All terms
Distillery glossary
Distillation
Distillation is the process of heating fermented wash to separate alcohol from water and other compounds by their different boiling points, then condensing the alcohol vapor into a higher-proof spirit.
Alcohol boils at a lower temperature than water, so careful heating concentrates it in the vapor. The distiller separates the run into heads (volatile, harsh), hearts (the clean spirit kept), and tails (heavier, oily), a decision that defines quality and yield. The volume and proof of the hearts cut is the basis for production reporting and costing.
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