What role does a pot still play in the distillation process?

A pot still plays a significant role in the distillation process by allowing for flavor extraction during distillation. This traditional distillation equipment consists of a large vessel where the mash or wash is heated to produce vapor. As the vapor rises, it passes through a condenser where it cools and returns to liquid form.

During this heating phase, the pot still retains a lot of the original flavors and aromas from the raw materials, such as grains, fruits, or even botanicals, in a way that continuous column stills do not. The less efficient nature of a pot still allows for a richer, more complex flavor profile because it typically goes through fewer distillation cycles, maintaining more of the volatile compounds that contribute to the final spirit's taste.

This process of concentrating flavors is what makes pot stills particularly favored in the production of certain types of spirits, including some bourbons and whiskeys. The design of the pot still also allows for the opportunity for the distiller to make cuts and select specific flavor profiles during the distillation process, further enhancing the complexity of the spirit.