STRIPPING STILLS

A stripping still can be fabricated 100% out of copper or out of stainless steel with a copper head depending on the spirit you are producing. Typically whiskey wash stills are made with copper but if you are producing vodka or NGS then you may decide to revert to a stainless steel pot with a copper head. This is due to the large amount of copper that the spirit will come into contact with as it is refined in the vodka column.

The shape of your spirit head can influence the character of your spirit. A tall head will produce a lighter flavor and a short head will carry over more flavor. Elements such as expansion balls will cause velocity and pressure differences of the vapor which create varying amounts of reflux. A traditional whiskey wash head is common on many stripping stills.

External steam jackets are an ideal heating method. They provide excellent heat transfer and make cleaning easier. Internal steam coils, or steam plates, are used when the shape and size of the still are not suitable for external steam jackets.

Electric steam boilers can be used for pot stills up to 1000L. They are efficient and a good choice for distilleries that don't have natural gas service. The size of pot still allowable will be determined by the amount of electrical service in your distillery.

Pot stills can be made to suit the requirement of the customer. Choose from one of our standard designs or come to us with your ideas.

Pot stills, like other tanks, can take advantage of CIP systems for cleaning. Remember that copper vessels may require copper inhibitors in the cleaning agents. It is best to consult your chemical supply company when designing a cleaning routine for your still.

Mixers are necessary for pot stills that distill on the grain. A stripping still is the first distillation in a multi-distillation process and so it can often contain solids such as grains or pomace. A mixer will not only improve the heating rate but it will help prevent scorching of the solids on the heating surfaces of the still. For clear spirits or lautered wort, it is not necessary to have a mixer but is generally left to the discretion of the distiller. In general, mixers are recommended for stripping stills.

Condensers can be manufactured in either copper or stainless steel. The preference for one or the other will depend on the spirit being produced. For a stripping still the decision is typically left to the discretion of the customer but we do see a trend of distillers using stainless steel in stripping stills.

Columns are often used on stripping stills in vodka distilleries. The typical whiskey wash head is replaced with a large diameter 4 to 5 plate column that sits on top of the still. This column rectifies the spirit allowing for a higher ABV initial charge (40-50% ABV) in the vodka still.