StillSmart

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-20T23:34:13+00:00

That is a freaky looking drink.
And Halloween is a coming.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Oct 20, 2015 11:34 pm

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-20T21:30:07+00:00

GrunthosTheFlatulent wrote:
Ironically, since I have been dabbling with making my own spirits and liqueurs (strictly for my own consumption) and have taken the trouble of throwing away the manufacturer's instructions and joining a forum such as this to see if there was a better method, by learning to recognise heads and tails I find I am spending more on commercial spirits than I ever did before, because I can no longer drink cheap ‘cooking whisky’ however much I drown it with dry ginger, and
my tastes have gone up market.

I have to agree 100% , I hardly ever bought alcohol before... and since setting out on this new black art experience I have started buying things I may just regret.

Statistics: Posted by inspector gadget — Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:30 pm

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-20T17:35:40+00:00

Thanks

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Oct 20, 2015 5:35 pm

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-20T09:53:43+00:00

Slightly better deal here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GCHQ-ALWAYS-L ... 1143008936
Price includes postage.
And choice of colour.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:53 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-20T07:28:13+00:00

already ordered on ebay..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Government-Al ... 1Zv_54LRwg

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Tue Oct 20, 2015 7:28 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-19T23:14:20+00:00

Admiral Toad wrote:
Had to chuckle having read this post then seeing a guys T shirt at a gig on the weekend that read

'GCHQ. Always listening to our customers '

Thanks AT, I was struggling for a friends birthday gift, I may get one of these T shirts printed up, fairly certain it will be a hit.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Oct 19, 2015 11:14 pm

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-19T07:10:58+00:00

LOL really

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:10 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-19T06:42:15+00:00

Had to chuckle having read this post then seeing a guys T shirt at a gig on the weekend that read

'GCHQ. Always listening to our customers '

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Mon Oct 19, 2015 6:42 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-17T02:02:48+00:00

@ EasyD - I see now what you mean. Different levels of illegal and some are acceptable. Brilliant.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Sat Oct 17, 2015 2:02 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-16T04:14:04+00:00

@ RJ
Thanks for that, maybe you are missing my point.
This site has principally a UK based user base where home distillation is illicit.
Sure we have international members,some from countries where home distillation is legal.
This is not a site to promote the sale of home distilled product.
I am fully aware of your efforts to get your business going in China, you posted details of the catch 22 type situation long ago, hence my stating that in your case things were different.
In the UK we do not yet have the right to home distill for own consumption,and so I stand by my statement "Anyone seeking to profit by selling illicitly distilled products deserves prosecution,no matter the quality."
You may see things differently from Hainan.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:14 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-16T01:46:56+00:00

@EasyD: You wrote-

Anyone seeking to profit by selling illicitly distilled products deserves prosecution,no matter the quality.
(Sorry RJ,your circumstances,I know,are slightly different,and here,I am really speaking of the UK and HMRC.

You are entitled to your opinion, but the above statement by you is idiotic. I am surprised you would even consider posting it on a site such as this.

Statistics: Posted by RumJohn — Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:46 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-15T15:06:01+00:00

I find it bizarre that here in the UK you cannot buy any kind of device capable of receiving TV programmes without identity checks and records being kept, but anyone can walk into a home brew shop and buy a still with no questions asked.

My home brew shop owner is required to display a notice to the effect that you shouldn't use these devices in the home for producing strong drink, but then has bottles of home made spirits on the counter for customers to sample and see what they could make in their own homes. And he knows he has sold stills to police officers.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that operating an unlicenced still in the UK is a civil matter rather than a criminal offence and carries a penalty of confiscation/destruction of equipment and a £250 fine or unpaid duty (whichever is higher). Let's face it, using something like an airstill according to the Best Practice Guide on here, it takes around 12 hours to produce 3 bottles of 40%, so I don't think we're much of a problem.

I understand that HMRC periodically call upon the few importers and distributors of this equipment and associated products, but as long as the VAT returns are in order and no-one has been buying hundreds of bottles of the same flavouring essences then they will happily go away again for a few months. If anybody has been bulk buying then they will take an interest and that person is likely to get their collar felt for the more serious offence of counterfeiting, as well they should.

Ironically, since I have been dabbling with making my own spirits and liqueurs (strictly for my own consumption) and have taken the trouble of throwing away the manufacturer's instructions and joining a forum such as this to see if there was a better method, by learning to recognise heads and tails I find I am spending more on commercial spirits than I ever did before, because I can no longer drink cheap ‘cooking whisky’ however much I drown it with dry ginger, and my tastes have gone up market.

Statistics: Posted by GrunthosTheFlatulent — Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:06 pm

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-15T03:08:33+00:00

In Australia....the latest government body to brazenly launch a 'scare campaign' regarding home distilling (you know the mantra....it is illegal, it is harmful, you WILL be caught.....) is the Australian Taxation Office!!!!
True story, its not the federal cops, nor the health services folk, but the taxman!
(says a lot, really)

Statistics: Posted by Frank — Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:08 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-15T01:10:31+00:00

Only point I can raise there Robert is I hope your last line never proves correct.

Statistics: Posted by packapoo — Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:10 am

Re: Time to be nervous? Maybe not...

2015-10-14T23:40:30+00:00

This is My opinion on this topic.

Anyone seeking to profit by selling illicitly distilled products deserves prosecution,no matter the quality.
(Sorry RJ,your circumstances,I know,are slightly different,and here,I am really speaking of the UK and HMRC)

The articles mentioned above,and others linked to from them,refer to "Brand copyright",addition of poisonous additives and organised gangs.

This is where UK customs and excise are expending energy.
Should they ever get on top of that,then we will logically be next.
They know we are here.
They know what we are doing.
I believe that if you are a signed up member of this or any other forum,then they know who you are.
Or have the ability to find out.

The reasons that we are not high on their agenda,I think are many.
They may include such as:
The small amount of revenue we,as individual producers and consumers,deprive them of is petty,and hard to chase down.If they seize a shipping container of fake cigarettes or a couple of thousand litres of fake vodka,then the market will take the real product to fill the void,along with a LOT of revenue.
And possibly some life saving along the way.IMHO these guys are acting more as another police force than revenue collectors.
We are fairly numerous,maybe there is indeed a little "turning a blind eye" to home production.At least we try to keep each other safe and alive,and long term payers of other revenues.

Dream up more of your own,I may be living in La La Land!

I believe that there is much merit in keeping a low profile in your home environs,online you are a target.
It will be the nosy neighbour that will probably cause you trouble,calling the boys in blue to an operating airstill,or such,and from there,it will all go tragically wrong.

Having said all that,I expect someone from a distilling forum to face prosecution
in the UK sometime soon.An example will be made. I do hope that on this point that I am proved wrong.

I expect it to be me .

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Wed Oct 14, 2015 11:40 pm