Technically speaking, stills can be made of many materials including stainless steel, copper, brass, or aluminum. Most are stainless steel or copper. Depending on who you ask, the answer to the question, “Why are stills made of copper?” is taste.
If you are looking for the best still in the market, we have copper reflux still for you.
26 Gallon Moonshine Still With 4″ Copper Reflux Column
The reflux still does multiple distillations in one single run by having packing in the tower which allows vapor to condense and drop down back through the packing. This reflux of liquid helps to clean the rising vapor and increase the percentage purity. The taller the packed column and the more reflux the liquid, the purer the product will be. Many distilleries make use of reflux still to produce Vodka.
Moonshine Still With 3″ Copper Whiskey Column
Copper imparts flavor into the distilled spirits and hence is the preferred material in the construction of a still. Both copper and stainless steel are excellent conductors of heat: creating a more even distillation by dispersing the heat evenly across the entire surface of the metal. Where both copper and stainless steel will not leave any harmful chemicals in your final product, copper has the advantage over stainless as the whiskey out of a copper still simply tastes better.
When distilling in copper, the copper reacts on a molecular level by eliminating the sulfurs out by the fermenting yeast. It drives out the sulfur taste which would otherwise taste better and be not as smooth.
The Process of Copper Distillation
In the distilling process, the sulfur emerging from the yeast binds itself to the copper, creating hydrogen-sulfide which in turn, produces copper sulfate. The copper sulfate sticks to the inner part of the still after distillation is over. After a thorough cleaning of the copper still, the copper sulfate gets washed down the drain, and not in the whiskey unlike other stills made from different metals.
Other properties which make copper optimal for turning your mash into tasty moonshine:
- The most important and distinctive property of copper is it reacts with alcohol on a molecular level. The chemical reaction produced then removes the sulfur compounds, which eliminates an off taste and an unappealing smell in your end product.
- The electrical conductivity and high thermal properties of copper are ideal for efficient cooling of the vapors and even heat distribution.
- Copper is corrosion resistant under humidity fluctuations and extreme temperatures. So stills made from copper can sustain long without getting corroded or degraded in shape.
- Copper is also scientifically proven to have antimicrobial effects. It can destroy a wide range of bacteria and viruses.
- The molecular interactions in copper can improve the aroma and quality of your end product making your moonshine clearer and sweeter.
It could be clearly said that why copper stills are the most ideal equipment in distilling spirits. They are effective, safe, and classic beauties, and no wonder why a lot of distillers drool over copper reflux stills.
