causing more of the heavier , oilier vapors to travel over into the condenser and create a fuller bodied spirit . However , a lyne arm turning downward by design allows heavier vapors to continue toward the condenser . Sometimes a system will have a round shaped component called an onion between the pot and swan neck . This creates another area that is cooler than the rising vapors and will produce reflux . These parts can be customized depending on what spirit and flavor profile the distiller wants .
Portuguese distillers using copper for their alembic systems goes back as far as their distilling of the aguardiente ( alcoholic beverages ). There are many reasons copper is used to make distilling equipment . A couple being that it is malleable ( easily formed into shapes ) and ductile ( easily pulled into pipe and wire ). Copper may appear shiny and smooth , but if you look at it under a microscope , the surface actually looks like steel wool with lots of nooks and crannies for the heavier , larger distillate molecules to get stuck in . Copper attracts and holds onto these sulphides , or sour and rotten egg flavors , and keeps your distillate tasting and smelling pleasant .
The pot stills made by Vendome are custom-built to size according to what distillate the customer wants and in what quantities they want it . There are three major parts of a copper pot still : a top head , a bottom head and a tapering shell for a body . Vendome workers can do the tapered shells inhouse . The larger heads are cut and welded to a certain square footage and then cut to a round shape with a mechanical metal slitter or computer plasma cutter . The piece is then heated with a large torch so that the copper