4 Reasons Why You Should Use a Copper Still

Nearly every experienced moonshiner use copper as their choice of material to build a still. There are a select few who may prefer stainless steel simply because it’s readily available, but copper is the preferred material by most moonshiners. If you are unfamiliar with the process, however, you might be wondering why so many people prefer copper stills. In this post, we’re going to reveal 4 of the top reasons why copper is the ideal material for building a moonshine still.

Reason #1 – Heat Transfer

Heat is arguably the single most important element when creating moonshine. If there’s not enough heat, alcohol vapor won’t be released from the mash or ingredients; thus, making it difficult, if not impossible, to create a batch of moonshine. Thankfully, copper possess exceptional heat-transfer properties. In fact, it has nearly four times the thermal conductivity as stainless steel, allowing for a faster and more efficient moonshining process.

Reason #2 – Antimicrobial

Copper is also considered an “antimicrobial” metal, meaning it repels common forms of bacteria, fungi and mold. Opting for an aluminum or stainless steel moonshine still will likely result in microbial growth. Small amounts of bacteria and fungi won’t cause any serious harm to your moonshine, but over time they will build up to the point where it affects both the flavor and consistency of your beverage. Thankfully, you can prevent this from happening by using a copper still.

Reason #3 – Prevents Methylcarbamate

A lesser known benefit of copper for moonshine stills is that it protects against the potentially harmful chemical known as methylcarbamate. Without going into too much detail, this chemical is formed when ammonia is exposed to either methyl chloroformate or methyl carbonate. Methylcarbamate can cause serious illness when consumed in large quantities, so it’s best to avoid this risk by using a copper still for your moonshine.

Reason #4 – Unique Flavor and Aroma

A fourth and final reason why you should use a copper still is because of the unique flavor and aroma it adds. If you’ve ever get the chance, try comparing a batch of moonshine made from a copper still to a batch made from a stainless steel still. There’s an undeniably unique flavor with copper stills that most people enjoy. While stainless steel stills are capable of producing moonshine, they don’t offer this same flavor and aroma.

These are just a few of the many reasons why copper is the material of choice for moonshine stills.