WHAT IS A POTSTILL?

The pot still is the traditional vessel for spirits distillation, a copper kettle that creates characterful spirits through batch distillation and has been used for centuries. Its simple design belies the complexity of flavors it can produce in skilled hands.

A typical pot still consists of a pot or kettle where the wash is heated, a neck or column where vapors rise, and a condenser where the vapors cool back into liquid. The shape of these components significantly affects the final spirit's character, with distillers guarding their still designs carefully.

Copper is the preferred material because it removes sulfur compounds and promotes specific chemical reactions that enhance flavor. The metal's catalytic properties help create esters and other desirable compounds while removing harsh notes that would otherwise mar the spirit.

Pot stills operate in batches, with each run having a beginning, middle, and end. The distiller must make careful cuts, separating the heads, hearts, and tails based on temperature, time, taste, and smell. This hands-on process requires skill and experience.

Many premium spirits, from single malt Scotch to artisanal rum and craft gin, are produced in pot stills. While they cannot match the efficiency of column stills, pot stills create spirits with greater depth and character, preserving the raw material's essential nature while adding layers of complexity.