Copper or Stainless Steel?
By Alchemist G.G. Wilkins of Pittsfield, New Hampshire

People ask me all the time:

"G.G., which is better, copper or stainless steel?"

The answer is simple. If stainless steel was better, our ancestors would have built their stills out of stainless steel. They didn't. They built them out of copper.

For hundreds of years copper has been the preferred material for distilling spirits, essential oils, perfumes, botanical extracts, and distilled water. There is a reason for that. Copper works.

Copper conducts heat exceptionally well, allowing a still to heat evenly and respond quickly to adjustments. More importantly, copper helps remove sulfur compounds during distillation. Those sulfur compounds can contribute unpleasant tastes and aromas that no distiller wants finding their way into the final product.

Long before I walked the roads of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, copper was already the king of distillation. By the time I arrived, it had become the standard by which all other stills were judged.

Now don't get me wrong. Stainless steel has its place. It is durable, easy to clean, and commonly used throughout modern industry. But stainless steel lacks many of the qualities that made copper the material of choice for generations of distillers. That is why even many modern stainless steel systems still incorporate copper components.

Another advantage of copper is its workability. A skilled craftsman can cut it, shape it, hammer it, roll it, solder it, and transform it into almost any design imaginable. Copper allows an inventor to create. Stainless steel often requires larger machinery, more specialized equipment, and more effort to achieve the same results.

One subject that often concerns buyers is lead. Rightfully so.

Not all copper stills are created equal. In years past, many builders used materials and joining methods that would never meet modern expectations. A quality copper still should be built using proper lead-free materials and careful craftsmanship. The difference between a well-built still and a poorly built one can often be found in the details.

As an inventor, entrepreneur, doctor, distiller, and occasional troublemaker, I have always believed that improvement never stops. That belief inspired the development of my patented FlameFlow™ technology. Why waste fuel and time waiting for a still to heat when intelligent design can improve efficiency and performance?

The goal has always been simple: build a better still.

The newspapers may have called me many things over the years. Some admired me. Some chased me. Some even arrested me. Yet one thing remained true: I never stopped looking for a better way.

Whether you're interested in traditional distillation, essential oils, distilled water, perfumes, or simply appreciate fine craftsmanship, copper remains the material that has stood the test of time.

The argument between copper and stainless steel may continue for another hundred years.

But if you ask me?

Copper wins.

— Alchemist G.G. Wilkins
Doctor, Distiller, Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Occasional Troublemaker
Pittsfield, New Hampshire