Bourbon whiskey is one of America’s most iconic spirits. Known for its smooth, sweet flavor and rich amber color, bourbon has won the hearts of whiskey lovers worldwide. One of the most important aspects of creating high-quality bourbon is the still used in the distillation process. In this article, we’ll explore what type of still is used for bourbon, how it works, and why it’s essential to the unique character of this beloved whiskey.
The Importance of the Still in Bourbon Production
In bourbon-making, the still plays a crucial role in transforming a fermented grain mash into the finished spirit. The still is the vessel where the alcohol is separated from the fermented mash through heat and evaporation. This process is called distillation.
What is a Still?
A still is a device used to separate liquids based on their boiling points. In bourbon production, the still helps concentrate the alcohol while removing impurities.
Heating the Mash: The fermented mash is heated in the still, causing the alcohol to evaporate at a lower temperature than water.
Condensation: The alcohol vapor is then cooled and condensed back into liquid form, resulting in a purer, higher-proof alcohol.
The design and type of still used can significantly influence the final flavor, texture, and quality of the bourbon. Therefore, understanding the type of still used in bourbon production is key to appreciating the craftsmanship behind this spirit.
Pot Stills: The Tr@aditional Bourbon Still
Pot stills are one of the oldest types of stills used in whiskey production. They are often associated with traditional distillation methods and are particularly favored for their ability to retain rich, full flavors in the spirit.
How Pot Stills Work
A pot still consists of a large, rounded chamber (the pot) where the mash is heated. As the alcohol vapor rises, it passes through a swan neck and is collected in a condenser, where it cools and returns to liquid form.
Single Distillation: Pot stills typically require multiple distillations to reach the desired alcohol content. The first distillation creates “low wines” with lower alcohol content. These low wines are distilled again to produce the final spirit.
Flavor Retention: Pot stills are known for retaining more of the grain’s natural flavors, which can result in a more robust and complex bourbon.
The Use of Pot Stills in Bourbon
While pot stills are commonly associated with Scotch whisky, they are also used by some bourbon distilleries. Pot stills produce a rich, flavorful bourbon with more texture and depth. However, they are less common in large-scale bourbon production due to their lower efficiency and smaller capacity.
Small Batch and Craft Bourbon: Pot stills are often used by craft distilleries and small-batch bourbon producers who prioritize flavor complexity over volume.
Examples: Some well-known pot still bourbons include those from Woodford Reserve and Kentucky Peerless.
Column Stills: The Modern Workhorse of Bourbon Distillation
While pot stills have their place in bourbon-making, the majority of modern bourbon is distilled using column stills, also known as continuous stills. These stills are favored for their efficiency and ability to produce large quantities of consistent, high-quality bourbon.
How Column Stills Work
Column stills consist of a tall, cylindrical structure divided into multiple sections or plates. The fermented mash is introduced into the still near the top, while steam is introduced from the bottom. As the mash descends, the steam rises, causing the alcohol to evaporate and travel upwards, where it condenses into liquid.
Continuous Distillation: Unlike pot stills, column stills can run continuously, allowing for the distillation of large batches of bourbon without the need to stop and reload the still.
Higher Proof: Column stills can produce higher-proof alcohol in a single pass, which can then be diluted to the desired strength before aging.
The Advantages of Column Stills
Column stills are prized for their efficiency and consistency, making them the preferred choice for large bourbon distilleries.
High Volume Production: Column stills can process large quantities of mash at once, making them ideal for mass-producing bourbon.
Consistency: Column stills produce a more uniform spirit, which is important for maintaining the consistent flavor profile of a brand’s bourbon.
Most of the major bourbon producers, including Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, and Wild Turkey, use column stills for the majority of their production.
See Also: Rye vs. Bourbon: Which Whiskey Reigns Supreme?
Hybrid Stills: The Best of Both Worlds
Some distilleries use hybrid stills, which combine elements of both pot stills and column stills. These stills offer the flavor retention of pot stills with the efficiency of column stills.
How Hybrid Stills Work
A hybrid still typically consists of a pot still base with a column still attached to the top. This allows the distiller to use the pot still for the initial distillation and the column still for refining the alcohol content.
Flexibility: Hybrid stills offer more flexibility in the distillation process, allowing distillers to experiment with different flavor profiles and alcohol strengths.
Craft Distilleries: Many craft distilleries use hybrid stills to create small-batch, artisanal bourbons with unique flavor characteristics.
Examples of Hybrid Still Bourbon
Some craft bourbon producers, such as Kings County Distillery and Castle & Key, use hybrid stills to create complex, flavorful bourbons that stand out in the crowded market.
The Impact of Stills on Bourbon Flavor
The type of still used in bourbon production has a significant impact on the final flavor and quality of the spirit. Each type of still—pot, column, or hybrid—imparts unique characteristics to the bourbon.
Pot Stills and Rich, Bold Flavors
Pot stills, with their slow, batch-by-batch distillation process, tend to produce bourbons with rich, bold flavors. The lower proof of pot-distilled bourbon allows more of the grain’s natural flavors to come through, resulting in a more robust and textured spirit.
Flavor Notes: Bourbon from pot stills often has strong notes of caramel, vanilla, and spice, with a full-bodied mouthfeel.
Ideal for Sipping: Pot-distilled bourbon is often best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, where its complex flavors can be fully appreciated.
Column Stills and Smooth, Consistent Bourbon
Column stills, with their continuous distillation process, produce bourbon that is smoother and more consistent in flavor. The higher proof of column-distilled bourbon results in a cleaner, lighter spirit.
Flavor Notes: Bourbon from column stills tends to have smoother, more subtle flavors of vanilla, oak, and caramel, with a lighter body.
Versatile for Cocktails: Column-distilled bourbon is ideal for use in cocktails, as its smoothness and consistency blend well with other ingredients.
Hybrid Stills and Unique, Artisanal Flavors
Hybrid stills offer the best of both worlds, producing bourbon with the bold flavors of pot stills and the smoothness of column stills. This results in unique, artisanal bourbons that appeal to whiskey connoisseurs looking for something different.
Flavor Notes: Bourbon from hybrid stills often has complex layers of flavor, with notes of fruit, spice, and oak.
Limited Editions: Many hybrid-distilled bourbons are produced in small batches or as limited editions, making them sought after by collectors.
Conclusion: The Still Shapes the Spirit
In the world of bourbon production, the type of still used plays a vital role in shaping the final spirit. Pot stills produce rich, flavorful bourbons with bold character, while column stills offer efficiency and consistency, resulting in smooth, mass-produced bourbons. Hybrid stills combine the best of both, creating unique and complex bourbons that appeal to whiskey enthusiasts.
Whether you prefer the bold complexity of pot-distilled bourbon, the smooth consistency of column-distilled bourbon, or the artisanal uniqueness of hybrid-distilled bourbon, the still used in production is a key factor in determining the flavor and quality of your favorite whiskey.
