Can I make hard liquor without yeast?

Question

I want to make my own hard liquor, now what I plan on doing is boiling 2 gallons of water and throwing in 10 pounds of sugar and boiling it until its completely boiled into the water. Then I would let it cool to room temperature and let it ferment in a closet for a couple weeks, would that do anything?

If not I was thinking of crushing some apples (without the core) and boiling that in there as well. If anyone with experience can tell me what I should do, please do so.

Answer 1

You can't make any kind of liquor without yeast, that's what creates the alcohol.

You can't make hard alcohol without a still, which is why they call it distilled liquor.

The yeast is essential to get your first level of alcohol (around 7% max, unless you get some special yeast) and then you distill it beyond what the yeast can produce. There's really no other way to do it.

As for "cheap home made strong alcohol", distilling at home isn't going to give you a cheaper alcohol unless you make a whole lot of it. Moonshiners don't make money selling 3 gallons, they make money selling hundreds of gallons. There's no way to undercut the price of a big bottle of vodka or grain alcohol with a kitchen-table setup.

Answer 2

ask someone who has been locked up. I think they just add a slice of bread to start the fermentation process.

Answer 3

It is possible, yes.  Potato stills are one way moonshine is made.  For what the other fella was talking about prison hooch, its made with bread and it really needs some type of yeast.  Its more of a wine when its done, it smells terrible and it tastes just as bad.  anything made in a toilet couldnt be that tasty.  Making liqor isnt necessarily easy, and its illegal in some states.  Sugar will just make awful sugar water.  Use the apples, rotten apples will produce a type of alcohol, same with grapes.  Potatoes are the easiest though and can provide the quickest results.  Kits are provided online.  Look up moonshine stills. Hope this helps