How to Make Vodka at Home- A Beginner’s Guide using the Air Still Pro Distillery

Date Posted:25 August 2025 

Learn how to make vodka at home with the Air Still Pro. This beginner-friendly guide covers every step from wash to distillation and filtration. Learn how to make vodka at home with the Air Still Pro. This beginner-friendly guide covers every step from wash to distillation and filtration

Distilling vodka at home doesn’t have to be intimidating. While many imagine complex setups, temperature controls, and hours of trial and error, the truth is far simpler—with the right beginner-friendly equipment, you can create smooth, high-quality vodka at home with confidence.

The Air Still Pro Complete Kit is one of the best entry-level distillation systems available. Designed for simplicity, safety, and great results, it’s ideal for anyone ready to make their own vodka at home.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk you through everything—from setting up your equipment to distilling your very first batch of homemade vodka. We’ll also compare the Air Still Pro with the larger batch Turbo 500 Reflux Still Kit, so you can choose the right setup for your needs.

 

 What’s in the Air Still Pro Kit?

When you purchase the Air Still Pro Complete Kit, you’ll receive everything you need to make vodka at home, including:

  • Air Still Pro distillation unit
  • 10L Fermenter with lid, tap, airlock, and thermometer
  • Hydrometer & Test Flask for checking fermentation
  • Alcometer for checking spirit strength
  • Turbo Yeast, Turbo Carbon, Dextrose used for fermentation
  • Turbo Clear finings
  • Distilling Conditioner and Ceramic Boil Enhancers
  • Carbon Filter System
  • Collection jars and measuring tools
  • A selection of Top Shelf Essences to make your first batch of Gin, Rum & Whiskey

With all the essentials included, you’ll be ready to get started on your first batch of spirits right out of the box.

 

Why the Air Still Pro is Perfect for Making Vodka (or Neutral Spirit) at Home

  • Fan-cooled (no plumbing or water source needed)
  • Automatic foreshot removal for cleaner distillate
  • Compact design – ideal for apartments or small kitchens
  • Plug-and-play operation – simply fill, power on, and collect
  • Reflux mode – delivers high ABV (up to 90%) for clean, neutral spirits (the perfect base for vodka, Whiskey Rum, Bourbon, Gin etc)

ThecAir Still Pro makes vodka distillation at home simple, even if it’s your first time.

 Fan-Cooled vs Water-Cooled Systems

Unlike traditional water-cooled stills, the Air Still Pro uses a fan-based condenser. This makes setup far easier and eliminates the need for cooling water—ideal for those brewing spirits in smaller spaces.

Bonus: Automatic Fore shot Removal

Vodka or any spirit or liqueur you choose to make requires a clean spirit base. The Air Still Pro automatically removes the first 30ml (the "foreshots") which may contain unwanted compounds that can taint the flavour, ensuring your homemade vodka is pure and smooth.

 

Choosing Between the Air Still Pro and Turbo 500 Still Kit

Feature

Air Still Pro

Turbo 500 (T500)

Cooling System

Fan-cooled (no plumbing)

Water-cooled

Modes

Reflux & Pot Still

Reflux only

Output per Run

~1.1L @ ~90% ABV

~4.5L @ ~93% ABV

Ease of Use

Beginner-friendly

Intermediate/Advanced

Best For

Small batches, simplicity

Bulk distilling, efficiency

 

For those just starting to brew vodka at home, the Air Still Pro is the easier choice. The T500 is ideal for those ready to scale up production or with more slightly more distilling experience.

 

Preparing Your Vodka Wash

Vodka starts with a clean sugar wash. Here's how:

  1. Dissolve 2.5kg of dextrose sugar in warm water in the fermenter then top up to 10lt.
  2. Add Turbo Yeast, Turbo Carbon, and any included nutrients.
  3. Ferment at a steady 18–25°C.
  4. Wait until the wash completes fermentation. Use a hydrometer to ensure your wash reads 0.990 or lower before proceeding to the clearing stage.

 

Why the Hydrometer Matters

A hydrometer shows when fermentation is done. Reading 0.990 means your wash has fermented all available sugars into alcohol—perfect for distilling.

 Don't rush this stage. Bottling or distilling too early results in off-flavours and low yield.

 

Clarifying with Turbo Clear

After fermentation, use Turbo Clear finings to clarify your wash. This step helps drop out yeast cells and suspended particles, resulting in:

  • Cleaner distillation
  • Less risk of off-notes
  • Smoother, purer vodka

Add Part A, stir gently, wait 1 hour, then add Part B and let sit for 24 hours.

 

Distilling Vodka with the Air Still Pro – Step-by-Step

  1. Pour your cleared wash (max 4L) into the still.
  2. Turn on the unit and wait ~40 minutes to heat up.
  3. The still automatically removes the first 30ml of foreshots.
  4. Continue collecting the spirit until the run completes (~4 hours).

Use reflux mode to produce a neutral, high-ABV vodka base. This is the key to a smooth and flavourless vodka.

 

 Diluting and Proofing Your Homemade Vodka

After distillation, your vodka will be very strong (up to 90% ABV). To dilute:

  1. Use your alcometer to check ABV.
  2. Add clean tap water to dilute to 40% ABV (standard vodka strength).

Use an online dilution calculator or follow the included instructions to get the exact water-to-spirit ratio.

 

 Filtering for Smoothness

Filtering is the final step that takes your homemade vodka from good to great.

  • Run your diluted vodka through an activated carbon filter.
  • This removes impurities and creates a smoother mouthfeel.
  • For best results, filter twice.

Optional: Add Glycerine

Add up to 5ml per litre for a premium, silky texture.

 

 FAQ about making Vodka at home-

Can I Skip the filter step
NO - Always filter vodka for best results.

           Distilling before fermentation finishes
            NO always Check with your hydrometer—never guess.

 

Final Thoughts

Making vodka at home doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.

With the Air Still Pro Complete Kit, you can produce clean, neutral vodka with ease—even as a total beginner.

Once you’ve mastered your first batch, the possibilities open:

  • Choose a spirit essence to add flavour and create exactly what you want. You have just created a blank canvas to make your spirit of choice
  • Infuse it with citrus or vanilla
  • liqueurs
  • Enjoy it neat, in martinis, or your favourite cocktail