Home Distillers Weigh In: How Much Watermelon to Use in a Wash
A question about quantities sparked plenty of debate in Facebook’s biggest Group (50,000 members), the Home Distillers Club recently, after a member asked how many watermelons they’d need for a decent-sized batch.
The answers ranged from the precise to the tongue-in-cheek.
At one end of the scale, some distillers kept it simple. Several said to just fill whatever vessel you’re working with, while others offered a more measured approach.
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Kyle, a distiller from Launceston, suggested one large melon per gallon of intended finished product, using all the juice and mashing about half the flesh — with a little rind added to balance the flavour.
On the technical end, a few members got into the numbers. One experienced distiller worked through the maths on a 20-gallon batch, estimating around 300 pounds of fruit based on a 70 percent juice extraction. He recommended milling the fruit and pressing it properly, and raised the idea of enriching the juice with grain for a more complex mash.
Practical experience varied widely.
David from Cairns said ten watermelons across two five-gallon buckets yielded just one gallon last time he tried it, while Ric from Broken Hill went even bigger – a whole truck bed full, sourced free from a packing house that couldn’t use the imperfect ones.
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One member warned that even a large quantity produces surprisingly little flavour, comparing the result to a light watermelon wine.
A few distillers offered process tips alongside their quantities. Lynn from Wagga Wagga was emphatic on one point: strain it, strain it, strain it — and keep the heat low and slow for the best result. Andy echoed a similar point, advising to stick with the juice rather than blending the flesh.
And not everyone was convinced watermelon was worth the effort at all — at least one member made clear he’d be using zero, with a laughing emoji to soften the blow!
The discussion reflects how much personal experience shapes a distiller’s approach — from backyard batches to near-industrial quantities, there’s clearly no single right answer when it comes to watermelon.
Until next time… Happy Distilling!
Cheers
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