What type of still is used for flavorful spirits that maintain the flavor of their base, such as Scotch?

• A. Column still
• B. Pot still
• C. Hybrid still
• D. Vacuum still

Answer: (B)

Pot stills preserve more of the base character by distilling in batches and letting a wider range of flavor compounds carry through, rather than fully separating them. This makes the spirit richer and more expressive of its grain or malt. Scotch is traditionally made in copper pot stills, where the copper helps remove harsh sulfur compounds and the design retains heavier flavor constituents, yielding the malt-forward, fruity, and earthy profiles characteristic of the spirit. In contrast, column stills operate continuously and aim for greater purification, producing lighter, cleaner spirits with less of the base’s distinctive flavors. Vacuum stills lower the boiling point to gentler temperatures, which can affect delicate aromas but aren’t the standard method for achieving the classic Scotch flavor.