pot still

A pot still is a type of apparatus used in distillation, a process that separates liquids based on their boiling points. It's a large, enclosed vessel where the liquid is heated, causing it to vaporize. The vapors then travel through a partially cooled line, separating them from liquid particles, before reaching a condenser to cool them back into a liquid.1

Pot stills are often used in a series of two or three to increase the alcohol content of the final product. While historically significant, especially for whiskey and brandy production, pot stills are gradually being replaced by more efficient continuous distillation methods. However, they are still valued for producing spirits with a more complex flavor profile.12