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Still Manufacture Issues


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Just poking around here to see what I can see. Some great comments - thanks, all. Whew! We have funding secured, a building secured, detailed plans, Contractors lined up, initial fire plan review done, permits in-process, distributor and customers (seriously) in place, ready to pull the trigger (scheduled "go" date was TOMORROW), but then.........our "almost turnkey" (almost everything except for a chiller, demonstrated great quality at excellent prices, good references, etc.) supplier suddenly decided to raise their still pricing by $16,000 - wheeee doggies! They claimed that their still supplier had just implemented a price increase, and at that point I confessed that I had obtained "sanity check" costing from what was very possibly their very own overseas supplier, and they had in fact LOWERED their prices just a little to get me on board. I explained to the original supplier that the markup I saw built into in their original quote was perfectly fine and well earned. They stood their ground, which will probably be a no-go for us. The general "mood" of my contact with them seemed to suddenly change for the worse, maybe from having some business problems or something. Whatever is going on, it sounds pretty bad and smells like spiraling out of control. We have scrambled and contacted a well referred "Importer" as well as a "consolidator" similar to the initial one to do the deed for us if possible. The message here is to constantly double and triple check your vendors, and be prepared for the worst in the blink of an eye. Wow, just wow.

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I'm dealing with Jesse and couldn't be more impressed at his work ethic and responsiveness. He's very upfront about down payments being non refundable. I understood this going in realizing that he has a cost of doing business (materials, labor, etc) that he needs to be compensated for while fabricating the equipment. I always figured that if my situation changed and I couldn't use the equipment, I'd pay it off and sell the equipment for what I put into it without losing any money.

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  • 2 months later...

I would suggest these still manufacturers and to stay away from anyone else.

Alembics

1. Copper Alembic (http://www.copper-alembic.com) Been around for forever, great customer service and products at very reasonable prices. Highly customizable, talk to David.

2. Hoga Company (http://www.hogastills.com) Great manufacturer and reasonable prices though limited customizability.

3. Forsyth (http://www.forsyths.com) Great large whiskey producer.

4. Vendome Copper (http://www.vendomecopper.com) Best in the game for large scale alembic and copper stills.

Column

1. Ulrich Kothe (http://www.kothe-distilling.com/newsite/) Top of the line!

2. Artisan Still Design (http://artisanstilldesign.com) DUH! amazing product and amazing guy! I can't recommend them highly enough!

3. Carl (http://www.brewing-distilling.com/page2/ccarl-stills.html)

4. Holstein (http://www.a-holstein.de/index.php?id=159)

Now these are not in any specific order and I'm sure there are a few other good ones around that I am missing but I generally tend to stay away from still manufacturers who push the recent moonshine craze in your face. Nothing wrong with moonshine but the way it's advertised of late really just speaks to the people who are only in it for the money and not for quality. Hope you get the situation worked out.

You need to add Hillbilly Stills / HBS Copper to this list..

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  • 9 months later...

Decided to join and comment here. I have a still craft controller kit. Really a relabeled www.schnappstills.com controller. I ordered a column from still craft and had to cancel after several weeks of nothing. Decided to look up the company who was on the relay in my controller. After talking with them I purchased a 26 gallon boiler w/ copper perforated plate column and a small copper pot still boiler for test recipes. I have to say this is some of the best equipment I have seen. Very close attention to detail, built from copper here in the states, instead of chinese imported stainless. Anyone looking for copper units and/or stainless should check them out. Very nicely priced. Website was under construction, so I had to call to order, but Im glad I did. The manufacturer was very knowledgeable on distilling and helped me with a couple recipes I was having issues with and got me the equipment I was looking for, that isnt easily found on the web. They had anything I was looking for as they custom build most everything per your specs. The still craft controller is great, never had an issue after years of use, but it is cheaper to buy direct from the website above.

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Try www.g-still.com. World wide launch is August 10th. The original automated distillation equipment. Previously sold under a different name.  The man who created and builds every piece of this amazing equipment now has a world wide team.  It was always made in Poland.  I am proud to be GENIO USA.  I use this equipment every day in my distillery and it makes amazing vodka and will soon make some amazing rum and bourbon.    PM me for more details or email me. usa@g-still.com. 

CHEERS!  Brian 

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  • 1 year later...

If you're liquid and ready to rumble talk to McKee and get yourself a Ferrari bro, we gotta headframe coming in Jan

 

As for a pot I gotta CDS/SM system and I'm really happy with the still, she purrs. SM has the second worst customer service ever though imo and is not a good partner for our industry members as growing enterprises.

I have never worked with the guy from affordable but he's very up front and honest about his sourcing and fabrication... from the post stalking I've done of him he truly grasps and understands dist technology, its capabilities and limitations, and his pricing is rad.

I know some of the guys at HBS and I like them a lot, but I do think they're capabilities have some limitations- they are learning fast and are passionate about their work though. For american made I do not think there will be a better deal for you if you're only looking at dollars and cents..... The Haneys are great people. 

If you need to save some cash scroll the forums here and look for a disco still, Chinese stills are always cheap but some people will look at you as a pariah, Affordable is a great option as discussed, and if you want something more customized I would contact Cassel and ask him to design you a set up to be manufactured by someone other than SM..... I would honestly contact McKee and see if they have the copper capability to manu a Cassel pot for you guys....... Their manu. team is out of this world they're a pleasure to do business with and your money is going to a higher cause in Butte.

 

Cheers bro

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