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I sat down and answered some questions about myself, and How To Distill with InsideHook! Check out some insights into the book's contents, as well as some information on my journey to publishing the book.

Tequila, a type of mezcal spirit, traditionally made in Mexico, is made from the blue agave plant (agave azul). The piña, or core of the agave plant is typically steamed in a horno, a large oven. The core of an agave plant can weigh up to 300lbs making it difficult to harvest, transport, and cook.  The cores are typically harvested at a smaller size, between 50-120lbs.  The traditional ovens are quite large to accommodate several piñas at once, and are often made of clay or stone. There are several types of agave that are grown in different regions of Mexico and used...

If you're looking to make true moonshine, the clear unaged whiskey of the Appalachians and beyond, you'll need a good, reliable still.  A moonshine still is often seen as a large copper monstrosity, roughly put together, sealed with rye flour paste, and directly heated over a wood fire, but that was more so a matter of necessity than convenience for old moonshiners.  The old timers didn't want anyone to assemble such a large still for them, leaving knowledge of their intent with someone else, and a possible paper trail to their operation. Building the still themselves would also save money. ...

On December 5th, 1933, after 13 years of Prohibition, the United States repealed the 18th Amendment and Americans were free to drink again. Some would say that Americans liked their liquor and beer a little too much coming into prohibition, and that's what caused the nationwide experiment to ban alcohol.  It did curb drinking on a whole, but created an entire new industry around spirits.

Traditionally made moonshine at home or by a home distiller is illegal.  Moonshine can be made legally by a commercial distiller.  Moonshine is simply an unaged corn whiskey that historically has been made illegally. The simple answer when it comes to whether you can distill spirits like moonshine at home is- no, it is likely not legal to make.  This isn't true in a few places around the world like New Zealand or Russia where it's legal to distill at home. But, in most Western countries, including the United States, it is completely illegal to distill spirits at home, for...