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Moonshine Stills Explained: a Plain-English Beginner's Guide
Pot still or reflux still?
A pot still is a pot, a head and a condenser. It makes full-flavor spirit like whiskey, rum and brandy. A copper alembic is a classic, hand-hammered pot still. Shop stills · Shop alembics
A reflux still adds a tall column, so only the purest vapor reaches the top. It makes clean, high-proof spirit for vodka and gin base. Shop reflux stills
What size?
5–8 gallons is a great first still: kitchen or garage sized, big enough to learn on. Only fill the pot about 3/4 full.
Copper or stainless?
Copper removes sulfur off-flavors and looks great. Stainless costs less and is easy to clean. Lots of people pick a stainless boiler with a copper head or copper mesh inside.
The parts
- Boiler: holds your wash. Shop boilers
- Thumper: a second little pot that raises the proof in one run. Shop thumpers
- Condenser or worm: cools vapor back into liquid. Shop condensers
- Heat: an element with a controller gives the steadiest run. Shop heating
- Hydrometer & parrot: tell you the proof as it comes out. Shop hydrometers
Check your local laws before distilling. In the US, making spirits at home needs a federal permit from the TTB.