Luis Ayala, Editor of "Got Rum?" magazine, Rum Consultant and Founder of The Rum University.
Luis Ayala, Rum Consultant
Luis Ayala, Rum Consultant and Editor of "Got Rum?" magazine.
Copper Thieves
A mere 12 months ago, I remember talking to a few of our consulting clients about their planned copper pot still purchases. At that time, the still manufacturers were back-logged, experiencing turnaround times for new orders ranging between 3 and 6 months. We knew back then that the timely acquisition of a still was becoming more and more likely to be a bottle neck in the already lengthy and cumbersome process of setting up a new distillery.
Fast forward to today: thanks to the continuously increasing demand for copper stills, the same manufacturers have now updated their delivery times to be twice as long as before, which means some potential new craft distillers may have to wait almost a year to take delivery of their still.
This situation has created an opportunity for blacksmiths and other metal workers to showcase their skills as they construct, quickly and affordably, boiling kettles and condensers to satisfy the needs of a growing industry. The biggest problem is that many of these “alternative” still manufacturers lack the experience to either make them safe (using lead-based soldering and other nonfood grade materials, for example) or make them practical (I’ve seen beautifully-polished stills that are too thinly constructed or lack even the most essential fixtures needed for cleaning). Companies or individuals purchasing these non-traditional stills may think they are getting a bargain, up until the point when they start using the equipment and realize they will need to replace it quickly with something better built.
We frequently see news articles about how thieves break into unoccupied buildings to strip them down of the copper pipes and wiring (they sell the stolen loot to metal recyclers). People who purchase pot stills that only last a few batches before needing to be replaced are, in essence, being robbed of the price they paid for the equipment, but are not even able to file the loss with their insurance companies!
Before my inbox is flooded with angry emails, I want to make it clear that there are many small pot still manufacturers, both domestic and international, who DO know what they are doing. The challenge is identifying them.
Do you need help figuring out the right equipment for you? Do you already have a still but are unsure if it can produce the type of rum you want to? Do not become a victim to copper thieves!
Do not hesitate to contact me, I am here to help.
Cheers,
Luis Ayala, Editor and Publisher