Handcraft Supplies 5L Glass Demijohn

The Handcraft Supplies 5 Litre Glass Demijohn is the classic vessel for making wine, cider, mead and beer at home in 1 gallon (4.5 litre) batches. Use it to ferment a 6-bottle wine kit or a country wine recipe, as a secondary fermenter to let your brew clear, or for long-term ageing of wine and mead.

• Capacity: 5 litres, for 1 gallon (4.5 litre) batches
• Made of glass, so it won't scratch and is easy to clean and sanitise
• Clear, so you can watch fermentation and see when your wine has cleared
• Narrow neck keeps air away from your wine during fermenting and ageing
• Suits wine, cider, mead and small batches of beer

What is a demijohn used for?

A demijohn holds a batch of wine (or cider, mead or beer) while it ferments, clears and ages. The narrow neck keeps the surface of the liquid small, which limits how much oxygen reaches it during the weeks or months that wine needs. Fit an airlock and a bored bung (or a lid with a grommet) and carbon dioxide can escape during fermentation while air and bugs are kept out.

Glass or plastic demijohn?

Glass is the traditional choice. It doesn't scratch, it doesn't hold on to smells or flavours, and it's easy to get properly clean, which makes it the better option for long ageing and for using again and again. It is heavier and can break, so handle it with care when it's full. If you'd prefer something lighter and shatterproof, see our 5 litre PET demijohn.

How much does a 5 litre demijohn make?

A 5 litre demijohn holds a 1 gallon (4.5 litre) batch, with room at the top. That's about 6 standard 75cl bottles of wine, which is why it's the standard size for 6-bottle wine kits and most country wine recipes.

What else do I need?

To ferment in your demijohn you'll need an airlock and a bung or lid to hold it:

• Bubbler Airlock
• Bored Demijohn Corks (3 pack)
• Swing Lid for this demijohn, with a grommet for an airlock

Then choose something to make: browse our WineBuddy 6-bottle wine kits, or start with the Fruit Wine Kit and 5L Glass Demijohn bundle.