Every spirit starts with the same basic experiment. You heat a wash in copper, turn it to vapor, condense it back to liquid and decide where the cuts fall. What changes between whiskey and gin is how much control you want over each step. The 20 Gallon Advanced Model gives you a lot of it, because it runs on 220V electric heat instead of a flame.
Whiskey: steady heat, readable cuts
Grain whiskey rewards patience. With electric heat you can set a power level and leave it there. The run stays even, so it's easier to see when heads turn to hearts and hearts turn to tails. The thumper sends the vapor through liquid a second time. That's the traditional way to get a stronger, smoother grain spirit from a single run.
Gin: the 4 inch thumper port
The thumper has a wide 4 inch port. You can load it with juniper, citrus peel or any botanical recipe you're testing, then clear it out completely before the next trial. If you change one ingredient at a time, every run becomes a real experiment with results you can compare.
Rum, brandy, vodka and schnapps
Thin washes made from molasses or fruit run well on even electric heat. Vodka is a different job. A pot still with a thumper keeps character in the spirit, so a cleaner, more neutral result takes slow, repeated runs and tight cuts. You have to work for neutrality.
The Advanced Model upgrades
This model adds the EZ Seal Cap and the 4 inch thumper port to a complete copper still. Plug it into 220V and the heat is in your hands.
Owning a still is legal in the US. Making alcohol with it requires federal TTB permits, and you must follow federal, state and local law. Without a permit, you can use it for water or essential oils.
