The Complete Distiller / Containing, I. The method of performing the various processes of distillation, with descriptions of the several instruments: the whole doctrine of fermentation: the manner of drawing spirits from malt, raisins, molasses, sugar, &c. and of rectifying them: with instructions for imitating, to the greatest perfection, both the colour and flavour of French brandies. II. The manner of distilling all kinds of simple waters from plants, flowers, &c. III. The method of making all the compound waters and rich cordials so largely imported from France and Italy; as likewise all those now made in Great Britain. To which are added, accurate descriptions of the several drugs, plants, flowers, fruits, &c. used by distillers, and instructions for chusing the best of each kind...

The Instruments chiefly used in the Distillation of Simple Waters, are of two Kinds, commonly called the Hot Still, or Alembic, and the Cold Still; the former is represented in Fig. 5. and the latter in Fig. 10.

The Waters drawn by the cold Still from odoriferous Plants are much more fragrant, and more fully impregnated with their Virtues than those drawn by the hot Still, or Alembic; but the Operation is much more slow and tedious by the former than the latter, so that very few care to comply with it: And, therefore a Method has been invented, to avoid the Tediousness of the one, and the Inconveniencies of the other. The Method is this:

A Pewter Body is suspended in the Body of the Alembic, and the Head of the Still fitted to the Pewter Body: Into this Body the Ingredients to be distilled are put, the Alembic filled with Water, the Still Head luted to the Pewter Body, and the Nose luted into the Worm of the Refrigeratory or Worm.

The same Intention will be answered, by putting the Ingredients into a Glass Alembic, and placing it in a Bath Heat, or Balneum Mariæ, as we have before directed, Chap. XI.

By either of these Means, the Ingredients have greater Heat given them than in the cold Still; and yet, by the Interposition of the Water, in which the Vessel, containing them is placed, they are not so forcibly acted upon by the Fire, as in the common Way of the hot Still. So that all those Things which require a middle Way between the other; that is, those Simples which are of a Texture between very volatile, and very fixed, are treated very properly by this Method; but neither the very odoriferous Simples, nor those whose Parts are very heavy and fixed, can be treated this Way but to Disadvantage.

One of the greatest Advantages of this Contrivance is, that Waters so drawn come over much cooler than from the hot Still; that is, they have not so much of the Fire in them, as the Distillers term it; so that a hot spicy Water, thus ordered, will taste as cool on the Palate when just drawn, as it would, when drawn by the hot Still, after it had acquired a considerable Age.