STEAM HEAT. COPPER CONTACT. A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY TO DISTILL.

The PhilBilly Two-Keg Steam Distillation Still is built for distillers who want the advantages of steam heating without needing a large commercial steam-jacketed kettle.

Instead of placing the heating element directly in the vessel containing your mash, fruit, grain, or botanicals, this system uses two separate stainless steel kegs. The first keg acts as the steam generator, while the second serves as the distillation vessel.

The steam-generator keg features a welded lower port for installation of a heating element, along with the existing 2″ top keg opening. Copper plumbing carries steam from the generator toward the second vessel.

Between the two vessels is an adjustable inline pressure relief valve, providing an important pressure-relief point in the steam plumbing. The operating configuration and relief setting should always be appropriate for the lowest-rated component in the complete system.

The second keg is modified specifically for steam distillation. A lower port allows the steam wand/inlet to enter the keg, introducing steam into the material being distilled. On top is a large 4″ tri-clamp ferrule, giving you considerably more access to the vessel for loading ingredients and cleaning.

Above the 4″ opening sits a stainless steel 4″-to-2″ reducer, transitioning into the polished copper column and condenser assembly.

The result is one seriously cool-looking—and highly functional—steam distillation setup.

System Features:

• Two stainless steel keg vessels
• Dedicated steam-generator keg
• Welded lower heating-element port
• Copper steam transfer plumbing
• Adjustable inline pressure relief valve
• Separate steam/distillation keg
• Lower steam-wand/inlet port
• Large 4″ tri-clamp top ferrule
• Stainless steel 4″-to-2″ reducer
• Polished copper column
• Polished copper condenser
• Tri-clamp construction for convenient assembly and cleaning
• Designed around indirect steam heating

Steam heating can be especially useful when working with materials that are difficult to heat directly or have a tendency to settle against a heating surface. Rather than having an electric element sitting directly in the product vessel, steam becomes the heat source.

This makes the system an excellent platform for experimenting with grain, fruit, botanicals, essential-oil/hydrosol production, and other steam-distillation applications, where permitted by applicable laws.

Built by PhilBilly Moonshine for people who want something beyond an ordinary keg still.

Two kegs. Real steam. Copper where it counts.

Heating element and electrical controller should be properly sized and installed. Never operate a steam system with the pressure-relief path blocked or defeated. All components, fittings, hoses, clamps, and vessels must be suitable for the temperatures and pressures encountered during operation.