The Science of Distillation – Alchemy in a Bottle
Gin-making is equal parts art and science. At its core, distillation is the process of transforming simple ingredients - neutral spirit, botanicals, and water - into something extraordinary. But how does it all work?
The Magic of Distillation
Distillation is where the magic happens. It’s all about separating alcohol from water and infusing it with layers of botanical flavour. Here’s how we do it:
Heat & Evaporation – We start with a neutral grain spirit, heating it in a copper still. Alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than water, meaning we can capture the purest flavours from the liquid.
Botanical Infusion – This is where the Wildfire touch comes in. Our botanicals - juniper, citrus peels, herbs, and sometimes the unexpected - are added in different ways:
Maceration: Soaking botanicals in the spirit before distillation for deeper extraction.
Vapour Infusion: Placing botanicals in baskets above the liquid so the rising alcohol vapours collect their delicate oils.
Condensation & Collection – The evaporated spirit is cooled, returning to liquid form—now infused with layers of flavour.
The Cut – Not all distillate is created equal. The first (heads) and last (tails) portions are discarded, leaving only the heart, the smoothest and most balanced part of the spirit.
Why Copper?
Ever wondered why so many stills are made of copper? It’s not just for looks. Copper helps remove sulphur compounds, resulting in a smoother, cleaner gin. That’s why at Wildfire, we embrace traditional copper stills to ensure every batch is pure, crisp, and bursting with character.
A Matter of Precision
Distillation is a game of precision. Temperature, pressure, and botanical ratios all influence the final gin profile. A degree too high, and delicate botanicals burn off. A degree too low, and the full spectrum of flavours isn’t extracted. This is why gin-making is an ever-evolving process—one that we at Wildfire love to experiment with.
Next Up: The Wild World of Botanicals
Gin wouldn’t be gin without its bold, botanical backbone. Next time, we’ll explore how juniper, citrus, and spice create the signature flavours of gin—and why we’re always pushing the boundaries with unexpected ingredients.
