Distillation

Distillation is fascinating science. But in Australia, distilling alcohol at home is against the law, so this page sticks to what's legal and how it works.

The short version (Australia) Using a still of any size to distil alcohol needs an excise manufacturer licence, and the ATO does not issue licences for personal use. Penalties can include up to five times the duty that would have been payable, or criminal prosecution.

What the ATO allows

Stills of 5 litres or less: you may own one without permission, as long as you don't use it to distil alcohol.
Stills over 5 litres: you need ATO permission to make, buy, sell, import or possess one, whatever it is for. Permission for a still is not a licence to distil alcohol.
Distilling alcohol: needs an excise manufacturer licence, which is only available for commercial purposes.

Source: ATO: Unlicensed manufacture of excisable alcohol.

Other countries

New Zealand allows distilling spirits for personal use. It can't be sold.
United States: making spirits at home without a federal permit is illegal, even for personal use. See the TTB.
Elsewhere: laws vary widely. Check yours before you buy anything.

How distillation works

Different liquids boil at different temperatures. When you heat a mixture, the parts with the lower boiling points turn to vapour first. Cooling that vapour in a condenser turns it back into a liquid that is richer in those parts. That's the whole trick, and it's used every day to make perfume, essential oils, fuel and pure water.

It's also why distilling alcohol is dangerous for amateurs. It concentrates everything, including the unwanted compounds a fermented drink contains in harmless trace amounts.

Legal projects you can do (small still, no alcohol)

Essential oils and hydrosols: steam-distil lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus leaves or citrus peel.
Distilled water for batteries, irons or aquariums.
Flower waters such as rose water and orange blossom water, for cooking.

Want stronger flavours legally?

Try a high-gravity mead or barley wine. These are fermented, not distilled, and can reach 12–14% ABV. Or infuse fruit, herbs or spices into a spirit you've bought. Infusing is legal, and great fun.