good way to get a nasty headache. best check out the laws on that one though, most countries distillation by any means is illegal, unless licensed.
violentblue - 20/5/12 at 04:06 AM
this last week has been insane. Gin distillery took possession of a 1250 gallon potstill and Vodka Column, finalized a design on a 600 gallon still
for a Rum distillery in Hawaii, as well as sold 2 stills that are a minor variation on the design pictured above.
Business is booming.
T66 - 20/5/12 at 06:52 AM
They might like them in France - they have travelling distillers who turn up when the cider is ready to distill down to calvados.
Done at the road side , very small scale.
There must be some calvados drinkers your side maybe ??
violentblue - 20/5/12 at 01:41 PM
there have been a number of people looking into travelling distilleries, but just doesn't look possible for licencing.
I personally am growing a small orchard on my acreage, and have just had a discussion with Excise officers about starting a teaching distillery on my
acreage, they were extremely helpful and looks like it just might be possible.
violentblue - 20/7/12 at 11:41 PM
factory is just finishing up building 4 of these, 2 with gin heads 2 with scotch whisky style heads.
rather pleased with the results
gottabedone - 21/7/12 at 09:15 AM
those my man are a work of art
Steve
40inches - 21/7/12 at 09:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by violentblue
factory is just finishing up building 4 of these, 2 with gin heads 2 with scotch whisky style heads.
rather pleased with the results
WOW! engineering porn
PAUL FISHER - 21/7/12 at 01:35 PM
Superb work pleased things are going well for you.
violentblue - 26/9/12 at 03:08 PM
just arrived to my client, starting setup
