Monday, November 19, 2012

whiskey still?

What is a whiskey still and how does it work?

2 Gallon Whiskey Still
A whiskey still, also known as a moonshine still, is an equipment designed to produce a homemade mash usually referred to as moonshine or whiskey. 
The term moonshine was derived from the need to operate a distilling system in the dark usually under the light of the full moon. It has been said that the cold night air assists in the process of distillation since vapor is easily turned back into liquid. 

What is a whiskey still?

There are numerous kinds of whiskey still but most possess a large copper pot that has a narrow cone-like vent top and a tight lid. The vent allows the vapors to travel through a copper coiled length tubing and delivered straight into a storage container.
A whiskey still or moonshine still as well as any kind of alcohol distillation is deemed illegal thus its production is usually found hidden in mountainous regions and done under the cloak of darkness. Also, the fermentation process usually produces a distinctive odor thus the need for whiskey stills to be situated in isolated locations.

The whiskey still distillation process

The process of whiskey distillation does not start with a still but through the fermentation process. One of the important elements that make the taste of whiskey distinct is the type of grains utilized to create the mash for the production and fermenting of base alcohol. Take note that bourbon is made from corn and single malt scotch comes from barley. Without these basics, no alcohol, moonshine or whiskey would be produced.
The process of distilling whiskey is made possible due to the fact that alcohol has a boiling point that is lower than water. Water boils at approximately 212 degrees F while alcohol boils at approximately 172 degrees F.
If fluid from the produced grain mash is put inside a pot and heated anywhere from 172 degrees F and 212 degrees F, the alcohol will vaporize and leave behind water as well as other substances. The vapor then rises from the boiling pot and enters a second pot where it is then cooled, condensed and concentrated to become alcohol liquid.

The whiskey still design

Most whiskey stills, specially the old and classic ones, are made of copper. Copper is best used due to its even heating property.

A basic whiskey still is made of copper and utilizes two connected vessels. One vessel is made for boiling and another is for condensing. Certain whiskies are made from alcohol that has been distilled numerous times. These whiskies utilize a reflux still. Such a still possesses a boiling pot that has a lined column of glass beads thereby increasing the boiling pot’s surface area. The alcohol then condenses with the beads boiling off many times as it travels through the column thus increasing distillation.
Pot still whiskeys describe a specific whiskey style made from a combination of malted barley and green unmalted barley in a pot still. Such a whiskey has also been referred to as pure pot still whiskey, pot still whiskey or Irish style pot still whiskey.

1 comment:

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