Top 10 Whiskey Making Kits

Whiskey Making Kits Reviewed Here

What is a Whiskey Making Kit?

Before we go deeper into whiskey making kits lets first see what whiskey actually is and how it's different from ordinary moonshine.

Technically, any type of whiskey is a grain-based spirit obtained through distillation and aged in wood barrels. That's just fancy words for moonshine that has been set aside in an oak barrel and simply forgotten about for a couple of years.

Jokes aside, whiskey is actually high-quality moonshine obtained from an exclusively grain (or corn in case of bourbon) based mash. This distinction alone results in a very mild and rich flavor, especially when a pot still is being used. However, the trademark amber color and spectacular flavor profile we usually associate with whiskeys and bourbons are obtained during the barrel-aging process that normally takes at least a couple of years. After that the end-product can also be blended with other whiskeys to obtain the desired set of flavors, but that's talking' high-end production distillery stuff there.

Here's a good quick overview of the different whiskeys and what they're all comprised of as a refresher

So, in order to make whiskey you first need to make good moonshine and then put it in an oak barrel. And that's exactly what a whiskey making kit is? a small oak barrel that you can age your moonshine in.

Now, depending on whether you? Ve used barley malt, corn, rye malt or a mix of thereof in the mash, you will obtain what's technically called Scotch Single Malt, Bourbon, Rye, or Blended Whiskey respectively. But the production process is the same no matter what type of whiskey you're going after.

Just make sure that your still runs smoothly and the spirit coming out of it is tasting good on its own. Then comes the part when you have to get one of those whiskey making kits and stock up on patience.

What Are the Types of Whiskey Kits?

There's lots of whiskey kits available to small personal use perfect for the home distiller but the number of options can be a bit overwhelming. When you break it down though, there are three major considerations to make: size, wood type, and intended whiskey product. 

Also, whiskey still kits come in three major variations:

Barrel Only

These are the simplest and most affordable kits you will find online. As the name implies, they only consist of a small barrel, usually equipped with a dedicated stand, top bung and spigot.

Depending on the whiskey type the kit is designed for, the barrel can be made either of charred or uncharred wood, or in some cases even come from barrels that have already been used for aging whiskey.

Naturally, you'll need to make the right kind of mash for the whiskey or bourbon in question and run it through your own still. A great excuse to make another run!

Barrel and Essence

A step above (or below as some may argue) are the barrel and essence whiskey making kits, which consist, you'll be shocked, from a small wood barrel and a set of essence flavorings designed to get just the right color and flavor regardless of the spirit you're pouring into the barrel.

While this kind of kit may look like cutting corners and not true moonshiner stuff? it may actually appeal to those who have a hard time sourcing the right raw materials for the mash or using column stills that deliver high-proof flavorless spirits.

Barrel, Essence and Spirit (for those unfortunately without a still)

How to Choose a Whiskey Making Kit

Ready to try your hand at your own whiskey, eh? Well, as you can see the market offers a wide range of options for you to consider. But when choosing the best whiskey making kit there are several variables you have to take into account.

Type of Whiskey

This one is obvious. If you want to make a bourbon you have to go with a bourbon making kit. For single malt whiskey get the respective product. Did you miss the video up above that explains all the differences? Check it out!

Now, ideally, you'd want to have a mash consisting of the type of grain or corn required by the respective drink. However, if you have problems sourcing the right raw materials, there are kits that come with flavoring essences that will give your moonshine just the right flavor and color during the aging process.

Type of Still

The type of still you're using can also affect the kind of kit you'd be likely to use. Pot still owners usually get richer base grain flavor going into the mash, so the barrel only kit type is certainly the best option for them.

If you're running a column still, the downside to getting those high proofs is the fact that your moonshine is much less flavorful than that obtained in a pot still. In this case you might want to look into the kits that come with flavoring essences. 

And if you don't have a moonshine still? we have no idea why you're reading this article in the first place. Read our reviews of the best options and go get one! Feeling adventurous? Build your own!

Barrel Size

It's best to plan this accordingly to the production volume of your still. Or should at least be comparable or even divisible by that. Say you have a still that produces 4 gallons of moonshine; you can either go with a single 4 gallon barrel, two 2 gallon barrels, or four 1-gallon barrels.

The important thing here is that you top off the barrel with moonshine, leaving as little empty space as possible. The size of the barrel will also affect the maturation time.

Maturation Time

This factor has a significant impact on the color and flavor of the whiskey. The longer you keep the spirit in the barrel the more time it has to strip the color and flavor from the wood inside the barrel. But there's also a strong correlation between maturation time and barrel size. Small barrels have more contact with the spirit because the relation of interior surface area and total liquid volume is greater than in case of a large volume barrel.

This effectively means that it takes less time to get the same color and flavor with a smaller barrel than with a bigger one. For example, it may only take 3-6 months with a 2-gallon barrel to get the same oak barrel flavor in a whiskey that was matured for 3 years in a real barrel.

Of course, there are other factors such as build quality, type of wood used in the barrel, custom engraving options, and absence of leaks (duh). But these all tend to differ a lot from producer to producer, so it's more reasonable to take various kits and review them one at a time. Which we'll be doing in the next section!

Custom Coin Bottle Opener For Whiskey

When you're planning to gift a friend or sell whiskey you've made, it might be a good idea to gift a custom bottle opener. Challenge Coin Bottle Openers are a great way to commemorate an event, showcase your own logo, or your business achievements and culture. Custom coin designs and well-placed cutouts make them look super stylish. Don't store your coins in a display case. GS-JJ.com can provide you with various designs that can effectively convey your message. Perfect as a gift for whiskey lovers, or as a whiskey promotional giveaway to help you impress at your next event, Order Now.

Reviews of the Best Whiskey Making Kits

The moment you all have been waiting for!

We've picked some of the most popular whiskey kits and took them through scrupulous testing. Obviously, it would take us just too long to test out the final product made with any of these. Even so, judging by the build quality, material used, and kit composition it was possible to determine the best options on the market. So here we go!

Our Favorites

These different whiskey making kits can help take your moonshine to the next level. What's really great is that there are kits catering to both pot still and column still runners, allowing them to get as close to the authentic whiskey or bourbon look and flavor as possible using their respective spirits.

We narrowed down the list here to a favorite few:

As for the barrel and essence combos, the clear winner is Custom Engraved American White Oak Whiskey Flavoring Gift Set. Not only is the vast selection of flavor essences to choose from a great feature, but it also comes with the best cleaning and maintenance kit out of all we've reviewed, and the barrel itself is really nice.

American White Oak Whiskey Flavoring Gift Set

So, there you have it, the best whiskey making kits we could lay our hands on reviewed and ready to roll. Hopefully, we've made it easier for you to pick the right kit for your setup and inspire you to make your own whiskey or bourbon.

It's definitely a fun experience that can scratch your creative distilling itch in a very rewarding way. So, fire up the still and get that tasty whiskey running!