Alcohol Distillation and Historical Events

Alcohol distillation is a process in which liquid components of a mixture are separated via vaporization and condensation, with those ingredients with lower boiling points being separated out and unwanted components like water being eliminated through this separation step. Distillation is often employed in producing products like alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals or chemicals.

Wine production arose fairly early in history, as evidence of winemaking can be found as far back as Neolithic jars at sites like Hierankopolis in Egypt. Distilled beverages also appeared throughout Asia; Chinese records indicate rice-derived beverages in 800 BCE while arrack was produced from sugarcane and rice in East Indies at an unknown date; alcohol can even be found in Scorpion I’s tomb – one of Egypt’s earliest Dynastic Kings.

Due to their intoxicating and mind-altering properties, alcoholic beverages have long been used by various cultures as a socializing, relaxing or performance enhancer. Alcoholic drinks have become an integral part of human ritual and cultural practices and their production was often shared between cultures.

Early distillation methods were crude, employing copper pots or stills; however, technology quickly advanced so as to enable an entire industry. A still (also referred to as reboiler or pot) used in distillation is composed of three parts: an initial heat source; an intermediate condenser that cools heated vapor; and finally a receiver where concentrated or purified liquid (known as product) can be collected.