The Distillers Archive — Digital Distillation Reference Book

Copper alembic stills are widely bought and owned across the United States for distilling essential oils, hydrosols, floral waters, distilled water and botanical extracts, and that is what almost all of our customers use them for. Distilling alcohol to drink is a separate matter: it is regulated by federal law and needs its own permit, whichever still you own. State law also differs, and a small number of states restrict owning a still whatever you plan to distil. We are not able to give legal advice, so please check the rules in your own state before you order. If you are unsure, email us and we will tell you what we know.

Four things. Essential oils: steam-distill lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint and dozens of botanicals. Hydrosols and floral waters: rose water, lavender mist and chamomile water for skincare and natural fragrance. Botanical distillates: concentrated aromatic extracts from herbs, roots and flowers. Distilled water: for steam irons, humidifiers and topping up batteries, made from your own tap water. Copper is prized for all of these because it removes sulfur compounds, which is why it is the standard in commercial distilling too.

Copper still is the broad term for any still made of copper. An alembic still is a specific traditional design: a rounded copper pot, an onion-shaped head that collects vapor, and a coiled condenser that cools it back to liquid. Every CopperHolic still is a copper alembic still: the centuries-old alembic shape, hand-hammered from pure copper. The design has been trusted for over 1,000 years because copper conducts heat evenly and strips unwanted compounds from the distillate.

The 5 Litre suits beginners and anyone making essential oils, hydrosols and small floral-water batches. It is compact and the easiest to handle. The 5 Gallon is our most popular size: the all-round choice for serious home distillers who want room to grow. The 10 Gallon is built for large-batch production, botanical studios, and small commercial use. Not sure? Our copper still size guide compares all three side by side.

Every still is double-boxed and corner-protected before it ships. If anything arrives damaged, even a cosmetic dent, email us a photo within 48 hours of delivery and we will ship a full replacement at no cost to you. You pay nothing, and we cover the return shipping.

Yes. This is the still we recommend most often to first-timers. It arrives assembled, so there is nothing to build, and the step-by-step setup walkthrough and the starter recipes for lavender, rose and peppermint are in your account the moment you order. Most people finish their first hydrosol the same day the box arrives: about twenty minutes to unbox and rinse, then one to three hours for the run depending on the size you chose. If you get stuck, email us a photo of what you are seeing and we will walk you through it.

Every CopperHolic still is solid copper, hand-hammered from sheet, not cast and not plated. Two honest tests. Solid copper is heavy for its size, and a magnet will not cling to it. The clearest tell is time: over a few months of use a solid piece darkens into an even patina across the whole surface, including the places you handle most, which plating cannot do because it wears through instead. We will not tell you to scratch it. The interior is tin-lined for food contact, and scraping that lining is the one thing you should not do to a still.

From doorstep to finished hydrosol: typically one afternoon. Unboxing and first rinse takes about 20 minutes. A complete hydrosol distillation run (lavender or rose water) takes 60–90 minutes once you’re set up. Your first essential oil run takes longer because you need far more botanical material, so plan a weekend for that one. The included guide walks you through both.

In the box: the hand-hammered copper pot, the swan-neck helm, the coil condenser and the built-in thermometer, assembled and ready to run. You supply the heat. The still sits on your own stovetop, and gas or electric work as they are, while induction needs an adapter plate. You will also want two lengths of ordinary hose for the condenser, one carrying cold water in and one carrying it out. A botanical basket is not included and you do not need one to begin: most first runs put the plant material straight into the water, which is how hydrosols have been made for centuries.

You have 30 days from delivery to return an unused still. Opening the carton to inspect it is fine and does not affect your right to return. A still that has been used for a distillation run cannot be returned. Change-of-mind returns carry a 15% restocking fee and you pay return shipping. If the item is damaged, defective, or not what you ordered there is no fee and we cover return shipping. Separately, every still carries a lifetime guarantee against defects in seams, joints and workmanship. Full terms are on our returns policy page.