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Important Notice - Mike McCaw will be out of town from Monday May 14 through Monday, May 28. Orders placed during this time will be dealt with promptly upon his return.
Books and small stocked items should ship on the 29th, items that are built to order (PDAs and customized parts) a couple of days later. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The Amphora Society was formed 12 years ago by two close friends: Mike Nixon in New Zealand and Mike McCaw in the USA. They began with writing and publishing The Compleat Distiller, which has proved to be extremely popular, quickly followed by Making Pure Corn Whiskey by Ian Smiley. Last year, we published Designing & Building Automatic Stills by a Scandinavian author, Riku, and most recently Cordial Waters by Wal Pavliuchuk, a detailed history of distilled spirits, containing 260 recipes from all around the world. Our newest publication is Making Fine Spirits (using simple, easy-to-build gear), by Zymurgy Bob. These books form a great collection on any bookshelf, for each offers detailed insights into different aspects of a rapidly-growing activity that has caught the imagination of enthusiasts all around the world. |
| Applying the principles found in The Compleat Distiller, the two Mikes designed the world's first compact still capable of performing the highest quality distillations. The Amphora Society's laboratory scale Professional Distillation Apparatus, or PDA-1 as it is now known, is widely regarded as the best equipment in its size range available at any price. The micro-distillery scale PDA-2 is now in use by quite a few very successful commercial distilleries, and several gold medals have been won by spirits made in a PDA-2. |
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We have carefully studied shipping rates, and developed the lowest cost options for our adaptors, books, structured packing and the PDA-1. Making use of Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes can save as much as half the cost of shipping by regular Priority Mail. this option is availalbe to North America, most of Europe, and several Asian and Australasian countries. More remote locations should use Express Mail International or one of the UPS international services, which offer greater speed and expedited customs clearance.
For the lowest cost shipping of adaptors, books, structured packing or the PDA-1, please select the proper shipping choice when checking out. For US destinations, choose "US Flat Rate Shipping". For internatinal destinations, choose "International Flat Rate Shipping". If these choices are not available to your destination, you may choose between Express Mail International or one of the UPS international services.
CANADIAN ORDERS for one or two books or pounds of mesh - the lowest cost option is "Canadian small order", which is first class mail.
Up to four books or two pounds of structured packing can fit in a single flat rate envelope.
NOTE The officially quoted time for Priority Mail International delivery is 7-10 days, but our experience has been that 10-20 days is more realistic. Global Express Mail, with faster delivery, enhanced tracking and expedited customs clearance, is available if speed is important. We strongly recommend it for high value items.
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| PDA-1 Column Extension |
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One of the primary design goals for the PDA-1 was to make it as compact as possible, but have adequate output for laboratory or hobby use. To this end, its specifications call for operating at 1500W for rapid distillations or making flavored spirits, and at 750W for extremely high purity products. The column extension allows the same high purity production at the full 1500W capacity of the PDA-1. This can cut the time required for high purity production in half. |
| The PDA-2 High Power Distiller |
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The PDA-1's larger sibling, the small commercial or pilot scale PDA-2 has been adopted by many commercial distilleries around the world as their primary distillation equipment. Capable of the same quality levels at the PDA-1, but at power levels from 5 to 10 kW, the PDA-2 is far less expensive than other commercially available equipment of similar or even lower production capacity. Designed to be used in modular fashion, several units may be connected to a single large boiler to allow rapid, economical expansion of production speed and capacity. The PDA-2 is also available in two different versions, one optimized for the production of highest-quality vodka, and the other optimized for production of flavored spirits.
As just one example, the first PDA-2 was chosen by a new distillery in Florida, Touch Vodka.
This hand-made vodka is distilled from mead to produc e a wonderfully clean and refreshing honey-flavored vodka which is fast growing in popularity. Many of their products have now won awards.
The PDA-2 is an extremely sensible and economical investment for small commercial distilleries, whether they are in the process of upgrading their equipment or in the process of setting up new plant. Please contact us to discuss the capabilities of the PDA-2, and the discounts that are available for multiple orders. | | |
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