Making a Grain Based Wash

Historically, grain has been the basis for manufacturing alcohol. The reason was that sugar was mainly produced from sugar canes, and also on a relatively small scale making it too expensive to use for alcohol production. The manufacturing of beet root sugar started in the 1900's on the large scale as we know it today.  

Producing alcohol from grain is a more complex process and requires several intermediary steps. These steps needed as grain itself is a non-fermentable material. Certain elements of the cereal will have to be transformed into a fermentable solution and some elements will remain "as is". These elements are considered as by products and are fed to animals.


Although producing alcohol from grain is more complicated that from sugar, there is a significant benefit to the usage of grain as a base component. Grain based alcohol has a higher content of esters, which are responsible for the pronounced smell and flavor of grain based drinks such as Whiskey / Whisky / Bourbon / Gin / Jenever / etc. and - not to forget - it is much more fun to start with great smelling grain and slowly transform it into a nice drink. I have been working with grain for many years now and it is just great!

It all sounds very complicated and high tech. What are the options for the home distiller?