In this fast paced world, It’s great to get back to ancient traditions and these copper products are unique representatives of the true Portuguese Heritage, the very heart and soul of what we love, fine works of art, beautifully handmade, perfectly functional for making your own alcoholic beverages or essential oils and hydrolats.
We have been in the business of manufacturing copper alembics for 3 generations now. Ours is a family business. We would sell at local markets, to farmers and bar owners, and slowly but surely we built a name for ourselves and decided to visit other towns and begin selling all around the country. We have decided to now expand internationally via the internet because we must keep up with the times, and this will be a great way to let our product be known.
Many hours of hard labour go into building just one of these copper pieces. Our artisans hands can truly show what it takes to make this possible but when you love your work, it shows and we are certain you will appreciate the beauty in our products.
We use only the best copper sheets, 100% lead free soldering and when you compare our alembics to other products available on the market, the difference is notable, both in terms of copper thickness and weight, as well as the craftsmanship. First and foremost, what matters to us is customer satisfaction, and maintaining the good name we built and work hard to keep. For this reason we only manufacture and sell Premium quality products and not the Economy thinner versions available from various competitors. We understand there is a market for these products but we take too much pride in our work to sell lesser quality products. We hope you will appreciate our products that are reasonably marked at competitive prices, and with our Distributor discount, you will be able to sell our products in your own country and together we can build a solid long lasting working partnership.
A rivet is a small metal pin used to join together separate pieces of metal.
In ancient times, all decorative metalwork used to be executed with a hammer. The separate parts of each item were processed and hammered out, then put together using rivets, back when soldering had not yet been invented.
Rivets have been used in various metal constructions, including airplanes, ships, steam engines etc. These connections have proven to be very reliable throughout the times.
Today, welding or soldering has almost completely replaced rivets but some people prefer this type of construction and it is available with most of our products selection.
The soldering method which is used to join metallic pieces together , is done by applying heat directly to the metal.
Soldered alembics require slightly thicker copper sheets and unlike the riveted union alembics, the three parts that make up the pot are brass soldered, so there is no need to use a linseed solution in this case. The parts of the alembic that are soldered are then hand hammered again so that the copper may regain its resistance and maintain its strength.
All our alembic stills are soldered using copper, brass, 100% lead-free tin or silver. These types of solder are perfectly safe and are commonly used for soldering products that are then used for food and beverages. We take pride in guaranteeing that our alembics are 100 % Lead free, and we only supply the best there is to offer.
Before you use your alembic still for the first time, regardless of its model, we recommend that you process a distillation of water to clean away any impurities that have been left behind from the manufacturing process. Afterwards, it is essential that you maintain your still clean so that it will last for many years.
If you use your still just once a year, you should make sure that it is thoroughly cleaned before storing it away for next year’s distillation. The cleaning process will eliminate any sulphuric acids and other harmful substances that may have collected on the walls of your alembic still. You can carry out a cleaning distillation using a mixture of rye flour and water. This can be done easily. Simply fill 40% of your pots capacity with water and 5% rye flour. Before you begin a cleaning distillation you should check that there is no obstruction in the swan neck pipe or serpentine coil. The joints of the alembic should be sealed using a traditional sealing technique once you have placed the hood on the alembic.
If you use your alembic still frequently, you do not have to clean it out with rye flour and water. A single distillation using only water will be fine.
With regular use and as time goes by, copper oxidizes and will gradually take on a darker colour. If you wish to polish the exterior we suggest you use an appropriate non-toxic polish. It is vital you do not use abrasive cleaners. You may also clean your pot using one of two traditional methods: By rubbing a cloth dampened in a salt and lemon solution; or use the ashes from the wood fire (if you used this as your heating source) on a damp cloth. This last method can be used for both the interior and exterior of the alembic still.
If you are using your alembic still to make essential oils – be aware that the oils will stick to the walls of the pot and copper coil and will start to form a sticky crust. You should always clean all the parts of your still with warm water to eliminate any grease, especially in the condensing coil or it may clog with time.
Please note that alembics used to produce essential oils should not be used to make alcoholic spirits, as oils will naturally become impregnated in the copper and influence the alcoholic distillate which may become improper for human consumption.
