Skip to content

Country

Age verification

By clicking "Enter" you are verifying that you are of the legal drinking age in your location.

How the volume in a pot still affects reflux (and influences flavour)

How the volume in a pot still affects reflux (and influences flavour)

The size of a pot still affects reflux simply because it determines the volume of liquid that constitutes a fill or “charge”. The amount of liquid inside controls the distance a compound must travel to become part of the distillate. And the physics of that is important.

A smaller fill increases the distance – and energy – required for vapours to reach the condenser, creating the opportunity for more reflux to occur inside the still. A larger fill, in contrast, reduces the opportunity for reflux to occur as there is simply less space and energy required to push gaseous compounds over into the condenser.

The amount of reflux activity within a still massively affects the flavours and aromas in the new spirit. More reflux leads to a lighter and more refined new make spirit, while less reflux leads to a heavier, oilier and denser new make spirit.

Looking to refresh your reflux knowledge? Read this: What is reflux and how does it influence Scotch whisky character?

Older Post
Newer Post

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Related posts

EWA Alumni: Martijn van Opstal

Tell us a bit about yourself. I'm a 34-year-old whisky enthusiast who decided to turn his passion into his career. ...

EWA Alumni: Xiaoyan Tao Lenz

How did you first discover whisky?  I discovered whisky from my job, working in a Swiss distillery (Säntis Malt Braue...

EWA Alumni: Mark Hickey

How did you first discover whisky? I have always been interested in Irish and Scottish history and how whisky was cra...

EWA Alumni: Rudy Delattre

Tell us a bit about yourself. I live in Belgium, about 50km south of Brussels and split my time between a) working as...

EWA Alumni: Don Howarth

"Tell us a bit about yourself.I'm Don, and I love the water of life! It all began for me on our regular holidays to I...

EWA Alumni: Zerlina Zhuang

Tell us a bit about yourself. I am Zerlina, and I am the managing director of Spirits Castle Pte Ltd. Our company imp...

Shopping Cart

Announce discount codes, free shipping etc