It's a dream of every moonshine enthusiast to produce a perfect batch of homemade whiskey. However, this process isn't just a matter of quality distillation. To gain the rich color and flavor of authentic whiskey, it will have to rest in a well-made barrel. Luckily, there are many whiskey making kits readily available for purchase.
If you want to transform your moonshine into flavorful homemade whiskey, all you need to do is pick one of the best whiskey kits on offer. Then, it's a matter of waiting several weeks or months to let the whiskey mature. Once this is done, you might not end up with a world-class, award-winning liquor, but you'll have made the first batch on your own.
There are recipes to help you achieve this goal, and you can find plenty of whiskey kits online. Some of them will contain nothing but the barrel, which is the one essential thing you'll need. Others might have a set of essences to add the perfect color and flavor, and there are even whiskey making kits that come with clear spirit too. The latter option is aimed at those who don't distill their own but would nevertheless like to home-age a liquor.
It's important to note that a smaller barrel will take less time to age the drink. For example, four one-gallon barrels will age sooner than one four-gallon barrel. This is something to take into consideration when deciding between the best whiskey kits.
In the next sections, we'll take a closer look at the five best whiskey making kits of our choice and see what makes each one distinct.
1. Thousand Oaks Barrel Co. Bootleg Kit
This is primarily a bourbon-making kit, and it comes with the barrel and essences. As well as that, you'll get two shot glasses, which is a charming touch. The wood is American white oak, and the barrel is very well-built. While this kit will help you make an authentic batch of bourbon, the provided essences don't have any versatility. However, since the kit is focused on bourbon only, that's exactly what it'll produce.
The volumes range from 0.8 gallons (3 liters) to five gallons (20 liters), so you'll have plenty to choose from. The kit's really straightforward to use - all you need to do is fill it with clear spirit, add the essence, and let it mature.
2. Personalized Irish Whiskey Outlaw Kit
This is a full set, containing everything you need for that perfect whiskey. You'll find an American oak barrel, Irish whiskey essences, a barrel cleaning kit, and the helpful maturation chart in the set. The Irish whiskey that you will produce from this kit will be as close to the real deal as homemade liquors can be. Additionally, even without the essences, you can mature any other type of whiskey in the excellent medium-toasted American oak barrel.
The maturation chart is a good learning tool for those who lack experience or knowledge in the matter and a great reminder for everyone. The barrel cleaning kit is a particularly nice touch, as it will help you experiment with different flavors without the lingering aroma of the previous batch. The barrel is well-made, sturdy, and custom laser engraved. The only drawback with this kit is the lack of larger options - the biggest barrel volume you can get is 1.3 gallons or 5 liters.
3. American White Oak Barrel Whiskey Kit
This set comes with a 2-liter medium-toast American oak barrel, bourbon whiskey essences, and a detailed instruction manual. The barrel is handmade, and you'll have the honor of customizing it with your name or whatever message you choose.
The barrel is wonderfully crafted and finished, with black steel bands holding it together. As with other kits, the wood offers great versatility when it comes to spirit aging, so if you'd like to try out something other than Scotch whiskey, nothing will stand in your way. Regarding the volume, the options are quite limited with this kit as the maximum barrel volume is 0.5 gallons or 2 liters.
4. Personalized American Oak Aging Barrel
This is a kit containing only the barrel, which is made of medium-toast oak. It comes with a bung on top, a spigot on the front, and a barrel stand. You'll also get a chart explaining the maturation time - quite a useful tool, especially for beginners, and the barrel can be custom laser engraved.
The wood in this barrel is excellent for various types of whiskey and is quality-built. It comes in three sizes: quarter, half, and full gallon volumes. This will undoubtedly make it easy to find the right combination for your needs.
5. Customized American White Oak Aging Barrel
This kit is even more minimalistic than the previous one. It's also a barrel-only kit but comes without any manuals or charts. This shows that the kit is clearly intended for experienced users who already know the basics. The barrel comes with custom laser engraving.
Medium-toast white oak is a versatile, quality material for different whiskey profiles, and the wood is expertly used to create a very well-made barrel. It comes in a wide range of volumes, from a quarter-gallon to five gallons, giving you even more choice for whiskey aging.
Raise a Toast with Whiskey of Your Own
The process of aging whiskey isn't very complicated on its own. The vital part of it is using a good spirit and the right malt. However, even if malts aren't your strong point, the essences provided with some of these kits will cover that part. The great thing with every one of the five best whiskey making kits we've covered here is that they'll give you the opportunity to make the world-famous drink all by yourself.
If you're still learning about distillation and maturation, that first batch might not turn out perfect. However, using one of the kits we've presented in this article will provide you with an excellent starting point. This time next year, you'll be making your own supply of unique whiskey to enjoy and earn some bragging rights in the process.
