Post #443100 by TorchGuy on Sat, Mar 28, 2009 1:50 AM

What Swanky refers to is a condenser, made of glass: a tube for the liquid to flow through, with an outer jacket which carries the coolant. Essentially, the liquid is boiled in a flask, and the vapor enters the downward-angled condenser and is cooled to liquid form again. The best, probably, is the Graham condenser, which is fairly wide and uses a coiled inner tube for maximum surface area contact with the coolant - scientific supply stores may have this along with other laboratory glassware. I knew, though, that I had seen a nice home distilling apparatus in a catalog, so after some Google-Fu, I found it:

http://www.wineenthusiast.com/miniature-distilling-machine.asp

A tiny tabletop still, using (what I assume to be) Pyrex, but some brand of 'hard' glass either way. It has a tiny Erlenmeyer-type flask, and a simplified Graham condensor which has an outer vessel that simply holds a nonmoving coolant, probably ice water. A spirit lamp for heat, and you're ready to make tiny batches of home liquor, though this implies distilling wine or fruit juices to make brandies and cordials. Still cool, though, and it piques my interest as I have a weakness for interesting glass apparati.