My research is very old, so I advise checking yourself. ATF has access to still manufacturers sales records, without needing warrants. You should buy second hand and have supplies shipped to a friend. There is a very nice all copper rig on marketplace near me right now.
I tried corn, molasses, rye, etc etc. I tried brewers yeast and turbo yeast. I started out using glass carboys, fermentation locks, ph meters, spring water, etc etc. I might still have all my detailed logs of recipes. What I learned is it's fun and a great novelty, but I can't make better whiskey, rum, vodka. I've tried sour mashing. If you want good tasting diluted liquor you should just buy it.
I ended up making mash of sugar and turbo yeast for fast easy neutral flavor. I refuse to cut what I make. I will age it in whiskey casks or mamajuana. I prefer aging in mamajuana. I have watched it turn off people's brains in minutes. And usually you get no hangover, I think so too high purity. If you light out on fire the flame is practically invisible. I also used to drink it wherever I was sick, it can kill anything!
Most of the danger comes from distilling impure high alcohol content liquids, and from repurposed equipment. People have distilled washer fluid or antifreeze. I've read about moldy grains causing problems.
