To learn how to make whiskey you first have to brew beer. Go to amazon. com and search “brewing” and you will find numerous books on this subject. The easy way, however, is to take a home brewing class offered at most home brew shops. These shops also sell brewing kits, malt extracts, dried malt extract (DME), malted barley, wheat, rye, and flaked corn.
The next generation of distillers is going to come from the craft brewing industry since they know the complex flavors found in barley make great beer and will make great whiskey.
Modern Moonshine Techniques has three sections: First is how to use sugar to distill a “moonshine.” Second, how to build an inexpensive corn cooker and make corn whiskey. Finally, and most importantly, this book, with text and il- lustrations, shows how to build a mash tun to create a grain whiskey wash. And, then instructions to distill that wash into whiskey.
Finally, get your DSP from the TTB, your State (ABC) license and open an “artisan” distillery. Then distill the grain whiskey here and put it into a barrel. It will, in a matter of months, pick up flavor and color as it matures. And, if you leave your whiskey in a charred oak barrel for two years, it becomes “straight Bourbon whiskey.” Craft distilleries often drop the word “straight” and age their whiskey for less than one year.
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