Distillation of alcoholic beverages concentrates their alcohol content, yielding a higher quality and more potency beverage. Distillation plays a key role in beverage production whether the result will be enjoyed neat, over ice or mixed into cocktails. Distillation creates various spirits like vodka, whisky, rum and gin; with increased percentages of ethanol leading to classification […]

Alcohol distillation involves extracting pure ethanol alcohol from volatile, less desirable and sometimes harmful congeners such as fusel oil, methanol and acetone. Distillers begin with an alcoholic liquid known as “The Wash,” usually composed of fermented grains or materials used depending on what spirit will be made; then heat this wash in their still and […]

Distillation is one of the most energy-intensive separation processes used in petrochemical plants, yet not often researched. Recent advancements in membrane technology and adsorption materials offer opportunities for hybrid separation that uses less than half as much energy to achieve similar separation. Energy reduction in crude distillation can improve economic benefits and make more efficient […]

Establishing small-scale distilleries Starting up a distillery can be costly. From premises and licensing fees, building (especially if creating tasting room, tour facilities and shop facilities), stills, equipment, ingredients, bottles and marketing your brand all add up quickly – this includes time taken before seeing profits as operating costs must first be covered before any […]

yeast is a single-celled organism responsible for fermenting sugar into alcohol that we drink, producing delicious flavors like whisky phenolics. Although distillers know yeast’s role well, most consumers remain unaware of how these tiny fungi contribute to the taste of their favorite whiskies, beers or wines. In the whisky industry, most distillers use commercial strains […]