Author Topic: Calvados from homemade cider (Read 9227 times)

Cazzie · « **on:** December 01, 2015, 02:33:40 pm »

Hi Folks

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

Womble · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2015, 02:52:43 pm »

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

Cazzie · « **Reply #2 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...

benkt · « **Reply #3 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

Womble · « **Reply #4 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!