The Amphora Society

is a New Zealand company with strong connections to North America. We began with the publication of The Compleat Distiller by Nixon and McCaw, which has proved to be extremely popular, and followed up with publication of Making Pure Corn Whiskey by Ian Smiley. We are now proud to add a new book by a Scandinavian author, Riku – Designing & Building Automatic Stills. We are pleased to say that it has been an immediate success throughout the world!

Applying the principles found in The Compleat Distiller, we designed the World's first compact still capable of performing the highest quality distillations. The Amphora Society's laboratory scale Professional Distillation Apparatus, Mk 1, or PDA-1 as it is now known around the world is widely regarded as the best equipment in its size range available at any price. Its larger sibling, the PDA-2 is now in use by several very successful commercial distilleries. .

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The Compleat Distiller

Worldwide, there is a growing interest in distillation by those who enjoy making alcoholic beverages, essential oils, botanical extracts and perfumes. We have read books that purport to describe how distillation works, but got it wrong in whole or in part, and some that detail how to build a particular type of still and operate it but which are based more on myth than sound scientific and engineering knowledge. We came to the conclusion that there was a crying need for a book that gives a detailed account of the entire subject, avoiding old wives' tales and dealing entirely in verifiable facts.  We were proud to have recently received this tribute:
I read your book. Excellent work! As a teacher of Chemistry I must admit that this book is truly a teaching book of the highest caliber. It is a proud member of my library!   MC

Making Pure Corn Whiskey

Ian Smiley's book has been long held to be the best book ever written on how amateur distillers can make whiskey, starting with the basic ingredients. His book describes the whole process from beginning to end in a simple, clearly understood manner, using equipment detailed in the Society's first book, The Compleat Distiller. Both Ian's book and The Compleat Distiller make a very well matched pair for any library, for each complements the other.

Designing & Building Automatic Stills – by Riku

The newest technique in amateur distillation is Automatic Reflux Control (ARC), which takes all the guesswork out of controlling a still to ensure that it produces the best product with the least trouble and supervision. The idea behind ARC is to use the temperature at the top section of the still to automatically keep both the output and the reflux ratio at optimum values to ensure you get excellent results. The actual system is amazingly simple and can be attached to most existing conventional still head. The book is copiously illustrated, and several methods of ARC are described in detail from the simplest 'mechanical' system, to advanced control using a computer.

The PDA-1

Four years ago, an extensive research program came to a startling and radical conclusion – that a properly designed and operated compound still did NOT need an extremely long column to achieve excellent purity and quality product. In fact, through careful engineering and design optimization, the PDA-1 can make products superior to those obtained from ordinary stills many times its size. Operating at only 575 watts (a third of its rated capability), the PDA-1 can produce a liter of 96% (192 proof) ethanol so pure that it requires no carbon filtering. When diluted to 40% (80 proof), this produces 2.4 liters of exquisite vodka! It can product whiskey, brandy, rum, or other flavored spirits at significantly higher speeds. The PDA-1 has proven to be very popular, and users around the world have issued glowing reports and reviews.

Pure Copper Structured Mesh

The quality of the packing material is essential to the performance of reflux and compound stills. Most distillers agree that the best material for packing is metal mesh, and that copper is the best material for packing, because it helps remove sulfides and improve the flavor of spirits. However, all metal mesh is not created equal. Two years of research and testing dozens of products led us to the specifications for the Amphora Society's Structured Mesh Packing. These specifications insure a packing that allows adequate vapor and liquid flow, while providing the greatest surface area, and which requires 20% less weight to pack a column than ordinary, run-of-the-mill copper mesh offered elsewhere.

Our Streamlined Shipping System
We have streamlined our shipping system by dispatching, fully insured, all our products from our USA distribution center, and by making full use of flat mailing rates. All USA shipments are sent Priority Mail, and those elsewhere are sent Priority Mail International with tracking available to 'major destinations' (see note below). 

We are therefore able to offer fixed shipping rates to each of three shipping regions (USA, Canada, Rest of World) for individual packages of up to 4 books, and for individual packages of up to 2 pounds of structured copper mesh. Shipping increments in these amounts.

This enables considerable savings to be made by those who wish to order books or mesh for their local club, or simply want to have an extra book or two to send to someone for their birthday, etc.

NOTE  The quoted time for Priority Mail International delivery is 7-10 days, but Global Express Mail, with faster delivery, improved tracking and expedited Customs clearance, is available on request for an additional US$20.  We recommend this for high value items.

PDA-1 Column Extension

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

The PDA-1's larger sibling, the small commercial or pilot scale PDA-2 has been adopted by several commercial distilleries 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 PDA-2 was chosen by a new distillery in Florida, Touch Vodka. This hand-made vodka is distilled from mead to produce a wonderfully clean and refreshing honey-flavored vodka which is fast growing in popularity.

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.

With grateful acknowledgement to NOP Design who generously provided the original shopping cart routines as freeware.