You can’t have a distillery without a still. Distillation equipment is the heart of production! So, when setting up or expanding your distillery, finding the right still manufacturer is not just unavoidable – it’s also a huge decision. It will influence quality, capacity, capability, cost of goods and more.
Below, is an extensive guide to still makers and distillation equipment manufacturers from around the globe. This cheat sheet will help you begin your journey through having some context on each supplier’s scale, history and capacity. And yes – all the links in one place…
Key considerations when choosing a still and your distillation equipment supplier
Capacity needs:
Determine the volume you need to produce as your first point of call. Figure it out in bottles, based on what you plan to sell. Work backwards from there.
Then consider future scaling. It’s important to evaluate your growth projections, as scaling up production can be costly if the initial setup wasn’t planned with future expansion in mind. Make sure to discuss your long-term goals with potential suppliers to ensure the stills you choose can accommodate future increases in production.
Key tip – It’s not all about the size of the pots. How often you run them and the timings play heavily in this area.
Material quality:
Copper is highly prized for pot stills due to its excellent heat conductivity and impact on flavour, but some manufacturers also work with stainless steel or hybrid designs. Consider the benefits of the material based on your desired spirit profile, vs the initial cost outlay and your maintenance preferences.
Key tip – Look at thickness of material, weld and joinery quality and the specifics of each component when making a decision on which supplier to work with. You tend to get what you pay for…
Customisation vs. Off-the-shelf:
Decide if your needs are better met with a custom-built solution or if a standard distillation equipment will suffice. Custom made, specialised stills offer flexibility to tailor to specific production requirements, whereas off-the-shelf models can be more economical and quicker to implement.
Key tip – It’s very rare when someone genuinely needs an entirely custom-built rig. Far more likely is that it will follow very similar designs and capabilities with one or two minor bespoke configurations. Not only is this cost friendly, but it’s also an advantage you should lean into as it means it’s been tried and tested. If this isn’t the case for you, really question your logic and how that differentiation will play out for both operations and for your end outcome.
Automation & computerisation:
Modern stills can be highly automated, reducing manual intervention and increasing overall consistency and safety. Consider the level of computerisation that suits your distillery—some prefer hands-on control for artisanal production, while others benefit from the efficiency of automated systems.
Key tip – Ask about automation, software integration, feedback loops, sensors and so on at an early phase.
Experience & history:
Choose a manufacturer with a track record in the industry to ensure reliability and quality craftsmanship. Established manufacturers often bring decades of experience and proven designs, which can be critical in ensuring consistent and high-quality production.
Long-standing manufacturers not only have refined their distillation equipment over time but can also provide valuable insights and support throughout the setup and operational process. They are also used to servicing existing clients, which you will need at some point down the line.
Key tip – Speak to another distiller / owner who has a still from the manufacturer you are looking to buy off. If the supplier can’t put forward an existing producer who can recommend them based on their own experience (and who are not directly on their pay roll as is the case for distiller-reps and tied-consultants), it should be a red flag you take note of.
North America still manufacturers and distillation equipment suppliers
AB Equipment
AB Equipment is known for creating both custom-built distillery set ups, and a comprehensive line of user-friendly distillation equipment, including hybrid stills, pot stills, pilot stills etc.
They also provide turnkey systems that include fermenters and mash houses, making the setup process efficient and straightforward. All their equipment is customisable and available in both copper and stainless steel, allowing distillers to create high-quality spirits that fit their specific needs. There is a reason AB Equipment are a trusted partner in the industry.
Detroit Stillworks
Detroit Stillworks makes custom stills with a focus on local craftsmanship. They use locally sourced materials and are perfect for distillers who want to support American-made products while getting high-quality, tailored stills.
Founder Matt started his career as a distiller, gaining hands-on experience in mashing, fermenting, and learning the ropes. Using this experience, Matt created a piece of equipment designed to save time for craft distillers. Known as the Detroit Stillworks Hot Rod, it is a patented still designed for re-distillation of white spirits through vapour infusion baskets. It is both continuous and variable, allowing production to range from ten gallons to over a thousand of gallons per batch.
Headframe Spirits Manufacturing
Headframe Spirits Manufacturing is best known for their large scale and innovative continuous stills. They focus on energy efficiency and maintaining consistent quality.
Their journey began over a decade ago, when Headframe saw an opportunity to bring a modern, efficient solution to the distilling industry. Their engineers developed a new continuous distillation process that they state is more efficient and cost-effective, allowing micro-distilleries to make high-quality spirits with lower input costs (heating etc.).
Lotus Beverage Alliance
Lotus Beverage Alliance is a one-stop shop for stills and equipment, covering every step of craft beverage production—from raw ingredients to packaging. As a group – the Lotus Beverage Alliance is made up of GW Kent, Alpha Brewing Operations, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Brewmation, Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems, and Automated Extractions.
Through this shared infrastructure and linked companies – they provide flexible, custom distillation solutions all of which are built to UL698A standards for use in C1D2 areas. Typically, their equipment ranges from 150L to 5,000L, including electric bain-marie or steam-heated still options, and feature a compact footprint.
Prospero Equipment Corporation
Prospero Equipment offer comprehensive brewery, winery and distillery equipment. Their offerings include a wide range of essential production components such as tanks, brewhouses, bottling equipment, labelling equipment, pot stills, column stills, and an extensive selection of other equipment to meet your specific needs and requirements.
All of Prospero’s equipment suppliers produce high quality equipment and are manufactured in Europe.
Specific Mechanical Systems
Specific Mechanical Systems focuses on building high-quality pot stills for small-batch production. All their equipment is made in Canada. They provide turnkey solutions for everything, from help with sizing calculations to assist with the business plan, to support with the installation.
Revival Stillworks
Also based in Canada – Revival Stillworks was founded by engineers Brandon Fry and Darcy Lane, and provides planning, engineering, manufacturing and support services for craft distillers.
All their equipment is proudly designed and manufactured locally, combining traditional copper smithing techniques with modern technology. Because of their experience in distillery engineering and business development, it allows them to provide highly customised stills and ongoing support for craft distillers across North America.
Vendome Copper & Brass Works
Vendome is well-known for its high-quality copper stills and has been in the business for generations. Founded in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky, Vendome remains committed to quality under the leadership of the fourth generation of the Sherman family. Their expertise and craftsmanship make them a popular choice for mid to large distilleries that need reliable, high-quality stills.
Vendome offers custom-designed stills, cookers, durable tanks, ASME code pressure vessels and heat exchangers, all built to last and trusted by top distilleries. In October 2024, they expanded their manufacturing capacity with a new state-of-the-art facility on Ormsby Ave, Louisville, Kentucky, enhancing their ability to produce large stainless steel vessels, including fermenters and pressure vessels. This expansion has improved production efficiency and allows Vendome to meet increasing demand.
European distillation equipment suppliers
iStill
Based in the Netherlands, iStill makes highly automated stills, which are great for beginners as well as experienced distillers. Their systems are technology-driven, which makes the distillation process easier and ensures consistent results.
With energy efficiency and proprietary systems and design that are well tested – iStill is a good option for those wanting a modern, user-friendly setup for distilling from ferment all the way to highly rectified outcomes.
Kothe Distilling Technologies
Kothe is known for its high-quality copper stills that focus on tradition and craftsmanship. They produce effective distillation plants for fruit and grain spirits, as well as bioethanol. Their stills are built with energy efficiency to ensure long life and low consumption rates.
While those in Europe deal directly with the producers, the American representatives for Kothe are Sonat & Robert Birnecker (the team behind KOVAL), who brought their family’s distilling expertise from Austria to the United States. This offers those in North America the chance to benefit from the knowledge gained through their experiences in both German and Austrian distilling industries, as well as some hands on tuition and workshops out of their Chicago base.
Muller Pot Stills
Muller is known for its precision engineering and durable stills. Their reputation for high-quality builds makes them a great choice for both small producers and those looking to scale up to larger systems.
With the goal of extracting the most diverse aroma profile and a particularly differentiated spectrum of flavours in a gentle way, Muller has patented various technologies built into their system. For example, they have an alternative spiral AROMAT solution in the column, instead of simple bubble plates or sieve trays.
Between their finely crafted stills, their growing ability to deliver turnkey solutions customer service and bespoke solutions, they are one of the major names of German pot still manufacturing.
StillDragon
StillDragon offers modular stills that can be expanded over time. This flexibility allows distillers to start with a basic setup that meets their current production needs and gradually add or replace components as their production grows, making it a highly cost-effective choice for expanding operations.
The modular design provides the ability to customise and upgrade stills without needing to replace the entire system, allowing for ongoing adaptation to changing production demands. Whether it’s through adding new columns, more advanced controls, or additional capacity in the kettle, StillDragon’s system is by far the most customisable you can find. Beyond flexibility – the sheer number of parts and options you have means that you can build intricately tailored solutions at very affordable prices.
Frilli Srl
Frilli is known for their high-quality Italian copper stills, focusing on larger installations. They combine craftsmanship with functional efficiency and bring decades of experience to the table, helping with both design and setup.
While many might seem like elegant pot stills at first look, most are ‘made to measure’ with specific customisations made. Look at the details and you’ll see the Italian taste for design and a deep attention and respect for the environment.
Copper Alembic
Copper Alembic, home of Al-Ambiq®, specialises in traditional copper stills which are ideal for small-scale (sub 100L) producers and bench labs (5-15L).
Despite being very small, these alembic stills feature intricate designs that add sophistication to any nano-distillery set up. Through applying Portugal’s rich distilling heritage, Copper Alembic’s products are made to last too, and have been the backbone of small rural distilleries and hobbyists all over Europe.
Hoga Company
With Portuguese and Spanish influences evident through their shapes and design feature, Hoga Company creates custom copper pot stills, focusing on traditional craftsmanship.
They work directly with distillers to create stills that match both production needs and the heritage of copper distillation. Great for those who want simple, traditional stills that are well made and able to produce excellent distillates.
Forsyths
Forsyths is a well-known Scottish powerhouse manufacturer. Their large copper stills are used by many of the most famous whisky and rum distilleries worldwide, and they focus on quality at a large production scale. Forsyths’ history dates back to the 1890s, when Alexander Forsyth began working as a coppersmith.
Today, the company remains a global leader in distillation equipment, combining traditional hand-hammering techniques with modern innovations. Their main business is still the replacement of worn parts for the Scotch Whisky Industry, but they also provide comprehensive turnkey solutions for startups, offering services from process design to commissioning.
CARL Distilleries
Highly respected German manufacturers, CARL combines traditional copperwork with modern technology. Founded in 1869, CARL has over 150 years of experience in the distillation industry, now run by the fifth generation of the family.
CARL takes an individual, customer-focused approach, which is saying something as they have had more than 10,000 clients worldwide. They are known for their advanced technology and ability to deliver craft at any scale, including the CARL Pot Still DN 1200-750l, which incorporates high-tech features such as the Computer Aided Distilling System (CADi) introduced in 2006.
CADi enables intelligent, automated distillation with precise measurement and regulation, while their new Distilling Process Control (DPC) allows batch programming of recipes for semi-automatic plants, resulting in increased efficiency and cost savings. CARL also emphasises safety and ergonomics, ensuring their systems are easy to operate and maintain.
Holstein Distilleries
Holstein offers custom pot stills that are tailored to both manual craft and more automated commercial distillers. Their high-quality builds and range of sizes make them a versatile option for different types of producers.
Founded in 1958, Holstein started by supplying fruit farmers in the Lake Constance region, one of Germany’s major fruit-growing areas. Over the years, the company has grown into a mid-sized business run by the fourth generation, offering state-of-the-art distillery technology worldwide.
Through their careful craftsmanship and detailed components, Holstein specialises in producing rich, aromatic distillates like whisky, gin, brandy, and more, while maintaining a commitment to innovation and client satisfaction.
Australia based suppliers
Stillsmiths
Stillsmiths offers custom stills handcrafted in Australia. They focus on local craftsmanship and design their stills to match the specific needs of craft distillers, making them a unique option for those wanting locally made equipment.
With roots in Kolmark, a leading stainless-steel fabricator in Tasmania established in 2001, Stillsmiths was founded in 2017 by Mark Kolodziej and Tim Freeman to cater to the growing Australian distillery market. Their whisky stills showcase the intricate curves and shapes needed for quality distillation. Stillsmiths now serves clients across Australia and internationally, continuing to expand their reputation for high-quality manufacturing.
HHH Distilling Equipment
HHH Distilling Equipment offers affordable solutions for new and growing distilleries. They provide a wide range of equipment, making them a good option for those just starting out or expanding on a budget. It’s a very one-to-one operation—personal and small.
The founder initially wanted to create a copper still with a copper distillation column to improve the taste of spirits, as copper has unique chemical properties that stainless steel lacks. After struggling to find suitable brass tri-clamp ferrules in Australia, they decided to have custom fittings made, which led to the creation of the modular system now available.
China based suppliers
DYE Distilling Equipment
DYE Company is a reputable manufacturer of distillation equipment from China, exporting more than 95% of their products worldwide. With a strong technical team and modern factory facilities, they provide custom equipment for both large-scale operations and startups.
Their dedicated team offers technical assistance, installation, and timely after-sales support, making DYE a reliable partner for distillers globally.
Tiantai
Since 2001, Tiantai has provided complete lines and turnkey services for beverage projects worldwide. Their hybrid designs are a good fit for distilleries wanting to diversify their product offerings without needing multiple types of equipment, and with good lead times and the ability to produce reliable off-the peg models, have built a good reputation on the international scene.
