Purchasing a Still

Check out the photos of stills for sale page.

The real big problem is the cost of postage/delivery. It costs about US$100 to send a still from NZ to the States/Europe and vice versa, so it pays to buy locally.

New ! - see the list of International Suppliers

Shops

You can easily buy a still for around NZ$340 (US$160), however the better ones are up around NZ$600 (US$250).

If you're in New Zealand, give my mate Pete Sayers a call at the Brewers Barn, 291 Dee St, Invercargill, or phone/fax on (64-3) 214-1202. Pete is really helpful, and sells a large range of different stills. Freight within NZ will be free, and he can knock down stills into several packages for inconspicous delivery overseas. All credit cards taken. Tell him I sent ya.
New ! Pete has finally got email : brubarn@xtra.co.nz, and can email you some brochures about his stills.

If you're in Melbourne, Australia, try any winemaking shop. Australian Winemakers - Cellar Plus at 106 Peel St, North Melbourne, Vic 3051, (just across the road from the Vic markets, beside la Porcetta's) ph (61-3) 9328-1881 or fax (61-3) 9328-1975 stock books, yeasts, essences, and a limited range of small copper pot stills. Celeste is pretty clued up about it all too.

On the Net

Net Sites include :
Outterson, LLC (US) still & equipment supplier
Fermtech & Still Spirits (New Zealand)- also flavours & yeasts.
Spirits Unlimited (New Zealand)- still manufacturer.
Aqua Vitae (New Zealand)- homebrew shop.
Brewers World (New Zealand) - lists suppliers of the Fermtech & Still Spirits goodies.
Desti Lab Stainless Alcohol Still/Water Purifier
Winesupply - US based still makers
Floragenics - small glass stills
http://www.kenmorewater.com/productlist/no-plumbing-drinking-water-systems/34480.html


See the photo page - Stills for Sale.

See the full range of Portugese Copper Alambics and Alquitars at http://homedistiller.org/alembic/alembic.htm - from small decorative units, up to 300L and including commercial units.

If you are going to buy off the Web, and try and import back to your own country, have a good chat with the supplier first about how they can help. Obvious things would be like removing any identifying logos or stickers (eg having "Home Still" inscribed on it would be a hard thing for Customs to avoid), and having it split up into various different boxes etc posted on different days. Even so, you still might have a limited sucess rate at getting it all delivered to you without interception. And you're the one taking the legal risks (not the exporter).

Importing a Still into the United States

(By A. Nonymous) How to import a still into the US:
Do remember, that when dealing with companies in the U.S. (like homebrew shops) the customer MUST NOT MENTION DISTILLING OR THEIR OWNERSHIP OF A STILL!! If they do, and the store sells to them, the store can be shut down for aiding in the commission of a felony. They should call/e-mail, place their order, and, if questioned, they should say they use the flavors with purchased spirit, and the turbo yeasts are for fruit wine ports, or light/undistilled vodkas.

To do otherwise puts the store in a bad spot. They want to sell to you (they most likely want distilling made legal in order to expand their business), but they can't knowingly do so if you mention an illegal act. And, since the BATF has been re-organized and placed under the Attorney Generals' office as the TTB, distilling may be even farther away from being legalized in the U.S.
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