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Which Still Is Right for You? A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing a Copper Alembic Still
So you’ve decided you want to start distilling.
Maybe you’re dreaming of harvesting roses from your garden and turning them into fragrant hydrosol. Perhaps you’d like to extract essential oils from lavender or rosemary, create botanical gin infusions, or simply explore one of the oldest crafts in the world.
Whatever has brought you here, the first question is usually the same:
Which still do I actually need?
It’s a fair question. Between alembics, alquitars, column stills and pot stills, the terminology can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out.
This guide will walk you through the main types of traditional copper stills, what they’re designed for, and how to choose the right one for your goals.
What Is an Alembic Still?
The alembic is one of the oldest distillation devices in the world, with origins dating back more than a thousand years. The word itself comes from the Arabic al-anbīq, reflecting its roots in the traditions of alchemy and early chemistry.
Despite centuries of innovation, the fundamental design has remained remarkably unchanged because it works exceptionally well.
A traditional alembic consists of:
- The pot (cucurbit): where water, wash, or plant material is heated
- The onion head (capital): which collects rising vapour
- The swan neck and condenser: which cool the vapour and return it to liquid form
Our copper alembics are handcrafted in Portugal by artisans whose families have been forging copper stills for generations.
Copper isn’t simply beautiful—it also plays an important role during distillation, helping remove unwanted sulphur compounds and contributing to a cleaner, smoother distillate.
The Main Types of Copper Stills
1. Traditional Copper Pot Still
Best for: Hydrosols, essential oils, floral waters, botanical experimentation and traditional spirit making.
The traditional pot still is the most versatile and recognisable alembic design.
Plant material and water are placed together in the pot and heated. As steam rises through the botanicals, it carries aromatic compounds into the condenser where they are collected as hydrosol and, in some cases, essential oil.
A traditional pot still is ideal if you want to:
- Make hydrosols from herbs and flowers
- Experiment with essential oil extraction
- Distil floral waters
- Learn the fundamentals of distillation
- Explore traditional spirit making
If you’re looking for one still that can do a little bit of everything, this is often the best place to start.
Our range: 2.5L Traditional Copper Pot Stills and traditional alembic stills in larger capacities.
2. Traditional Alquitar Still
Best for: Hydrosols, floral waters, delicate botanicals and beginners.
The alquitar is one of the earliest forms of distillation equipment and remains a favourite among people who primarily work with flowers and aromatic plants.
Unlike a traditional alembic, the cooling chamber sits directly above the boiler, creating a compact and elegant design.
The gentle nature of the alquitar makes it particularly well suited to:
- Rose hydrosol
- Orange blossom water
- Lavender hydrosol
- Chamomile distillations
- Delicate aromatic herbs
Many users find the alquitar simple to operate and beautifully suited to small-batch botanical work.
Our range: 10L, 15L and 25L Traditional Copper Alquitars.
3. Column Stills
Best for: Essential oils, hydrosols, steam distillation and botanical spirits.
Column stills differ from traditional pot stills because the plant material sits in a basket or column above the water rather than directly inside it.
As steam rises through the column, it passes through the botanical material before entering the condenser.
This approach offers several advantages:
- Ideal for steam distillation
- Excellent for essential oil production
- Produces high-quality hydrosols
- Suitable for flowers, herbs and medicinal plants
- Can be used for botanical spirit infusions
If your primary interest is essential oils, hydrosols or working with larger quantities of plant material, a column still is often the preferred choice.
Our range: 5L, 10L, 20L and 30L Column Still Kits.
4. Hydrosol Still Kits
Best for: Beginners wanting a complete package.
Our hydrosol kits are designed for people who want to start producing plant waters without the guesswork of sourcing accessories separately.
These kits include everything needed to begin distilling and are perfect for:
- Hobby gardeners
- Herbalists
- Workshop presenters
- Small-scale producers
If hydrosols are your primary goal, these kits provide a straightforward entry point into the world of copper distillation.
Choosing the Right Size
Once you’ve selected the style of still, size becomes the next consideration.
| Size | Best For |
|---|---|
| 2.5L | Learning, workshops, recipe development and experimentation |
| 5–10L | Home gardens, regular hobby use and small harvests |
| 15–20L | Serious hobbyists and larger seasonal harvests |
| 25–30L | Small artisan production and larger-scale botanical processing |
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is purchasing a still that’s too small for the amount of plant material they intend to process.
For most home gardeners and herbal enthusiasts, a 10L still offers an excellent balance between capacity and ease of use.
A Simple Decision Guide
I want to make hydrosols and floral waters from my garden
Choose a Traditional Pot Still or an Alquitar in the 10L range.
I want to produce essential oils
A Column Still or larger Traditional Pot Still will generally give the best results.
I want to distil herbs using steam rather than boiling them in water
A Column Still is the ideal choice.
I want a still for workshops and demonstrations
A 2.5L Traditional Pot Still is portable, practical and easy to operate.
I’m completely new to distillation
Start with a 10L Pot Still, Alquitar or Hydrosol Kit. They are forgiving, versatile and provide plenty of room to learn.
I’m planning a small business
Talk to us first. Plant type, harvest volume, production goals and regulatory requirements can all influence the best setup.
Still Not Sure?
That’s exactly why Alembic Alchemy exists.
We use these stills ourselves and work with growers, herbalists, educators and hobbyists across Australia.
If you’re unsure which still is right for your goals, get in touch and tell us what you’d like to create. Whether it’s hydrosols, essential oils, floral waters or botanical spirits, we’ll help you choose a still you’ll still be happy with years from now.
Explore the full Alembic Alchemy range and begin your distillation journey today.