Fundamentals

Safety may not directly drive profits or quality, but it’s a critical priority for distillers to make sure everyone goes home healthy and unharmed at the end of the day.

These flavors don’t exist only within a vacuum; they are created within it. While a little more high-tech, a vacuum still can open a range of options for bright, fresh, and unique botanical character.

Understanding the whys and hows of cleaning is crucial to quality and consistency in the distillery.

Barrel aging is a complex process that can take decades to master, but every distiller should at least understand the outlines of the journey.

Both stainless steel and copper have a place in distilling and offer different strengths when selecting and operating distilling equipment.

A range of filtration tools and techniques allows the distiller opportunities to clean up the flavor profile and clarity of their products.

While brewers commonly rely on one type of pump, a distiller may have to contend with a wider range of circumstances, from thick mashes to explosion concerns.

Understanding and knowing how to address various issues that can create an unsightly spirit can help you put your best foot forward as a distiller.

The term “column still” can apply to various designs with different purposes. To make sure you have the right still for the job, it’s best to understand the role and function of each of these types.

Choosing between steam, direct-fire, electric, and oil-heated equipment is a matter of budget, taste, and local code enforcement.

For most small-scale producers, batch-distilling is the standard approach to creating a variety of products.

To better understand the heads, hearts, and tails fractions, distillers should first have a firm grasp on what’s happening as their distilling media turn to vapor and then back to liquid.

When it comes to microbes, the choices you make will shape the expression of your final spirit. Here are some key considerations.

From methods to ensure healthy fermentation to fementor choices to cleaning procedures, yeast selection, and time, the decision tree that a distiller follows when designing a fermentation regimen has tremendous impact on the character of the final product.

A distillery’s goals tend to influence its choice of equipment, as different spirits call for different ways to process grain or other fermentables. Here’s a primer.

Understanding the fundamentals of proper mashing or cooking can be essential to producing good spirits.

A distiller’s choice of still design can have a significant impact on their product lineup—and vice-versa.