What is Distillation?

 What is Distillation?

        The fermented liquid has 3-14% alcohol and it can be concentrated up to 95% by a series of distillation .The percentage of alcohol in a drink varies from 0.5 - 95% ,depending on method by which the alcohol is obtained.

       The fermented mash of fruit grain is heated. Alcohol, which evaporates at a lower temperature than water an the flavoring agents ,can be trapped and condensed to a liquid cooling. Pure alcohol has no color,taste or smell and is used in compounding other beverages such as liqueurs .(Sweetend after dinner drinks) 

      Distillation is the process of separating elements in a liquid by vaporization and condensation. This method has many applications and one of them is the production of spirits .In the distillation process,the alcohol which is present in the fermented liquid (Alcoholic wash) is separated from water. Spirits are example of distilled drinks and plant producing the spirits are known as distilleries.

       Brandy ,Whiskey,Gin,Rum ,Vodka and tequila are the example of the spirits which are prepared from the alcoholic wash as given in the following .

•  Brandy - Fermented grape juice
• Whiskey,Gin - Fermented cereal
• Rum - Fermented molasses
• Vodka - Fermented Potatoes and cereal  
• Tequila - Fermented sap of agave tequilana weber.

   All the spirits are distilled from a base of fermented liquid and have a high percentage of alcohol compared to fermented drinks. There are many distinct and popular  types of spirits, each having its own flavour and body . There are differences in taste ,smell and  color. They may be full bodied or pale

and light-bodied, with strong and mild aroma,colourless or with colour,and so on. These difference within each category and brand make the drink unique.

     There are two types of still used for distilling spirits:-

  a) Pot still            b)Patent and continuous still

Pot still :-

       The pot still method is the oldest method of distillation and most of the finest spirits are made by pot distillation . The pot still has the shape of a huge onion and it has two parts .

     a)still            b)Condenser with spiral tube (worm)

Distillation occurs in pair of coppers pot still with tall swan necks.The first still is called 'Wash still' which is larger the the second still, called 'spirit still'. The alcoholic wash is directed to wash still,where it is heated up. When the temperature reaches 78° C (172° F) ,The Alcohol vapours rise,pass over the neck of the still,and are led to the condenser through spiral pipe which is enclosed in a cold-water container. The condensed liquid is termed as low wine which has an alcoholic content of around 30%.

Patent still or continuous still or Factory still:-

       This is the most modern way of producing spirit for use in chemical plants and laboratories,well as for perfumes,petroleum products and alcohol for social drinking .

     The patent still was invented by Aeneas Coffey,an Irish customer and excise officer in 1 1830.

The apparatus has two large columns analyser and rectifier more then 15m talls. The analyser and rectifier are divided into several chambers in each of which is fitted perforated copper plate and a dip pipe discharging to chamber below. Stream in blow into the bottom of analyser,passes of through it, is drawn up from top and passed to the bottom of rectifier, finally to discharge from top. The wash is brought into the top of the rectifier in a pipe whence it passes into the bottom of the rectifier gets heated to approaching boiling point before being let into top of the analyser. Here it meets rising steam which prevents it from  passing through the perforation of topmost chamber until it has risen to the top of drip pipe which is about an inch above the plate thus it falls into stages from chamber to chamber ,giving off its volatile portions to rising steam.