Distilling Alcohol

     Despite advances in technology, the basic process of distilling alcohol still relies upon the same laws of physics that they always have, and likely always will.

     Please excuse the slight blur to the photo, because it's an interesting one despite its simplicity.  You see, temperature, especially "boiling points" are extremely important to distillation.  It's basically what separates the alcohol out. Ethenol boils at 173 degrees F, and water at 212.

     For ages, a cool copper column has been used to harness the rising vapor.  Most of it cools, and falls back into the pot, but the vapor with the highest alcohol content (and the lowest boiling point) continues to the outlet at the top of the column.

     That copper arm sticking out at the top has a name.  It's called the Lyne Arm.  Precise heat is the key so that just the right mixture of vapor enters the arm.

     From here the vapor cools into liquid ethanol, and drips from the condenser into the collection bottles below.  And again, the Chadwick's are using a similar size and shape that has been used for generations of distillers.

     Here's Lynn to briefly describe part of the process.