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The Distillers Archive — Digital Distillation Reference Book
The Distillers Archive — Digital Distillation Reference Book
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Everything a copper-alembic owner wants to know, in one always-current online library.
The Distiller's Archive is the reference library we wished existed when we sold our first still. Nine parts, one library, yours for life. Access it any time from your CopperHolic account — it stays current as we add to it, with nothing to download or keep track of.
What you get
- The Codex — your complete owner's manual. Ten chapters covering still anatomy, first run, care & patina, workspace setup, the eight modes of distillation, reading the run, troubleshooting, kitchen-to-market, glossary, and an owner's registry.
- Run Calculator — a live interactive tool in your library. Pick mode, plant, still size. Get charge weight, water, time, expected yield, and cost per run. 9 modes × 42 plants × 3 still sizes.
- Plant Codex — 42 botanical datasheets. Binomial, family, yield range, hydrosol ratio, tincture ratio, seasonal window, troubleshooting, peer-reviewed source.
- Recipe Cards — 20 tested recipes. 6 hydrosols, 4 oils, 2 distilled waters, 3 spirits/eaux-de-vie, 2 tinctures, 1 perfume, 2 culinary waters.
- US Legal Primer — Federal (26 USC 5601, FDA, MoCRA 2022, DSHEA) + a dedicated page for every US state.
- International Legal Primer — UK, Ireland, EU, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan.
- Batch Log — 30 print-ready run sheets + CSV template for digital record-keeping.
- Temperature & Azeotrope Reference — Boiling points, azeotropes, steam-distillation head temperatures, altitude correction tables.
- Start-Here Guide — Your 30-minute path from unboxing to first run.
Works for every CopperHolic still
Scaled tables and calculator presets for the 5 L, 5-gallon, and 10-gallon alembics. Every recipe and yield range tuned for all three.
Covers everything a copper alembic can produce
Essential oils · Hydrosols · Distilled water · Spirits & eaux-de-vie · Tinctures · Perfumes / eaux-de-cologne · Culinary waters
Sourced, not guessed
Every boiling point from the CRC Handbook 102e and NIST WebBook. Every yield range from peer-reviewed literature (Lawrence, Tisserand & Young, Guenther, ISO standards). Every legal citation to the statute itself. Ranges where ranges are honest — single numbers lie.
Format & access
An online library inside your CopperHolic account — a live Run Calculator plus eight reference volumes. Read it on any device with a browser: Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad or phone. Every page is print-friendly when you want a copy at the workbench. Nothing to download, nothing to lose.
Who this is for
- Owners of a copper alembic still (any maker, any size)
- Aspiring distillers who want the real answers before buying a still
- Herbalists, perfumers, culinary creators, spirit-curious hobbyists
- Anyone who prefers a reference they own to a website they rent
Version & updates
Version 1.0, issued April 2026 — and kept current for life. When we add plants, recipes or revise the law, the Archive updates in place: no new file to fetch, no version to chase. What you open is always the current edition.
Please note: this is a digital product. All sales final. Distilling ethanol is illegal without a permit in most jurisdictions — the Legal Primers tell you exactly what the rules are where you live, but nothing in this product is a licence to break them.
How access works: after purchase, the Archive appears in your CopperHolic account. Sign in and open it any time at copperholic.com/pages/distillers-archive — updates are automatic, with nothing to re-download.
Still have questions?
Questions buyers ask us most
Is it legal to own a copper still in the United States?
Yes. Copper alembic stills are legal to buy and own in all 50 U.S. states for distilling essential oils, hydrosols, distilled water, and botanical extracts — no permit is required for these uses. Distilling alcohol for consumption is separately regulated by federal law and requires its own permit regardless of which still you own. Most CopperHolic customers use their stills for aromatherapy, skincare, and pure water.
What can I actually make with a copper alembic still?
Four things. Essential oils — steam-distill lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint and dozens of botanicals. Hydrosols and floral waters — rose water, lavender mist, chamomile water for skincare and natural fragrance. Botanical extracts and tinctures — concentrated herbal preparations. Pure distilled water — for CPAP machines, humidifiers, irons, and lab use. Copper is prized for all of these because it removes sulfur compounds for cleaner, purer results.
What's the difference between a copper still and an alembic still?
"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 vapour, 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 around 1,200 years because copper conducts heat evenly and strips unwanted compounds from the distillate.
Which copper still size should I choose?
The 5 litre suits beginners and anyone making essential oils, hydrosols, and small floral-water batches — it's 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.
What if it arrives damaged or dented in shipping?
Every still is double-boxed and corner-protected before it leaves our U.S. warehouse. If anything arrives damaged — even a cosmetic dent — email us a photo within 48 hours of delivery and we'll ship a full replacement the same day at no cost to you. No return shipping required. We cover it.
I've never distilled before. Is this beginner-friendly?
Yes — this is the still we recommend most often to first-timers. It arrives fully assembled with a step-by-step starter guide, a cleaning rinse included, and recipe cards for lavender, rose, and peppermint. Most customers run their first successful hydrosol distillation within 48 hours of unboxing. If you get stuck, email us a photo of what you're seeing and we'll walk you through it personally.
How do I know this is real copper, not copper-plated?
Every CopperHolic still is 99.9% pure copper, hand-hammered from a single sheet — not cast, not plated. You can verify this three ways: (1) hold a magnet to the body, it will not stick; (2) scratch an inconspicuous spot — the color underneath is identical; (3) over months of use you'll see the signature copper patina develop, which only happens with real copper. Plated pieces expose brass or steel under the surface and fail the magnet test.
How long until I actually make something with it?
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 more botanical material — plan a weekend for that. The included guide walks you through both.
Everything you need to know before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
👉 How do I receive the Archive after purchase?
The moment your order is placed, the Archive unlocks on your CopperHolic account. Sign in at copperholic.com/pages/distillers-archive with the email you used at checkout, and the whole library opens in your browser — nothing to download, no separate password to set up.
👉 What exactly is inside the Archive?
Nine parts, one online library: the Codex (your complete owner's manual — anatomy, first run, the eight modes, troubleshooting), a live Run Calculator, the Plant Codex (42 botanical datasheets, grams of botanical → mL of oil/hydrosol), 20 tested recipes with exact ratios and temperatures, US & International legal primers (federal, all 50 states, 15 countries), a Batch Log, a Temperature & Azeotrope Reference, and a Start-Here guide.
👉 Will it work on my device? Do I need special software?
Yes — the Archive is an online library, so it opens in any modern web browser on any phone, tablet, or computer. The Run Calculator is a live interactive tool, and every reference page is print-friendly when you want a hard copy at the workbench. Nothing to install, no subscription.
👉 Does the Archive stay up to date?
Always. The Archive updates in place — when we add recipes, new plant data, or revise the legal primers, the change appears in your library automatically. No new file to fetch, no version to chase. What you open is always the current edition, for as long as you own it.
👉 I don't own a CopperHolic still yet — is it still useful?
Yes. The Codex, Plant Codex, recipes, and legal primers work with any pot still or alembic — whatever brand or size. The Run Calculator includes presets for CopperHolic's 5 L, 5-gallon and 10-gallon stills, plus a custom-size option for any other still.
👉 What's your refund policy?
Because the Archive unlocks instantly on your account, it can't be "returned" — so we back it with a 30-day no-questions satisfaction guarantee. If you open it and it isn't what you expected, email hello@copperholic.com within 30 days and we'll refund you in full. No forms, no hassle.