The Distillation Unit PICCOLO is the smallest and most compact distillation unit in our range. It was designed by us, optimally laid out from a process-engineering perspective and is manufactured exclusively for us. It is therefore not a simple standard still but a thoughtfully designed small unit for clean work on a small scale.
The PICCOLO is particularly suitable for small batches, recipe trials and the production of macerated spirits (Geiste) such as gin, absinthe, ouzo, Cointreau or raspberry macerated spirit. Thanks to the two supplied boilers with 0.5 litres and 1.0 litres, you can flexibly switch between very small test quantities and somewhat larger batches.
The unit is made of solid copper, is heated with a spirit burner and is laid out from a process-engineering perspective for clean work on a small scale. Particularly practical are the supplied anti-scorch insert for unfiltered mashes and the aroma basket for herbs, spices, fruit and botanicals. The PICCOLO is therefore ideal for anyone who wants to try out many different varieties and experiment with little material in a targeted way.
The main advantages
- Two boiler sizes: 0.5 litres and 1.0 litres included in the scope of delivery.
- Compact design: ideal for small batches, trials and recipe development.
- Solid copper: high-quality construction and stable workmanship.
- Short distillation time: with the 0.5-litre boiler approx. 20 to 30 minutes per run.
- With anti-scorch insert: unfiltered mashes can be processed.
- With aroma basket: ideal for gin, absinthe, ouzo, raki, jenever and other macerated spirits.
- Thermometer for monitoring: for separating the heads and tails.
- Flexible cooling: usable with an open cooling vessel, mains water connection or circulating pump.
Ideal for macerated spirits and small trials
The Distillation Unit PICCOLO is particularly sensible when you want to try out many different recipes. The small boiler sizes mean that you only need a small amount of material per run. This is ideal for herbs, spices, fruit, botanicals and other aroma carriers.
With the aroma basket you can use, for example, juniper and spices for gin, wormwood for absinthe, aniseed for ouzo or raki, as well as fruit for various macerated spirits. During distillation, the alcohol vapour absorbs the aromatic substances from the basket and thereby produces an aromatic macerated spirit.
Anti-scorch insert for unfiltered mashes
The supplied anti-scorch insert enables the distillation of unfiltered mashes. This is a major advantage because the softened fruit pulp often still contains alcohol and aromatic substances. As a result, the yield can be higher and the distillate can become more intense in flavour.
At the same time, the unit reacts quickly to changes in the heat input. There is therefore no disruptive delay as with a double-jacketed boiler.
Thermometer for monitoring the distillation
The separation of heads and tails is carried out with the help of the thermometer. The measuring point is located at the highest point of the as-yet uncooled vapour. The course of the distillation can therefore be observed reliably.
The thermometer has a measuring range of 0 to 110 °C and can be read to 0.5 °C accuracy. Particularly with small stills, precise temperature monitoring is especially important.
Cooling and operation
The cooling consists of a copper coil and an open copper vessel. Fresh cooling water can be added via the funnel. The water therefore flows from the bottom of the cooling vessel upwards to the outlet.
The condenser can also be connected directly to a mains water connection or operated with a small circulating pump. The circulating pump is not included in the scope of delivery.
Performance and dimensions
- Boiler sizes: 0.5 litres and 1.0 litres
- Distillation time with the 0.5-litre boiler: approx. 20 to 30 minutes
- Possible yield with the 1-litre boiler: depending on the alcohol content of the material to be distilled, approx. 0.2 to 0.7 litres of high-proof distillate
- Heat source: spirit burner with a wide wick
- Material: solid copper
- Dimensions: approx. 20 cm width, 50 cm length, 46 cm height without thermometer
Matching additions
For diluting the distillate to drinking strength, we recommend a matching Alcohol Measuring Set. In addition, our book “Spirit Distillation as a Hobby” contains many tips, instructions and around 100 recipes for flavourful fruit spirits and macerated spirits.
A screw-down lever provides for the secure closure of the boiler. The tightness is provided by the matching Sealing Ring PICCOLO.
