Which moonshine still is the best and how to choose it?

Moonshine stills are gaining popularity as prices for alcoholic beverages constantly rise while their quality decreases. Therefore, it is much more practical to prepare tinctures, liqueurs, wine, etc. independently. However, building a reliable distiller correctly isn't within everyone's capability, making it easier to buy a ready-made unit. But the question arises: how to choose a high-quality, functional, and efficient device?

Design Features of Moonshine Stills

The metal used for manufacturing the apparatus should be thicker than 1 mm but thinner than 2 mm. The steam pipe should have a diameter exceeding 10 mm to ensure maximum safety. A tube that is too thin may get clogged with dense raw particles, potentially causing a fire hazard.

Gaskets must be made from food-grade inert silicone. Rubber use is prohibited. Special attention should be given to the connecting flange between the tank and steam pipe. Thanks to standardized equipment, combining components from different manufacturers is often possible.

The optimal diameter for the distillation tank opening is more than 10 cm. Otherwise, your hand will not fit inside the tank, making it very difficult to clean.

Which moonshine still is the best and how to choose it?

It's better when the coil condenser is positioned vertically. This helps prevent sediment accumulation at the lower coils, maintaining higher beverage quality. The condenser's performance should match the tank and heating power.

It's advantageous if the apparatus can be completely disassembled, simplifying maintenance and repairs when necessary. Some manufacturers produce universal equipment that can be modified or supplemented with sight glasses, tray segments, distillation nozzles, etc.

First of all, familiarize yourself with the types of moonshine stills available. This will help you determine which unit best suits your specific tasks.

Traditional Distiller

This type of device consists of a distillation tank, where distillation occurs, and a condenser ("coil"). Their operation is extremely simple:

The fermenting mixture is heated in the tank until the alcohol boils.
The alcohol evaporates, enters the condenser where it condenses, forming moonshine.

The advantages of classic distillers include:

affordable price;
compact size;
durability;
good preservation of taste and aroma of the alcohol base.

Among the disadvantages are insufficient purification and lower alcohol content in the final product (no more than 85%).

Distiller Equipped with a Thumper Keg

A thumper keg or steam dome is a special container installed between the tank and the coil. It performs air deflegmation, promoting better purification by evaporating undesirable impurities at lower boiling temperatures compared to ethanol.

In fact, the effectiveness of this element is debatable, although some improvement in beverage quality can be noticed. The advantages include:

low price;
compact size;
decent purification level;
prevents mash from entering the distillate;
aromatization of beverages by adding herbs, berries, etc., to the thumper keg.

The main disadvantage is some alcohol loss in the output.

Moonshine Still with Forced Deflegmation

The key feature of this type of distiller is the presence of a reflux condenser (deflegmator) placed at the top of the steam pipe.

This element cools vapors before they reach the main condenser, resulting in reflux returning to the tank. This yields a stronger, cleaner distillate without unpleasant odors.

Positive aspects:

high alcohol strength (up to 93%);
good balance of taste and aroma properties.

If the deflegmator is switched off, the unit can function as a regular moonshine still. Large size and inability to maintain high beverage quality for all types of raw material are its main disadvantages.

Rectification Column

This device is used to produce alcohol with the highest possible strength, reaching up to 96%. It resembles a vertical cylinder containing plates and packing for mass exchange, etc. Accordingly, there are two main varieties:

plate (cap) type;
packing type.

Continuous distillation produces nearly pure alcohol without impurities. The resulting beverage has maximum strength. However, the device is bulky, expensive, and rather complex to operate, making it almost impossible to use at home.

Operating Conditions for Equipment

There is no perfect moonshine still, but depending on specific operating conditions, certain equipment may be more effective. Important criteria include:

availability of running water nearby;
the heating source used;
dimensions of the device.

A running water source is typically available in kitchens and bathrooms. If the unit is used at a country house or garage without plumbing, it's better to choose equipment where water can be manually changed.

The heating method of the distillation tank is crucial. Usually, electric or gas stoves are used. If the tank has a ferromagnetic bottom, induction stoves can be employed, heating faster and more efficiently.

An induction stove is also more effective due to its compact size. To place the tank on a gas or electric stove, you need a room with high ceilings.

Summarizing, the optimal solution is a distillation tank with a ferromagnetic bottom. Also, ensure running water and drainage are near the moonshine still.

Types of Beverages Produced

Moonshine is produced from various raw materials:

sugar;
fruit and berry mixtures;
starch-containing products.

Depending on the raw materials and desired beverages, a certain type of equipment will be optimal.

Distillate and Rectificate: What to Choose

Distillate is a product obtained by evaporating and condensing an alcohol-containing liquid. It retains the taste and aroma of the original ingredients. Examples include cognac, whiskey, and most liqueurs.

Rectificate is a repeatedly processed distilled product, resulting in virtually pure alcohol. No traits of the original ingredients remain, making it impossible to identify the base material. Examples are vodka, tinctures, and some liqueurs.

In the first case, an inexpensive distiller is sufficient, while the second requires an expensive, bulky, and complex rectification column. Therefore, for private use, simpler equipment is advisable.

Fruit, Sugar, and Grain Raw Materials

Sugar-based beverages can be produced using any device, while thick alcohol from fruits or grains requires specialized equipment. Using heating elements is unsuitable due to burning risks. The first distillation is better done using a steam-jacketed boiler or steam generator. The second distillation can use a rectification column.

For making whiskey or cognac, a regular distiller, mash column, or plate (cap) column is suitable. For pure alcohol, it's better to use a rectification column.

Distillation Tank Volume

This parameter plays an important role since overly large tanks (20-30 liters) will be inconvenient to store in a regular apartment. However, tanks with a capacity less than 15 liters are too small.

To produce 1 liter of 50-percent sugar moonshine, approximately 5 liters of raw material is required. At the same time, the tank can only be filled up to 80%. Thus, a 12-liter tank can only hold 9 liters of mash, resulting in less than 2 liters of alcoholic beverage.

Material of Equipment Manufacturing

Most models of apparatuses are made of:

stainless steel, which is affordable, durable, and easy to maintain;
copper, which is less durable but has higher thermal conductivity.

Only Portuguese alembics are considered 100-percent copper apparatuses. They are traditionally used to produce elite alcoholic beverages: whiskey, cognac, calvados, etc.

If you want to purchase a moonshine still of high quality, the company "Ukrpromtech" offers a wide selection of products with different characteristics. A convenient filter will help you sort products by the necessary parameters. To contact a specialist and receive a free consultation, call the numbers listed in the "Contacts" section, or write by email or Viber.

Share with friends