Alembic Stills

The Alembic Still is a simple, elegant and effective apparatus used for distillation. It’s been used over many hundreds of years and is often referred to in the study of Alchemy.

Handcrafted by skilled copper masters, the sensual curves and natural beauty of copper echo the splendours of the past. The typical shape of the alembic still, together with the beneficial properties of copper are what give the distillate its unique quality.

The Egyptians were the first people to construct stills and images of them adorn the ancient temple of Memphis, but it is from Arabic that we get the words 'alembic' (al ambic) and alcohol (al cohol). The first means the distillation vessel; the second expresses the idea of delicacy and subtlety, as in distillation vapour, the “essence” of matter.

The still was developed in 800 AD by the Arab alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan. The word 'alembic' is derived from the metaphorical meaning of 'that which refines; which transmutes'.

The Likely Origins of the term 'spirituous', which is used to describe alcoholic drinks, dates back to the 13th century. The French expression Eau de Vie or 'water of life’ derives from the medicinal properties of spirituous drinks, which were held to possess the quality of prolonging life.

The use of essential oils, herbs, roots and spices in the distillation process made it possible to create products for medicinal, therapeutic, culinary and cosmetic use.

NOVICE, ENTHUSIAST OR ARTISAN PRODUCER

All can and will create rewarding quality distillations of either essential oils, aromatic waters or spirituous drinks from the selections of systems and sizes available - Products