How Temperature Affects Alcohol Distillation

How Temperature Affects Alcohol Distillation

Liquid temperature plays an essential part in any distillation process. This is because liquid’s molecules vibrate with energy stored up from vibrating vibrations; when left at rest this energy dissipates as heat, allowing for relaxation of both molecules and atoms and ultimately, distillation.

Distilling requires harnessing kinetic energy, which is both fun and stressful. High temperatures increase the risk of accidents or equipment malfunctions; so, to ensure safe still operations, temperature must be carefully monitored to maintain safe operations.

For maximum efficiency, it’s essential that you know when to switch off the heat source and conclude your distillation run. One way of doing this is monitoring the temperatures in your pot boiler, column and condenser coil; once they reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit it’s time to turn off the heat source and stop distillation.

At the start of a distillation run, your still will produce less desirable and potentially harmful congeners with lower boiling points than Ethanol – commonly referred to as heads – before its more desirable heart is separated out. A distiller must know when and how to switch over between diverting spirits through its condenser coil from heads into hearts or vice versa.