The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Home brewing => Topic started by: Cazzie on December 01, 2015, 02:33:40 pm

Title: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Cazzie on December 01, 2015, 02:33:40 pm

Hi Folks :wave:
Just wondering if anyone has made calvados from their cider.  Looking to buy a still for my hubby for Christmas, but don't want to get the wrong type...or buy anything too complicated.
Hope someone out there can help. thanks in advance  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Womble on December 01, 2015, 02:52:43 pm

 :sofa:

Distillation is pretty straightforward. However, do beware that if you're in the UK, it's also illegal. Just sayin!  :innocent:

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Cazzie on December 01, 2015, 09:33:17 pm

Hi Womble...I think it's okay for your own consumption....unless you're making gallons of the stuff...still looking into that...

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: benkt on December 01, 2015, 10:49:11 pm

Alcoholic Liquor Duties Act 1979 is pretty clear:
"No person shall manufacture spirits, whether by distillation of a fermented liquor or by any other process, unless he holds an excise licence for that purpose"
and it suggests you won't get a license for a still with less than 1800 litre capacity!

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/4 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/4)

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Womble on December 02, 2015, 11:27:31 am

That's interesting Benkt,  does that mean that making applejack by freeze distillation is also illegal (as it would class as making spirits by any other process)?

I had fancied trying it, having read about the process in an old book. However, this year's apple crop (all three of them) aren't going to stretch that far in any case!

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Cazzie on December 02, 2015, 12:50:03 pm

That's that then it seems  :gloomy:

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: verdifish on December 02, 2015, 02:25:40 pm

Quote from: Cazzie on December 02, 2015, 12:50:03 pm

That's that then it seems  :gloomy:

Making it isn't illegal.! 
Getting caught is.

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: arwenevenstar on December 06, 2015, 07:59:32 pm

Hmm? No, making it IS illegal. Getting caught is just stupid! ;D :innocent:

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: devonlady on December 11, 2015, 11:05:07 am

So, don't make cider lollies! Interestingly, home brew shops sell distilling equipment apparently legally!

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: verdifish on December 11, 2015, 01:55:35 pm

Quote from: devonlady on December 11, 2015, 11:05:07 am

So, don't make cider lollies! Interestingly, home brew shops sell distilling equipment apparently legally!

Plenty of stuff available legally to turn your spare bedroom into a cannabis forest including the seeds. 

Title: Re: Calvados from homemade cider
Post by: Cazzie on December 11, 2015, 07:25:12 pm

I think they sell them on the premise that you are distilling herbs to make essential oils etc  :eyelashes: