Should You Buy A Pot Still Or Reflux Still & How Are They Different
There are two main options facing a new chaser of the craft when it comes to distilling apparatus. Should you buy a pot still? Or should you buy a reflux still?
Yeah Jesse keep that great knowledge coming! I have to say to anybody looking to get into distilling start off simple with a pot still so you build a good base for the future of your hobbie, as well as get or build something modular with sanitary fittings (tri-clamps, tri-clover clamps) as they make life so much easier. Cleaning and storing are easier and it allows your still to develop and grow with you as your interests or curiosities change and your skills as a distiller improve.
As I understand it you can make a pot still of a reflux still by putting a copprdome on it.but you can't do it the other way around..
OK Jessie pot or plated I have heard you can use a 4 plated to get flavor and higher ABV. YOUR OPINION PLEASE
Do you have a video on distilling the same mash with both pot and collum still side by side? It would be interesting.
Could you speak more slowly! Please. Or put subtitule
Looking forward to when you start you consulting services
One of the best, and easiest to understand, explanations of the differences of the stills I've ever watched. Very nice. Keep up the good work!
Does using a pot still as opposed to a reflux still affect the way Methanol is removed from the initial distillate coming out of the system?
I wanna do rum, beer, whiskey, wine. Which one i need for each?
I love gin, some vodka, liqueurs like amaretto, triple sec, lemoncello, etc. I think i can easily build a DIY pot still (15-20 litre using a pressure cooker and copper tubing) this will cost me around the equivalent of USD60. Can one easily DIY a reflux still? My country is not in lockdown but airports have been shit down, so no chance of importing anything. Help please. Want to chase the craft ASAP
Hi Jesse, love the videos and info! I'm new and curious about something.. I haven't seen any experienced home distillers talk about "pot belly" curvy stills. Curious if you've had any experience with them? Are they just not worth it? Style here: https://www.whiskeystill.net/
Hi Jesse, very helpful vid mate.. im still at a loss as to what way to go unfortunately, wife likes Gin and i'm a whiskey guy.. maybe i need a unit that does both? (or can have both attachments like the T500?) thoughts?
Marbles is the less suitable packing material, rashig rings are difficult to find. Visit Chinese internet shopping websites and you'll find your copper mesh. Stainless steel pot scrubbers are available at your local supermarket. It's not necessary to go for expensive copper if your still is made of copper. Copper is important to remove some sulphur compounds.My still is able to be run as a VM reflux still, a genuine pot still, a pot still with coil condenser and I also have a gin basket. 120cm 3" SS column with sight glass, coil condenser and gate valve. Try to download Nixon and Mc Graw's "The Cmpleat Distiller" as pdf file.
any info on buying vs building? after adding together all the pieces and time involved in building, it seems equal to just buying a premade.
Rye wiskey like crown royal . Witch still is the best way to go
Great video. And awesome commentary.
But why choose?
These modern stainless stills are super convertible.
I’ll take both please.🤣👍💪🥃
Every time you slide you’re hand across the wood the sound makes me shiver and cringe, Ive always hated dry surfaces 😂, I appreciate the advise I’m currently ordering parts for my new still, I’m going to try and make a few parts myself, I never used to have any hobbies until a couple of years ago when I started watching YouTube more and now I have 5 hobbies on the go 😂
The reflux pipe will allow you to get better separation of the different compounds that are coming out of the still. At the end you can then be more accurate with what your re mixing together at the end to create your flavours.
You must be sure the scrubbing pads are 99%copper and not just copper plated as most of them are steal with a copper coating!!!!!! Dont believe me stick a magnet to them to be sure !!! Or else you'll posin your liquor!!
How do you remove the methanol from the final product? (methanol being the stuff that makes you go blind.)
I have a question should I be feeling cold air draft coming out of my coil as product is dripping
Great video! Very clear explanation of the two still types. You have educated me. Thank you!
I am an idiot, i bought an reflux still before starting because shipping was to slow and now i learn i need a pot still to make whisky
Reflux all the way. You can always run it as a pot still.
Hi, I have a question about which Still would be better suited for distilled Mead – so I have my own Honey supply and want to set up a Still to produce spirit, which is then aged in oak. Most of the reviews I’ve seen are based on fruit or grain based wash – as mead is neither I wondered which method would be best for me to invest in. I did wonder about the infusion basket in reflux still and adding a different dimension to the end product – but what’s your opinion ? thanks for the good info and delivery by the way “nice and real” if you know what I mean.
What type of mash would you use to make good gin? .
Hi Jessi I would like to make some very top shelf Gin. Is there a good recipe for that? Where can you buy the Juniper berries to make the gin? I have a reflux ProSeries from MilehiDistilleries. where I can use the glass reflux below the upper condenser on top and also on the side condenser should be able to get a pretty good Gin just never have made any i can use a little help thanks Dennis
So which still should I get then? 😂
You missed the most important point I think. You can run a flute or reflux still as a pot still to allow flavour to pass through the condenser but a pot still is just a pot still and can't be used to remove the flavour like a reflux still can. The reflux still is a more complicated machine. Get the reflux still and learn how to use it.
Hi Jesse, Can you or someone else explain how you use and set up the copper coil from 3:25? I made such a double reversed helix but idk how to use it tbh..
Eau de vie in a pot still ?
Than you it’s a pot still journey for me
Than you it’s a pot still journey for me
I just got a chinese pot still (5-gals)as a gift but i don't know where to start, what type of mash etc. i would love to start with vodka but need some advice.
Are those Chinese stills that are sold on sites like WISH worth buying as a starter kit?
Question: running in a pot still mode and you wish to re-distill your end product (2nd distillation) do you add ONLY the first run product to the boiler or do you add that to a new mash? If you only re-distill the first run product, should you add anything to that in the boiler to bring the level of product in boiler up in any way? I have yet to do this due to lack of knowledge. Please advise.
Sorry, I missed something, CCVM stands for what? Also, what is YOUR opinion on the difference between pot run flavours and reflux run essence flavoured product??? You might do a blind comparison test. 👍 Notwithstanding, this was the BEST, easiest to understand, explanation of the difference between the owo. Thank you.
Coming from a chemistry background technically a reflux still is best for separating fractions (cuts) but it should be done by cut temperature (at the still head) not volume at the output. However this would give you some very small cuts depending on what volatiles are present in the mash.
So if your measuring still head temp and it’s constant that’s one cut. Once it starts to change temp your moving into the next cut. For repeatability keeping track of the cut temperatures will give you the a much closer product again and again
Due to the moronic laws in Australia I figured out how to produce pure ethanol without distillation so I don’t need a license. Instead of distilling I get molecular sieves grade 3 angstroms (3A) which indicates the pore size. I add enough to absorb all the water in the sugar wash leaving pure ethanol. Then I run it through a carbon filter a few times and boil at low temperature and slowly to remove any undesirable ketones and the methanol. Ahahahahahhahaha! The government will never stop me from getting what I want! Also the sieves can be recycled by heating in an oven at 100 Celsius.
So what you're saying is, use one burner/chamber, and build a pot column and a reflux column to use depending on the type of booze.
I would say go for a reflux you can run it as a pot or a reflux best of both worlds. I like using a pot with 2 thumpers : ) Thanks for the info
If you're planning to make vodka, or any other neutral spirit, you would probably want both. A pot still to strip washes and a reflux still for the low wines spirit run. A modular CCVM accomplishes this.
Or, a plated column with a packed section on top. In which case you could do a one-and-done run. But, it's a much more expensive option.
Great vids dood! I run a SS Pot still with a 2 inch column and liebig style condenser, if I turned the liebig towards the sky instead of to the ground, would this cause reflux to happen when running?
Awesome video) I agree with you) First you need to choose what you are going to do and then choose a type of a column)
Good info
The pot still alcohols were all the ones I want to make. Thanks for the information!
Why not just buy both. Its as simple as changing the head on your boiler.
Yeah Jesse keep that great knowledge coming! I have to say to anybody looking to get into distilling start off simple with a pot still so you build a good base for the future of your hobbie, as well as get or build something modular with sanitary fittings (tri-clamps, tri-clover clamps) as they make life so much easier. Cleaning and storing are easier and it allows your still to develop and grow with you as your interests or curiosities change and your skills as a distiller improve.
As I understand it you can make a pot still of a reflux still by putting a copprdome on it.but you can't do it the other way around..
OK Jessie pot or plated I have heard you can use a 4 plated to get flavor and higher ABV. YOUR OPINION PLEASE
Do you have a video on distilling the same mash with both pot and collum still side by side? It would be interesting.
Could you speak more slowly! Please. Or put subtitule
Looking forward to when you start you consulting services
One of the best, and easiest to understand, explanations of the differences of the stills I've ever watched. Very nice. Keep up the good work!
Does using a pot still as opposed to a reflux still affect the way Methanol is removed from the initial distillate coming out of the system?
I wanna do rum, beer, whiskey, wine. Which one i need for each?
I love gin, some vodka, liqueurs like amaretto, triple sec, lemoncello, etc. I think i can easily build a DIY pot still (15-20 litre using a pressure cooker and copper tubing) this will cost me around the equivalent of USD60. Can one easily DIY a reflux still? My country is not in lockdown but airports have been shit down, so no chance of importing anything. Help please. Want to chase the craft ASAP
Hi Jesse, love the videos and info! I'm new and curious about something.. I haven't seen any experienced home distillers talk about "pot belly" curvy stills. Curious if you've had any experience with them? Are they just not worth it? Style here: https://www.whiskeystill.net/
Hi Jesse, very helpful vid mate.. im still at a loss as to what way to go unfortunately, wife likes Gin and i'm a whiskey guy.. maybe i need a unit that does both? (or can have both attachments like the T500?) thoughts?
Marbles is the less suitable packing material, rashig rings are difficult to find. Visit Chinese internet shopping websites and you'll find your copper mesh. Stainless steel pot scrubbers are available at your local supermarket. It's not necessary to go for expensive copper if your still is made of copper. Copper is important to remove some sulphur compounds.My still is able to be run as a VM reflux still, a genuine pot still, a pot still with coil condenser and I also have a gin basket. 120cm 3" SS column with sight glass, coil condenser and gate valve. Try to download Nixon and Mc Graw's "The Cmpleat Distiller" as pdf file.
any info on buying vs building? after adding together all the pieces and time involved in building, it seems equal to just buying a premade.
Rye wiskey like crown royal . Witch still is the best way to go
Great video.
And awesome commentary.
But why choose?
These modern stainless stills are super convertible.
I’ll take both please.🤣👍💪🥃
Every time you slide you’re hand across the wood the sound makes me shiver and cringe, Ive always hated dry surfaces 😂, I appreciate the advise I’m currently ordering parts for my new still, I’m going to try and make a few parts myself, I never used to have any hobbies until a couple of years ago when I started watching YouTube more and now I have 5 hobbies on the go 😂
The reflux pipe will allow you to get better separation of the different compounds that are coming out of the still. At the end you can then be more accurate with what your re mixing together at the end to create your flavours.
You must be sure the scrubbing pads are 99%copper and not just copper plated as most of them are steal with a copper coating!!!!!! Dont believe me stick a magnet to them to be sure !!! Or else you'll posin your liquor!!
How do you remove the methanol from the final product? (methanol being the stuff that makes you go blind.)
I have a question should I be feeling cold air draft coming out of my coil as product is dripping
Great video! Very clear explanation of the two still types. You have educated me. Thank you!
I am an idiot, i bought an reflux still before starting because shipping was to slow and now i learn i need a pot still to make whisky
Reflux all the way. You can always run it as a pot still.
Hi, I have a question about which Still would be better suited for distilled Mead – so I have my own Honey supply and want to set up a Still to produce spirit, which is then aged in oak. Most of the reviews I’ve seen are based on fruit or grain based wash – as mead is neither I wondered which method would be best for me to invest in. I did wonder about the infusion basket in reflux still and adding a different dimension to the end product – but what’s your opinion ? thanks for the good info and delivery by the way “nice and real” if you know what I mean.
What type of mash would you use to make good gin?
.
Hi Jessi I would like to make some very top shelf Gin. Is there a good recipe for that? Where can you buy the Juniper berries to make the gin? I have a reflux ProSeries from MilehiDistilleries. where I can use the glass reflux below the upper condenser on top and also on the side condenser should be able to get a pretty good Gin just never have made any i can use a little help thanks Dennis
So which still should I get then? 😂
You missed the most important point I think. You can run a flute or reflux still as a pot still to allow flavour to pass through the condenser but a pot still is just a pot still and can't be used to remove the flavour like a reflux still can. The reflux still is a more complicated machine. Get the reflux still and learn how to use it.
Hi Jesse, Can you or someone else explain how you use and set up the copper coil from 3:25? I made such a double reversed helix but idk how to use it tbh..
Eau de vie in a pot still ?
Than you it’s a pot still journey for me
Than you it’s a pot still journey for me
I just got a chinese pot still (5-gals)as a gift but i don't know where to start, what type of mash etc. i would love to start with vodka but need some advice.
Are those Chinese stills that are sold on sites like WISH worth buying as a starter kit?
Question: running in a pot still mode and you wish to re-distill your end product (2nd distillation) do you add ONLY the first run product to the boiler or do you add that to a new mash? If you only re-distill the first run product, should you add anything to that in the boiler to bring the level of product in boiler up in any way? I have yet to do this due to lack of knowledge. Please advise.
Sorry, I missed something, CCVM stands for what?
Also, what is YOUR opinion on the difference between pot run flavours and reflux run essence flavoured product???
You might do a blind comparison test. 👍
Notwithstanding, this was the BEST, easiest to understand, explanation of the difference between the owo. Thank you.
Coming from a chemistry background technically a reflux still is best for separating fractions (cuts) but it should be done by cut temperature (at the still head) not volume at the output. However this would give you some very small cuts depending on what volatiles are present in the mash.
So if your measuring still head temp and it’s constant that’s one cut. Once it starts to change temp your moving into the next cut.
For repeatability keeping track of the cut temperatures will give you the a much closer product again and again
Due to the moronic laws in Australia I figured out how to produce pure ethanol without distillation so I don’t need a license. Instead of distilling I get molecular sieves grade 3 angstroms (3A) which indicates the pore size. I add enough to absorb all the water in the sugar wash leaving pure ethanol. Then I run it through a carbon filter a few times and boil at low temperature and slowly to remove any undesirable ketones and the methanol. Ahahahahahhahaha! The government will never stop me from getting what I want! Also the sieves can be recycled by heating in an oven at 100 Celsius.
So what you're saying is, use one burner/chamber, and build a pot column and a reflux column to use depending on the type of booze.
I would say go for a reflux you can run it as a pot or a reflux best of both worlds.
I like using a pot with 2 thumpers : )
Thanks for the info
If you're planning to make vodka, or any other neutral spirit, you would probably want both. A pot still to strip washes and a reflux still for the low wines spirit run. A modular CCVM accomplishes this.
Or, a plated column with a packed section on top. In which case you could do a one-and-done run. But, it's a much more expensive option.
Great vids dood! I run a SS Pot still with a 2 inch column and liebig style condenser, if I turned the liebig towards the sky instead of to the ground, would this cause reflux to happen when running?
Awesome video) I agree with you) First you need to choose what you are going to do and then choose a type of a column)
Good info
The pot still alcohols were all the ones I want to make. Thanks for the information!
Why not just buy both. Its as simple as changing the head on your boiler.