Still Spirits makes it easy—so what’s stopping you from distilling your own signature drop?

June 17, 2025

Why making your own spirits is simpler than you think—and may just change your weekends forever

The rise of practical DIY distilling (and why it feels so bloody good)

Still Spirits changed the game with beginner-friendly gear. But here's the real shocker: making your own spirits isn’t just about saving a trip to the bottle-o or impressing your mates.

It’s a creative outlet, a skill-builder, and—oddly enough—a stress reliever that fits perfectly into your weekend rhythm. We’ve seen folks go from curious dabblers to proud spirit artisans in just a few batches. Clear vodka to spiced rum? Too easy. And with a solid starter kit, it’s all plug-and-play in your own shed.

What actually happens when you make your first batch?

There’s a moment, mid-distillation, when that first trickle comes through the still. The shed smells like warm molasses and citrus peel, the copper coil is just warm enough to hug your hand—and you realise: you made this. It’s as close to alchemy as a bloke can get without growing a beard down to his belly button.

“Making your own spirits gives you full control over flavour, strength, and pride. It’s not just a drink—it’s your handiwork in a glass.” — Candeece, Homebrew Specialist

Not just about the booze: 4 surprising benefits of spirit-making

Sheds off stress. There’s something calming about the steps. Heat, cool, pour, bottle—it forces focus, like mowing the lawn but tastier.
Gives you a creative edge. You’re not just following a recipe—you’re tweaking, testing, creating your own signature flavour.
Kicks you into learning mode. You start actually understanding what proof means, why some spirits burn and some glide, and how to fix it.
It’s shareable, mate. Hand a bottle of your own lemon gin to a mate and watch that look on their face. Pride level: unlocked.

Spirit-making isn’t just for bush poets and backyard chemists

There’s this old myth—probably thanks to dodgy TV dramas—that making spirits is a risky caper full of exploding sheds and questionable science. Truth is, modern gear like table-top stills are safe, simple, and fully above-board when used right. There are clear guides and ingredients you can trust, and if you’re brewing spirits for your own enjoyment with proper gear, it’s no more complex than making a good batch of beer.

You just need the right starting point—and someone who’ll explain things without twenty layers of jargon.

How it usually goes down (a short story in 3 acts)

Day one: You bring home your still, maybe a gin or bourbon essence kit. You fumble through the instructions, second-guessing everything.
Week two: You run your second batch. The smell is bang on. The flavour? Miles better. You've already scribbled notes for tweaks.
End of month: Your mates stop bringing their own bottle to BBQs; they know what’s waiting in your bar fridge.

There’s no ‘perfect moment’ to start. Only your next Saturday.

Waiting to get around to spirit-making is like waiting for a tailwind to mow the yard—it’s never quite 'the time.’ But once you start, it becomes part of your ritual. Not crazy work. Just something you look forward to.

You swap one trip to the shops for an afternoon in the shed. You slowly learn what makes a smooth drop. And you get to hold every finished bottle thinking, “Yeah, made this myself.”