StillSmart

It was previously reported on one of the other forums, that one of the criteria for the UK license, was that you had to demonstrate a confirmed order book from future customers.

By the sound of it you have to invest a substantial amount of cash before they give you the license.

Is there someone you can speak to who has done it recently - normally people are happy to share.

Still thinking you could start with a rectifiers license?

Rectifiers is easier.

Article, Forbes, March 27 2015

Excise Notice 39

I've studied excise note 39 a lot, there's got to be a way to tackle it and win.
I'm going to be doing rum and vodka and other instant drinks ( well quicker than whisky)

Course it can be done, just not easily. Easiest for the rectifiers, as opposed to the distillers.

I have read a few articles from folks that did it, and invariably they said they needed both a business plan and a confirmed order book.

You absolutely must be able to prove a valid business case. You will never get a license for home use. Even the herbal medcine route is blocked unless you are already a certified herbal practitioner.

They don't waht to give you a license and you need to persuade them to give you one. It isn't as if you were entitled to one.

Thanks for the Forbes article Myles, it was an interesting little snippet. I hit the bit where it said they managed to get going with £300k & my heart about stopped! Even then they were under budgeted, by that I can only assume they would have rather seen close to half a million to be happy...I'm no business man there's no way I could think of to generate that kind of capital. Maybe go on to dragons den with a duffel bag & a shotgun?!

I really do wih you success, and I hate the way the system is set up. I honestly believe in the artisan system. Everyone should be allowed to be self sufficient if they wish. That includes making their way by selling the products of their own labour.

Craft skills are dear to my heart and undervalued in my opinion. That includes all aspects of growing, baking and brewing.

I honestly feel the men in suits just don't want you to do it. We may be forced into an old school barter ecomomy.

I want to raise goats and bees. Make my own cheese, honey and mead. If I want to brew beer and distill whisky I should be allowed to do so.

I will be happy to pay tax. I JUST WONT SELL ANYTHING. Barter works for me.

Sorry for the rant. Probably was born a few hundred years out of synch.

It's all pieced together now

I have just edited the title of the first posts on page one and two of this topic, Nee Boiler was was starting to make me see red.

Robert.

Thanks,
I'd realised auto correct had played a trick but couldn't do anything about it

So I've blown the fuse. Was trying to test out the system today, two 2.5kw elements running through a 13amp socket and the fuse has just blown. Any suggestions to why? I had worked it out so that it was just under 13amps needed to run the still but obviously it's not the case

Could be surge current if you tried to start at full power. On a controller if you start at low power and then wind it up you will probably be OK.

But 5kW at 240v is 20 amp if in series, or are they wired in parallel?

In regard to elements two plugs or a dedicated feed in regard to legality were getting there just not yet try searching micro distilling search the law says a certain amount of hectolitres but can't refuse micro they have recently granted many in regard to small gin setups