The Whiskey Still is the engine of the distillation process. It is where the liquid is boiled to increase the alcohol level that makes spirit. Its shape and material influence the character and flavor profile of the final product.
There are several types of stills used in whiskey production, each with its unique design and characteristics.
Here are some of the most common types:
- Pot Still:
- Pot stills are traditionally made of copper. The have the distinctive bowl shape that sits on top of a burner that heats the liquid from below, and have been used for centuries in whiskey production.
- They consist of a large copper pot, or “boiler,” with a swan neck, called a line arm, that leads to a condensing coil or worm tubes that will contain cold water that will help change the vapour back into liquid.
- Pot stills are known for their ability to produce rich, flavorful spirits with a robust character. The higher line arms increase the contact between the vapour and the copper, which produces cleaner, brighter flavours which are characteristic of distilleries such as Glenmorangie.
- They are commonly used in the production of malt whiskey, including Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey. Whiskey from these stills is typically done in a run and once the whiskey is run-off the whole process has to start over again from the beginning.
- Column Still:
- Column stills, also known as continuous stills or Coffey stills, are tall, vertical structures with multiple chambers or columns.
- They operate continuously, with a continuous flow of mash or wash entering the still at the top and distilled spirit exiting at the bottom.
- Column stills are highly efficient and can produce large volumes of whiskey quickly and consistently.
- They are commonly used in the production of grain whiskey and blended whiskey, where a lighter and more neutral spirit is desired. They were considered a revolutionary invention when they first came to market.
- Hybrid Still:
- Hybrid stills combine elements of both pot stills and column stills, allowing distillers to incorporate the benefits of each type of still.
- They may feature a pot still base with additional columns or plates for further distillation, or they may have a pot still head attached to a column still.
- Hybrid stills offer versatility and flexibility in whiskey production, allowing distillers to customize the distillation process to achieve specific flavor profiles.
- Fractionating Still:
- Fractionating stills, also known as reflux stills, are column stills with additional reflux chambers or plates that create multiple distillation stages.
- They allow for precise control over the separation and purification of the distillate, resulting in a highly refined and pure spirit.
- Fractionating stills are commonly used in the production of neutral spirits, such as vodka, but may also be used in whiskey production to achieve a desired level of refinement and purity.
These are just a few examples of the different types of stills used in whiskey production. In many ways, they define the distilleries themselves since the type of still used determines the attributes that define the whiskey that is produced. If you have never taken a tour of a whiskey distillery, it is a breath taking site when you first enter the still room.