As a home distiller, there are at least 2 essential tools every home distiller must have. The first is a good hydromenter. This tool will ensure that you are producing a wash with the correct level of alchol. This especially import when you are making whiskey. When mashing your own grains, you need to know what the alcohol level of the wash is prior to distillation. If the wash is too low in alcohol, your yield will be very low. A 10-12% alchol content of the wash is ideal. It can be closer to 14%-20% when making a sugar wash.
The second tool you will need is a proof hydrometer. It is most common to produce a spirit of about 140 proof. Spirits should be barrel aged at about 120 proof. So, you will need to cut the spirit with water to get it in the range of around 120 proof. For this task, you will need a proof hydrometer. Most spirits are bottled at about 80-95 proof. So, once again, you will need a proof hydrometer to cut the spirit prior to bottling.
A test jar for floating the proof hydrometer or wine/beer hydrometer makes getting an accurate reading easy. Don't use a soft plastic hydrometer test jar as often it will melt in contact with spirits. Use either a hard plastic test jar or a glass test jar. These will not melt.
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