How to Create artisanal Spirits Through Distillation

How are grains and produce harvested in the field transformed into spirits we pour into our glasses? Distillation is at the core of it all.

Heating liquid mixtures to their boiling points generates vapour which can then be condensed and collected for later separation of desired compounds–in this instance alcohol. The type of still used has an important influence on the final spirit’s flavor and character: from simple pot stills cobbled together from spare parts to massive stills with glittering lights, there are countless ways of creating spirits through similar basic procedures.

Mashing, which can range in complexity depending on the craft distiller, transforms starch compounds in raw materials into sugar that yeast feeds on. By fermenting these sugar molecules into alcohol and carbon dioxide byproducts, alcohol and carbon dioxide are then separated from one another through various steps including evaporation and condensation to purify and concentrate it into its final form.

Craft distillers who take an all-in approach – known as seed to glass– may require more space, expertise, time and money upfront in terms of time spent growing ingredients for mashing and fermenting processes to create their unique styles of spirit. While some producers who are pioneering craft spirits are doing just this with premade neutral spirits from trusted suppliers before using mashing and fermentation processes to craft unique styles. Some newer producers who are making waves within their respective industry and have come to embrace craft spirits themselves are doing things this way as well.