Add up the cost of electricity, sugar, yeast and extras to find the price of a litre or a 0.5 l bottle of finished 40% alcohol. Enter the yield yourself or let the calculator estimate it from the amount of sugar.
Home-made spirit vs. shop prices
The calculator shows the cost of a 0.5 l bottle of 40% alcohol and a litre of pure spirit, making it easy to compare with shop prices. Remember that the one-off purchase of equipment – still, column, heater – is spread over many runs and pays back faster the more often you use it.
What affects the cost most?
With low sugar prices, electricity is often the biggest item. Insulating the boiler and column, a power controller and heating up at full power can reduce electricity use by over ten percent.
How we calculate
Energy = power × time (kWh). Total cost = energy × price + ingredients. If you leave the yield empty, we estimate it from sugar (0.68 l ethanol/kg × 85%). The price is converted to a litre of 40% alcohol.
Frequently asked questions
How can I lower distillation costs?
Insulate the boiler and column, use a power controller, heat up at full power and collect at working power. Reuse the warm water from the condenser.
Should the equipment be included in the cost?
The calculator works out the cost of one run (electricity and ingredients). Spread the equipment cost over the planned number of runs – over several dozen runs it is usually a small amount per run.
How can I reduce electricity use?
Insulate the boiler and column, heat up the wash at full power and then run at working power with a controller. A well-matched heater and condenser shorten the whole process.
How much electricity does a still use?
A typical run of 30–40 l of wash through a column takes 5–8 hours and uses about 10–20 kWh, depending on heater power and insulation.