The Best Moonshine Kits 2023 – Complete Buyer’s Guide

5 Things You Should Know When Buying A Moonshine Still Kit

1. Clean your unit before the first batch

You will need to thoroughly clean the equipment before and after using it, especially the tubing. 

• Before using you need to take all of the rubber pieces and put them in a pot of hot water. Put some spices in there, heat up the pot and let the rubber soak for about an hour or two. This will get rid of the rubber taste. 
• To get rid of the copper pieces you need to run about 3 cups of white vinegar through your still. After doing that run about 5 cups of water through your still. This will flush it all out. 

REMEMBER: Try drinking some of the water and if it tastes good you are ready to start making moonshine.

2. Don’t fill your pot too high -always less capacity than it says-.

Filling up your still a bit less than the manufacturer’s specifications is always recommendable. This way, we will be safer and our unit won’t get carryover from boiling. 

RECOMMENDATION: Pour 20% less than the unit’s official capacity.

3. You will ALWAYS need extra material

Although the manufacturer says that kits come with all the necessary equipment, there are always fixes that you can do. From simple, basic tools to extra tubing, fittings, or water pumps.

Read Also: Step by step moonshine recipe

4. Do not use the same unit for oils and liquor

This point is VERY IMPORTANT. Residual oils after making essential oils could cause an explosion with alcohol mixed in. 

5. Gradually warm up the still

It’s pretty common to hear stories of people who had problems with the seals -especially with beginners kits-. 

Very often, the issue is that the still just had way too much heat on the still, which could cause the pot to pressure up. We recommend gradually warming up the still and keep it on medium heat when it starts boiling.

Is Making Moonshine legal?

No, it is not. Unless you have a “distilled spirits permit” or a “federal fuel alcohol permit”, distilling your own alcohol is illegal -regardless if it’s for personal use or not- in the USA, as well as in many countries. 
That said, federal law allows you to own a still of any size, as long as it is for decoration, distilling water or essential oils, for example. The exception is North Carolina, where you are required to have a fuel permit.

Our recommendation is to check your state laws and make sure that owning a kit or operating it is according to the law.

List of 7 Best Moonshine Still Kits

After days of research, we could come up with a list of 7 kits that we think can do the job pretty decently. 

NOTE: We made sure all units on this list are made of food-grade materials.

1. Great For Beginners On A Budget

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

Main features:

• Stainless steel bucket + condensor with copper worm pipe + airlock +2 silicone pipe
• Build-in thermometer
• Multipurpose usage
• Big bucket diameter: 10.8 inch/27.5cm; Height: 10.2 inch/26cm
• Cooler diameter: 7.1 inch/18cm; Height: 4.3inch/11cm

Overall, this is a nice beginner item, you get exactly what you are paying for. 

The main selling point of this kit is that setting it up is easy, and it can be used on any type of surface. You will only need a bit of common sense and basics skills and you are ready to go. The kit comes with a complete set of equipment, which is appreciated. 

Keep in mind that for this price you will face minor problems. For example, the fittings are cheaply made, and you might need to do some fixes to avoid leaking. Also, the thermometer gets condensation inside, which can be really annoying in terms of visibility. More personally, I am not thrilled with the placement of the worm on top of the pot, as it might carry overheating issues.

I’d consider this option if you are new to homebrewing, want to start with small batches and don’t want to invest much money on it.

PROS	CONS
Price	Long coil may difficult draining of condenser
Simplicity	Weak fittings
Complete equipment	Condensation inside the thermometer difficults visibility
Design	Worm placement produces overheat

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also available: 

• 2 Gallon
• 5 Gallon

2. Solid Choice For First-Timers

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 3,5/5

Main features:

• Easy to install
• Stainless steel unit + copper tubing + airlock 
• Build-in thermometer
• Multipurpose usage
• Big bucket diameter: 9.8 inch/24.9 cm; Height: 9,8 inch/24,9 cm
• Cooler diameter: 7.1 inch/18 cm; Height: 4.3 inch/11 cm
• Buckle embedded
• Water inlet & outlet
• Stainless steam plate & gauze bag to prevent burn out

Another good low cost option for people looking to get into distilling. 

This kit also comes almost fully assembled, which makes it very convenient if you want to get batching in no time. To make it easier, the manufacturer will provide videos so you won’t have major problems on the assembling side. 

Overall, it’s well worth the money for a kit on the lower end of the budget. Personally, for a bit less, I’d go for the first kit, as you get pretty much the same but at lesser price. 

However, some people report leaks on the fittings if the unit is heated too quickly. As expected, some fixes must be made to make it run good enough. For example, you will need an extra water pump to better the cooling process. It is not an expensive fix, but it would have been nice to have it. 

Lastly, you might need to get a new thermometer, as the accuracy is a bit off, and it can end up ruining your batches.

PROS	CONS
Price	Reported leaks if heated too much
Efficient customer service	Extra water pump needed for better cooling
Easy to assemble	Thermometer accuracy

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also available:

• 2 Gallon
• 5 Gallon
• 8 Gallon

3. Great Value For Your Money

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4,5/5

Main features: 

• Stainless steel + red copper tubing 
• Boiler barrel dimensions: 13. 8″ X 15. 7″ (35 x 40 cm)
• Condenser keg dimensions: 7. 9″ X 5″ (20 x 13 cm)
• All heat sources
• Thermometer
• One-way air evacuation valve
• Multipurpose usage

In our opinion, within the low cost options, this is arguably the best one. 

For an entry level brewer/distiller is a great option. This kit is also ready-made to start off with nearly all the equipment. And the capacity outweighs the other option highly.
One of the things I like the most about this kit is the compression fittings, which present an above average quality compared to the other units we’ve seen before.

The main issue with this kit is that doesn’t work on induction. Be aware of that before taking any action.

Although it can be fixed by adding some extra tubing, I am not a fan of the condenser sitting on top of the pot. Also, the airlock provided is poorly made, so you might be better off buying a new one. 

Remember this kit is larger than the others, so you make sure there is space enough in your kitchen/garage.

PROS	CONS
Solid construction	Low quality airlock
All-in one	Extra tubing needed
Compression fittings	No working with induction

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also available:

• 3 Gallon

4. Solid Option After Some Fixes

Price Range: $$

Homebrew Rating: 3,5/5

Main features: 

• Multifunction
• Stainless construction + copper tubing
• Boiler + thumper + 1 air valve + 2x silicone hoses
• Boiler diameter (inside): 36cm/14.2″; Height: 36cm/14.2″
• Cooling pot diameter(Inside): 20cm/7.8″;eight: 13cm/5.1″

This 8 Gallon kit is a great option if you don’t mind fixing a bit. 

For example, you might need to install extra clamps to ensure better sealing, as leaks have been reported due to malfunctioning of the seals. Before you think you are ready, we highly recommend to tighten manually all the gaskets. 

Lastly, the unit doesn’t work very efficiently with induction, so it might better to just use gas or electric stoves. 

Overall, the kit is quite complete and very easy to assemble. However, for that price, we think there are better options on this list.

PROS	CONS
Easy to assemble	Might experience issues with induction
Bubbler airlock	Extra clamps may be needed for better sealing
Solid latches both on still and keg	Manual tightening of gaskets may be needed

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Also available:

• 5 Gallon

5. Our Favorite Moonshine Kit

Price Range: $$

Homebrew Rating: 4,5/5

Main features: 

• 100% copper
• Machine cut parts, sized & pre-drilled
• Rivets + pipe + fittings
• Step-by-step online assembly videos
• Old school design
• Hybrid: part pot, part reflux

So, here it comes the winner of our list.  

This kit is an excellent choice if you want a do it yourself unit. It comes with all the parts necessary for building an awesome copper moonshine still. Overall, it comes at a fair price for the quality delivered, and will make it possible to develop your homebrewing skills a bit further.

The process of building it is so much fun, and the sense of achievement when you are finished is just great. On top of that, the old school design is something we love, you can even use it as decoration if you are tired of distilling. 

As we said before on this post, the final decision will ultimately be based on your personal preferences. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this unit to people who are not good with tools, or simply don’t want to spend time on assembling.

But if you love making things from scratch as we do and you don’t want to spend too much, I’d highly recommend it.

PROS	CONS
Fun to assemble	Lead free solder, flux torch and hammer needed to assemble
Old school design	Extra water pump may be needed
High quality material	Might be challenging if you are not good with tools
Durability

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

6. Top Design Pick

Price Range: $$$

Homebrew Rating: 4,5/5

Main features: 

• Copper
• Handmade
• Unique design
• Copper pot + onion head + condenser
• Built-in thermometer
• Multipurpose use
• Height x Length x Width: 29,5 inch /75 cm x  12,5inch/32cm x 25,5inch/ 65 cm

This kit’s main feature is with no doubt its design. The unique design can go both ways: either you love it or you don’t like it at all. 

In our opinion, is one of the most beautiful of the list. Not only its shape, but also the finishing is very detailed.

Although more expensive than most of the others, this handmade kit will give you great value for each penny spent. Remember that sometimes spending a bit more today can save you some money tomorrow.

As a negative aspect, we found no instructions at all if you intend to make essential oils, and some of extra equipment is needed (water input for the worm). Also, the coil in the condenser might be a bit short, but that’s only a personal observation, as it makes the job anyway.

Overall, a great kit that we would recommend with no doubt.

PROS	CONS
Works perfectly with any heat source	Lack of water input port at the worm
Unique design	No instructions for essential oils
Complete equipment	Coil in the condenser might be a bit short
Handmade

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

7. Premium DIY Pick

Price Range: $$$

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

Main features:

• Still + 1 gallon thumper + 1,5 gallon worm
• 11.5″ diameter X 30″ tall
• 1/2″ OD tubing from still to thumper
• 3/8″ OD tubing from thumper to worm
• 1/2″ threaded thermometer port
• Built in water ports on worm

This kit is the premium one in terms of price.

The construction of this unit is excellent, as each component feels solid and well built. If you want to go a bit more serious about distilling and you have no problem spending a bit more, this might be a great choice for you. 

It shares minor issues that come inherently with DIY kits: extra equipment will be needed to fully assemble the unit. Some might see that as an excuse to enjoy some time together working on a project and others will see it as an inconvenience. 

Again, it’s all a matter of expectations.

Other than that, we think this kit delivers what promised and will keep you entertained for a long time. 

PROS	CONS
Complete equipment	Additional assembly kit required
Excellent construction	Extra tubing needed to connect the pots
Works well with fire and electric heat sources

No products found.

BONUS: Best Home Electric Stills

1. Great Portable Still for Beginners

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Still Spirits Turbo Air Still is one of the most affordable machines on the market which makes it a fine beginner kit for those just starting out distilling. 

The Air Still has an inventive design and doesn’t use hoses. It’s a plug-and-go machine that has a built-in Air Cooling System which makes the machine not need water for cooling. 

The Air Still is a quick working machine and it is small and compact and blends right in with your other kitchen appliances. The machine offers a 100% money-back guarantee. 

Because the Air Still is a sleek and compact unit that doesn’t feature a complicated set-up, it lends to being great for beginners, but more experienced distillers might find it lacking.

Pros

• Electric still so it has a much easier set-up.
• The hassle-free design and up-keep for the machine make it great for starters.
• One of the cheapest distillers on the market.

Cons

• This machine is electric-only so it might not be the best product for more old-fashioned distillers.
• The Air Still is small so it does not hold a lot of liquor.
• The description doesn’t mention what all can be distilled.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Ideal for Small Spaces

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Slsy Electric Distiller is a sleek and pleasing-looking machine that fits right in with your other appliances and doesn’t look out of place in your kitchen if you want to keep it there. 

The distiller has a digital thermometer on the front base making it easy to tell the temperature while distilling. This countertop model air distiller can be used to distill whisky, rum, grappa, water, fruit schnapps, and essential oils. 

The Slysy Distiller has a one-year factory guaranteed warranty and a 30 day return 100% money-back guarantee. 

A small and discrete machine that features virtually no set-up, is low maintenance and is easy to clean. A great starting piece for beginners looking to get into distilling.

Pros

• It is easy to use and set-up making it great for beginners.
• This distiller has a digital thermometer making monitoring your distillations simple.
• As an electric model, it has fewer components needed to operate it.

Cons

• This electric distiller is small, so it only holds up to 4 liters of liquor.
• This distiller is electric only, so it might be a put off for traditional distillers.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

EXTRA: Best Complete Moonshine Still Kits

1. Complete Moonshine Kit on a Budget

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Yuewo Moonshine Still comes in four different capacities ranging from 3 gallons up to 13 gallons.

The machine is portable and easy to handle making set-up a breeze. All of the parts of made of food-grade materials and the still is stainless steel. The Yuewo can distill Whisky, Brandy, Vodka, Fruit Brandy, essential oils such as perfumes, peppermint oil, and Tea Tree oil, as well as other liquors.

The Yuewo has a 100% money-back guarantee and offers free parts exchange within the first year. This still has a circulating water pump and can be used on many different heating sources.

Overall, this machine is a great starting point for entry-level distillers and is an affordable model.

Pros

• This machine has a short brew time of 1-5 hours, depending on what is being brewed.
• The Yuewo is compact making it a great starting point for beginners.
• The distiller has a heavy gauge impact-bonded aluminum bottom that is energy efficient

Cons

• The Yuewo is meant for beginners, so experienced distillers will find it lacking.
• The thermometer is attached and not built-in.
• The machine will only produce alcohol of 50% content by volume.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

2. Good Moonshine Stilling Starter Kit

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Slysy Stiller is a smaller and more compact machine that is made of stainless steel and is easy to set up. 

The machine is priced lower than most distillers which makes it a good starter kit for beginners. 

The built-in thermometer reads in Celsius and Fahrenheit making it easy to check the temperature while distilling. The Slsy can be used to still alcohol as well as for hydro distillation and steam distillation. The machine is portable and features a simple yet convenient design. 

The product has a 30-day return policy as well as a one-year warranty making it a good starting machine for beginners. If distilling turns out not to be your craft, you can get your money back. 

Overall, this machine offers enough to work as a starter kit, but may lack a bit for more experienced users.

Pros

• A small and compact machine that will fit pretty much wherever you need it to.
• This machine can distill alcohol, fruit wine, brandy, whisky, and even essential oils as well as purify water.
• At the lower end of the budget, this distiller is affordable.

Cons

• A smaller machine so it can’t hold as much liquor as others.
• Fewer features for more experienced distillers.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

3. Well Rounded Complete Kit for Beginners

Price Range: $

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Naizea is stainless steel, has a thickened fermenter, and is a compact machine. 

Because of the design of the Naizea, the distillate rises faster and delivers a higher purity due to the independent airway. This machine can distill water, whisky, wine, alcohol, fruit wine, ethanol, and even hydrosol. This distiller can also be used to refine plant extracts for medicinal purposes. 

The Naizea can be used for alcohol distillation, seawater distillation, and steam distillation. This distiller is made from safe and non-toxic materials and has an extra thickened fermenter to allow the use of different kinds of heating sources. 

The thermometer reads in Celsius and Fahrenheit allowing the user to easily read the temperature during distilling. 

The Naizea boasts an easy set up making this machine a great starting point for those who want to try their hand at distilling.

Pros

• Double kegs for better distilling.
• An affordable distiller.
• Small and compact so it will fit anywhere.

Cons

• This distiller is more for beginners than experts.
• The Naizea is smaller than most other distillers so it holds less liquor.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

4. Large Capacity Complete Kit

Price Range: $$

Homebrew Rating: 4/5

The Vevor Distiller is a stainless steel machine that features an advanced thermometer that monitors the temperature inside the pot in real-time. 

The exhaust check valve is multi-function and allows two-thirds of the water to add to it. The distiller can hold 70 liters of liquor and will output 5kg of fine alcohol at 50% content by volume or 7.5kg at 30%. 

While the distiller is deep and has a good capacity, the overall machine is not too large and shouldn’t be much of an issue to store. 

It’s stainless steel so it will look good sitting in your brew area. The Vevor can ferment beer, wine, brandy, whisky, and even seasoners like vinegar or soy sauce. 

The Distiller is a pretty great product for experienced distillers and could be a good addition to your equipment.

Pros

• Multi-purpose machine: can also be used as a fermentation tank. 
• Can use both fire and electric heating.
• Stainless Steel.
• A quite large capacity distiller that can hold up to 70 liters.

Cons

• Does not come with instructions, so you will need to outsource those on your own.
• The design of the still allows vapors to reach above processing point.

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5. Pros Only

Price Range: $$$

Homebrew Rating: 4,25/5

The Yuewo “Spirit Dance” distiller is a high-grade product that has a unique design and innovative features.

Nearly every part is easy to wash and clean making upkeep a relatively simple task. The distiller is thick and durable. 

The “Spirit Dance” aspect is a unique crystal tower structure that lends to your distilling by locking back high boiling substances, accelerate the emission of low-boiling substances, and raising low-concentration liquor vapor molecules to high-concentration in the column. 

Depending on what you set out to do, the Spirit Dance can be used to make different kinds of liquors like whisky, fruit wine, brandy, rice wine, vodka, gin, rum, medicinal health wine, and others. 

Overall, the product is a good addition for distillers who know what they’re doing.

Pros

• The thick bottom allows different kinds of heating methods including gas stove, ceramic stoves, electric coil stoves, and more.
• The thermometer reads Celsius & Fahrenheit making it easy to read the temperature for any user.
• The distiller is stainless steel and made completely of food-grade products.

Cons

• Looks larger than it is in the product picture. Beware if you’re looking for a big machine, this is not.
• Only reads to 180 proof on a hydrometer.
• Price

Last update on 2024-12-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Conclusion

After our research we came up with different conclusions:

• First, it is important that you decide how much you are willing to spend. At this point you should think if you want your first kit to be only for playing a bit with the craft, or if you want a unit that will allows to develop your homebrew skills further. 

NOTE: If you want a long lasting kit, then consider spending a bit more for higher quality materials.

• Depending on your budget, it is important to choose a kit that suits your abilities. If you are not good with tools and don’t want to spend much time on assembling, go for simpler options.
• Consider the extra material that will be needed. This aspect can impact significantly your budget, and your frustration levels.

Overall, we have decided our winner according to our needs. In this case, we wanted a kit not only meant for beginners, but also a bit more advanced distilling. Our budget was intended to be on the mid-range, but still considering good quality materials as a factor.

Finally, we wanted a stylish unit, and most importantly, a unit that will need fair amount of assembling, simply because we love it!

As you can see, at the end the final decision will always depend on your expectations. 

Make sure to know what you expect from your kit, and hopefully this list will give you some guidance.

We hope we could save you some time & trouble! Good luck!

Read Also: Best Cigar Humidors