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Alambik – an ancient device for distilling alcohol, aromatic oils, fruit water. For more than a thousand years, this moonshine has been actively used by alchemists, pharmacists, perfumers and distillers. Today, copper alambik is used for home-made whiskey, cognac, grappa, chacha, rum, gin, calvados and other alcoholic beverages that require distillation.
Principle of operation. Any alambik consists of at least three components: a distillation cube (it would be more accurate to call it a ball or onion), an air reflux condenser (a tube specially curved to remove steam) and a refrigerator with two pipes for supplying and discharging water.
Distilled raw materials are heated in a cube by any heat source: gas, electricity, wood. The alcohol vapor rises to the top of the cube, then through the tube they enter the refrigerator, where they condense in the coil under the influence of water, which is supplied to the lower pipe, and is discharged through the upper one, circulating in the opposite direction from the movement of steam.
Traditionally, alambicas are made by hand from copper: the material absorbs harmful substances and gives the distillate a mild taste, and the rounded shape prevents the accumulation of suspension in the corners.
History of the still
Similar devices were used in ancient Egypt in the XNUMXrd century BC. (possibly earlier), and the first written mention of alambiks is found in the Arabic book of the XNUMXth century “On the chemistry of incense and distillations”. It is likely that copper stills came to Europe in the XNUMXth century from the East, and the Moors adopted the technology from the ancient Romans and Greeks.
The original purpose of alambiques was not associated with alcoholic beverages, paints, medicines and aromatic essences were made in copper distillers. Only in the XNUMXth century the device was “retrained” for the production of alcohol. Literally any products were used as raw materials, from grape pulp to grain, corn, and potatoes.
Over time, the craftsmen improved the device, increasing productivity and efficiency. In 1831, permanent distillation alambic was invented, without which we could not enjoy Scotch whisky, English gin and many other “noble” types of alcohol. This apparatus distills raw materials not in batches, but continuously, thanks to which the process goes several times faster, and the output is a cleaner and stronger drink with less waste.
Today you can buy alambiks from 5 to 100 liters; wineries use large industrial alambiks for thousands of liters. The products of Portuguese and Spanish craftsmen are especially respected: in these countries, the famous moonshine stills are still made 90% by hand, tapping the desired shape with a hammer and carefully adjusting all the components.
Advantages and disadvantages of alambikov
Alambik moonshine is considered an original gift and useful household utensils. This device is really indispensable for those who like to treat themselves to homemade alcohol and want to achieve the perfect quality of the drink. Here are just some of the advantages of copper alambiks:
- ease of operation and unpretentiousness;
- alambik can be used anywhere: in a city apartment, in a country house, in nature;
- an open fire, an electric stove, a gas burner, and any other methods are suitable for heating the distillation cube;
- due to its aesthetic appearance, alambik can serve as a decorative element in interior design;
- if you equip the device with additional accessories (water bath, column), you can distill even thick raw materials or flavor moonshine.
Disadvantages of alambic Price is the main disadvantage: copper and manual labor are not cheap. In addition, the device will have to be monitored – polished, cleaned, wiped with special means in time.
Types of alambikov
According to the production method (that is, by quality), the following types of alambiks can be distinguished:
- Riveted. Such devices look “entourage”, but are considered to be of lower quality than their counterparts with welded seams. The “swan neck” (steam tube) is joined to the cooler telescopically without additional fasteners or has a screw thread.
- Soldered. All elements are tightly connected, the risk of leakage or malfunction is completely excluded. You can install additional elements, such as a column.
The shape of the alambics are of the following types:
Classic. Three basic components connected by riveting or soldering.
With a column. In an additional, usually removable, “nozzle” between the cube and the helmet, you can add rose petals, berries or fruits to flavor the moonshine. The steam passes through the column, absorbs the essential oils of the raw materials, as a result, the distillate has an aroma and slightly changes the taste. It is this type of alambika that is used in the perfume industry.
Portuguese Alambique. Close to the classic with a column, only the evaporation chamber is slightly enlarged, respectively, and the distillate strength is higher. Can be used for steam distillation.
Arabic (Alquitar). Vertical, all components are stacked on top of each other, not arranged in a horizontal plane. The refrigerator is connected to the helmet. Compact, comfortable, beautiful. In addition to moonshine, it is used to obtain essential oils.
Charente. It differs from its counterparts in the intermediate capacity between the distillation cube and the refrigerator, which can serve as an additional cooler or reservoir for raw materials. It is these alambicas that are used to make real French cognac in the province of the same name. The liquid in them undergoes an additional second distillation, and oak barrels often play the role of an alcohol receiver.
There are also several specialized alambiks with special components:
A device with a water seal. A special chute between the walls of the distillation cube ensures complete sealing of the alambic. Often the design is equipped with a special distillation lens that increases the strength of the distillate and cuts off the “head” (the first fractions of moonshine containing esters, aldehydes and other harmful substances).
Alambik in a water bath. It is used for the distillation of thick raw materials. The alembic is placed in another container, which is filled with water before distillation. As a result, the mash does not come into contact with an open flame, but is heated by steam, so it does not burn.
“Whiskey”. It is equipped with an elongated “helmet” of the distillation cube, thanks to which the steam is better cleaned. The strength of the distillate is up to 60%.
Alambik with distillation column – during distillation, harmful fractions settle on the walls of the column, the output is almost pure alcohol with a strength of about 90 degrees. The disadvantage is that the aroma of the raw material is lost.
Operation of alambiks
Before the first use, a brand new alambik must be thoroughly cleaned, for this it is enough just to distill a portion of water. After distillation of moonshine, the apparatus must be disassembled and thoroughly rinsed with a solution of citric acid, the coil is best cleaned with a brush.
If using alambik after a long break, run a mixture of water and flour through the apparatus (the proportion of rye flour to water is 1/20). Store the copper distiller in a dark, dry place away from dust and dirt.