Home Distilling in Australia: A Beginner's Guide (Including the Law)

Australian legal note: In Australia, using a still of any size to distil alcohol requires an excise manufacturer licence, and the ATO does not grant licences to distil spirits for personal consumption. This guide explains the rules and covers education, non-alcohol uses and licensed operations. It isn't legal advice, so check with the ATO for your own situation. Start with the ATO's page on stills.

Distilling is one of the oldest crafts there is. Long before it was a hobby, Italian families were running small copper alembics after the grape harvest, and traditional Italian copper alembics are still on our shelves today. It is no surprise people are curious about how it all works.

It is also one of the most misunderstood crafts in Australia, mainly because the rules here are stricter than in places like New Zealand. So before we talk gear, let's be clear about the law. Then we will walk through what you can do, how a still works, and how to pick sensible first equipment.

The law in plain English

According to the ATO's stills page, last updated in September 2024:

• Distilling alcohol needs a licence. To use a still of any capacity to distil alcohol, you need an excise manufacturer licence.
• Personal use licences are not granted. The ATO says it does not grant licences to distil spirits for personal consumption. There needs to be a commercial purpose.
• Stills of 5 litres or less. You can own one without the ATO's permission, but only if you are not using it to distil alcohol.
• Stills over 5 litres. You need the ATO's permission to possess one, and also to manufacture, move, set up, sell, buy or import one.
• Fermented drinks are different. Home-brewed beer, cider and wine made for non-commercial purposes with non-commercial equipment can be made without an excise licence.

Penalties apply for getting this wrong, so if you are in any doubt, contact the ATO before you start. This isn't legal advice, just our summary of what the ATO publishes.

What you can do

That still leaves plenty of room to enjoy the craft legally.

Distil water

Distilled water is handy for jobs like steam irons and car batteries (where the manufacturer recommends it), soap making and cosmetics. You can make it with a pot on the stove, or with a still of 5 litres or less. Our guide How to Make Distilled Water at Home walks you through it.

Make essential oils and hydrosols

Steam distilling lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus or citrus peel is a beautiful use for a small copper alembic. See Making Essential Oils and Hydrosols with a Still.

Ferment

Fermentation is where the real skill lies, and home brewing beer, cider and wine for non-commercial use needs no licence. Understanding yeast, sugar and gravity readings will make you better at every craft on this list. Our Sugar Washes Explained and Understanding Wash Gravity Readings guides are good starting points.

Make liqueurs and flavoured spirits from bought spirit

You can flavour commercially bought spirit at home. Essences and liqueur bases let you turn a bottle of plain vodka from the bottle shop into a coffee liqueur, a limoncello-style drink or a flavoured spirit. Browse our essences range, and read Still Spirits Bases Explained and Blending Spirits and Liqueurs.

Learn, then go commercial if that is your dream

Many craft distillers start by learning the theory long before they apply for a licence. If you are thinking about a commercial venture, the ATO's excise licensing is the first step, and other approvals such as council and liquor licensing may also apply.

How a still works

Every still has three parts: a boiler that heats the liquid, a path for the vapour to travel, and a condenser that cools the vapour back into liquid. Different liquids boil at different temperatures, so heating separates them, and cooling collects them.

The three main designs are:

• Pot stills, such as traditional copper alembics. Simple, and they carry a lot of character through.
• Reflux stills, which add a packed column for a cleaner, more neutral result.
• Air stills, compact benchtop units cooled by a fan rather than water.

We compare them side by side in Pot Still vs Reflux Still vs Air Still.

Choosing your first equipment

Think about what you actually want to do, then work backwards.

For water, essential oils and hydrosols

A still of 5 litres or less keeps you clear of the ATO's permission requirement, as long as you are not distilling alcohol. Options in that size range include our 0.5 litre glass micro still, the Italian Copper Still 1L, the 4.9L Alembico essential oil mini distillery and the 4 litre Still Spirits Air Still.

For licensed operations

Larger systems such as the Still Spirits Create+ T500 Distilling System (with its 25 litre boiler), the Pure Distilling Spirit Maker Kit (no boiler included) paired with a boiler such as the Pure Distilling 30L Heated Boiler Drum, and our 23 lt and 50 Lt Italian copper boilers are over 5 litres, so they need ATO permission to own. Browse the full Spirits & Distillation range.

The supporting cast

• Fermenters: see Fermenters for Stills.
• Measuring: a hydrometer for fermentation and an alcoholmeter for finished spirit. Our Alcometer vs Hydrometer guide explains the difference, and the hydrometers range has both.
• Calculators: our free Spirits Calculators do the maths on gravity, dilution and standard drinks.
• Record keeping: a notebook makes you better every time. See Record Keeping for Distilling Runs.

Safety basics

• Never leave a running still unattended.
• Work in a well-ventilated space and keep a fire extinguisher handy.
• Use equipment designed for the job and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Check seals and connections before every run.
• Keep children and pets well away from hot equipment.
• Clean your gear thoroughly after use.

Where to learn more

Our distilling glossary explains the terms you will come across, and our copper stills guide covers the Italian side of the story. Or drop into our Laverton North or Epping store with your questions.

Frequently asked questions

Is home distilling legal in Australia?

Distilling alcohol at home for personal use is not legal in Australia. The ATO requires an excise manufacturer licence to distil alcohol with a still of any size, and it does not grant licences for personal consumption. Distilling water or essential oils is a different matter, subject to the still size rules.

Can I own a still in Australia?

Yes. You can own a still of 5 litres or less without ATO permission if you are not using it to distil alcohol. A still over 5 litres needs ATO permission to possess.

How do I get a licence to distil?

Licences are for commercial purposes. Start with the ATO's excise information and contact the ATO directly to discuss your plans.

Can I make my own liqueurs at home?

Yes, by flavouring commercially bought spirit with essences, fruit, herbs or liqueur bases. No still is involved.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is our general summary of information the ATO publishes. Rules can change, so check the ATO website or speak to a professional about your own circumstances.