Alembic

Alembic is a copper distilling cube of special design, designed for the distillation of alcohol. Structurally it consists of a condenser, a helmet, a pipe for steam removal, and directly a distilling cube.
Europeans became acquainted with them around the VIII century, adopting technology from the Arabs. Initially, distilling cubes were used in medicine, for chemical experiments, as well as for the manufacture of essential oils and other substances obtained by sublimation. Portuguese sailors have found a new use of stills, overtaking wine on it in order to increase the shelf life of the whimsical drink. They received a strong distillate, and the alembic acquired a new direction of development. Later, the development of technology led to the emergence of cognac.
Since the XVI century. in all developed European countries are engaged in the distillation of alcohol, which is then used as a basis for a variety of alcoholic beverages with different flavors. In areas of Europe where grapes do not grow for any reason, the role of raw materials is corn, grain, potatoes, and even some exotic fruits.
In the future, the alcohol industry began to develop rapidly, and the moonshine machines themselves became much larger.
In the first half of the XX century. Scotsman Robert Stein is working on the design of the still, which will be able to perform constant distillation.
Currently, stills are used in the production of cognac and Armagnac. The rounded shape of the device prevents the accumulation of wine suspensions at the corners of the container. The yield of alcohol directly depends on the geometric dimensions of the still. For this reason, large distilling cubes are mostly used in industrial enterprises, most often with a Charente design.