I read it over and I can't see anything to change. Nice Job, I forwarded yours and JB's link to a state representative here in CA. and also 2 federal Congressman (Thompson and Huffman) our local rep's here.

Hi Alli. You can add Congressman Stephen Lynch, US Senator Ed Markey, US Senator Elizabeth Warren and State Senator Thomas Kennedy, all from Massachusetts, to those sent the proposals. Tom Kennedy is from Brockton MA. They were sent to their respective Boston and Brockton offices. I added the link to the powerpoint to the cover letter also.

Can someone tell me how to post (on this forum) a link to my excel spreadsheet of congressmen/women that have been contacted so for? Bare with me, my first computer was a slide rule- tried to sell it but it is only worth $10 bucks.

I think this is great working document. I'm going to comment on Health and Safety Issues: Poisoning on page 11.



You are correct with the practice of "adulteration" of distilled spirits to make more out of a little...i.e., they added ingredients to expand the quantity. This adulteration was done, as you pointed out, with ingredients that could cause illness or death (and, in some cases, blindness). There is a book, entitled "Bad Whisky" by Edward Burns, published in 1995 and written from old newspaper reports in Scotland about the adulteration of Scottish whisky.

However, I don't think this would be the issue because the home distiller would be striving for quality (especially, since he is his own market) and the last thing he wants to do is make himself sick. I think the real potential for poisoning is the different types of alcohol that fermentation produces.

The oldest method of producing whiskey is simply to ferment and distill grain. However, this process produces poisonous impurities, called fusel alcohols (also called fusel oils), along with the ethyl alcohol. Fusel alcohols are a mixture of several alcohols (chiefly amyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol) produced as a by-product of alcoholic fermentation. The word "fusel" is German for "bad liquor". In the alcohol industry, fusel alcohols are known as congeners. Congeners are responsible for most of the taste and aroma of distilled alcoholic beverages.

During distillation, fusel alcohols are concentrated in the feints or "tails" at the end of the distillation run. The fusel alcohols have an oily consistency, which is noticeable to the distiller, hence the other name "fusel oil". When using a pot still, the distiller will make the "cuts" with the final distillation and separate the "heads" and "tails" (i.e., the "bad&#8221 from the "hearts" (i.e., the "good&#8221. These heavier alcohols can be almost completely separated in a reflux still without making "cuts". So, the key is for the home distiller to understand the different types of alcohol he is producing and knowing how to separate the good from the bad.

My understanding is that the moonshiners, using a pot still, made a single distillation spirit and, for the most part, didn't make the "cuts" and, therefore, the bad stuff was in the Mason jar - and some people got sick (and some went blind).

I'm not sure if this tracks with the intent of your section on poisoning in your working paper but those are my thoughts.

Hi everyone. I talked to the newsroom of my local news paper. The girl I talked to said i should send an e-mail to them about the story. I told her I did not want my name and contact info public. She asked if home distilling was going was going on locally and I told her it was. When I mentioned that local politicians had been sent the packet of proposed changes she asked me their names and I told her the name of the local state senator to whom I sent the info. I expect she will contact him. He does have my contact info. Maybe he will get in touch with me then. Or I may need bail $$$. And a new wife. LOL

"

SlippySlope,
Everyone involved in this project on this forum is well aware of the many federal laws and regulations that control the distillation of alcohol in the US. If you read our proposed legislation front to back you will see that that the only part of the law we seek to change is that which gives a limited exemption to the home producers of beer and wine. All we are asking for is to be put on the same playing field. Nothing more. All those other laws you mention do not pertain to hobby distillers and we do not seek to change them.. Alli"

"Randy,

That's the latest. I haven't made any additional updates.

--JB"

John,
Thank you again for all your hard work!

"
I would assume that the process would be the same as home brewing & winemaking. Some states may resist as Alabama did with home brewing. But even Alabama capitulated, finally legalizing home brewing this past spring.

The federal statutes represent only the first hurdles, as you point out. However, in light of the recent TTB activities (both administrative and enforcement), successfully changing the federal statutes represent a very significant relief for hobby distillers. I don't recall reading any arrest reports by state/local authorities that did NOT include other activities (such as sale of illicit alcohol, or narcotics, or grow operations, etc.). Fortunately, at least for the time being, the state/local authorities don't appear to be very interested in the guy who is quietly making a liter or two of vodka for himself.

In any case, it's good to have someone with your experience offering insight from real experience. Please do continue to participate ... it will be greatly appreciated.

Regars,
--JB"

I didn't know about Missouri...is a copy of that law available? Is it a good basis to use as a template?

I will get involved.

Thanks.