Hybrid Still
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-01. Hybrid Distillation Systems
Hybrid Still Manufacturer — Pot & Column Distillation in One System
Custom-built 100L–5000L hybrid stills for whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, and brandy production. 13 years manufacturing, CE & PED certified, delivered to 90+ countries.
- 100L–5000L Pot Capacity Range
- 1000+ Installations
- 90+ Countries Delivered
- 13 yrs Manufacturing
-02 · Configurations
Six configurations, chosen by scale and material
All hybrid stills are built to order. Select by production scale (top row) or by material construction (bottom row). Custom sizes between listed ranges are quoted on request.
Pilot Hybrid Still 100L–300L
R&D and small-batch production. Copper pot + 4-plate column. Electric or steam heating. Fits under 3m ceiling.
Craft Hybrid Still 500L–1000L
Full commercial output for craft distilleries. Copper pot + column with dephlegmator + gin basket. Steam jacket standard.
Mid-Scale Hybrid 1500L–3000L
For distilleries producing multiple spirits. Dual takeoff (pot spirit + column spirit) with independent condensers.
Full Copper Hybrid
Full-copper construction for whiskey, brandy, and traditional gin. Meets Scotch, Irish, and Bourbon industry material norms.
Copper-Clad Stainless
Cost-optimized: SS304 body with copper contact surfaces. Same flavor profile as full copper, at 30–40% lower cost.
Industrial Hybrid 5000L+
Continuous production capability. Bubble-cap column (8–20 plates). PLC control with recipe memory.
Available Copper Column Still Sizes
From recipe development to mass production, we manufacture copper distillation equipment scaled to your business goals.
-03 · Spirit Applications
One machine, five spirit programs.
Hybrid stills switch operating mode by valve — pot mode preserves flavor compounds, column mode reaches high ABV. Configuration guidance below reflects the actual setup we ship for each spirit category.
Whiskey Production with Hybrid Stills
Hybrid stills produce whiskey by operating in pot mode with the column bypassed or set to low reflux. For malt whiskey, we recommend a copper pot (500L+) with a 2-plate column and dephlegmator, matching Scottish and Irish industry practice. Copper contact removes sulfur compounds during distillation. Cuts controlled via sight glasses at the parrot and hydrometer test.
Gin Production with Hybrid Stills
For gin, hybrid stills use the column with 4–6 plates in reflux mode to reach 92–95% ABV, then a stainless gin basket is loaded with botanicals for vapor infusion or maceration. Our gin basket is removable, sits above the pot in the vapor path, and holds 5–15% of pot volume. This lets one distillery produce both London Dry (vapor) and Contemporary (maceration) styles.
Vodka and Neutral Spirit Production
Vodka production requires the column in full reflux with 8–20 bubble-cap or sieve plates, dephlegmator active, and a slow takeoff. Our hybrid stills reach 95–96% ABV in a single pass on 8-plate configurations, matching EU neutral spirit standards. For triple-distilled vodka programs, we recommend our 1000L+ column-focused hybrid with variable reflux control.
Rum and Brandy Production
Rum and brandy benefit from hybrid stills because both styles need retained flavor compounds — esters, fusel oils — that column stills strip out. Run in pot mode with the column packed or plates bypassed, output ABV lands at 65–80%, preserving cane or fruit character. The same setup handles agricole rum, molasses rum, and grape brandy without hardware changes.
Multi-Product Craft Distilleries
New craft distilleries typically launch with 3–5 spirits — gin, vodka, whiskey aging, rum, seasonal releases. A single 500L–1000L hybrid still handles all of them by switching operating modes, with no need for separate pot and column stills. Payback vs. dual-system purchase: 40–60% lower CAPEX, 50% smaller footprint. Delivery includes mode-switching training on-site.
Why buyers in 90+ countries specify MICET.
Distillation is a pressure-vessel business. Every claim below is verifiable by document, weld, or delivery record. No adjectives.
13 years, 1000+ installations, 95+ countries.
Founded in 2011, MICET has delivered brewing and distillation equipment to 1,000+ facilities across 95+ countries. Distillery projects delivered in USA, Canada, UK, Denmark, France, and 20+ other markets.
Copper sourced from certified mills.
Distillation-grade C11000 electrolytic copper, ≥ 99.9% purity, sourced from mill-certified suppliers. Every batch shipped with material traceability documents.
CE + PED certified for pressure systems.
All pressurized components certified under EU Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU. Cert No. 3N231110.SICS093, issued by Ente Certificazione Macchine, valid to 2028.
100% TIG welding, X-ray tested.
Every weld on food-contact and pressure surfaces uses 100% TIG welding. Pressure boundary welds pass X-ray or dye-penetrant test before hydro-test.
22,000 m² factory, in-house fabrication.
Copper forming, stainless fabrication, polishing, and assembly all done in-house at our 22,000㎡ facility. No sub-contracted pressure vessels.
Turnkey: design → install → train.
22-year experienced engineers on staff. Overseas installation and training available in all delivered markets. Remote HMI diagnostics standard on PLC units.
OEM & Custom Design Welcome
Custom pot geometry, column height, plate count, botanical baskets, and control interfaces. Send drawings or reference photos — engineering response within 48 hours.
-05 · Selection Guide
Two tables to decide the machine.
Confirm you actually need hybrid (Table A), then pick the configuration by your annual output target (Table B).
Table A · Still Type Comparison
Hybrid Still vs. Pot Still vs. Column Still
| Attribute | Pot Still | Column Still | Hybrid Still |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirits supported | Whiskey, brandy, rum | Vodka, neutral, gin | All of the above |
| Output ABV range | 60–80% | 90–96% | 60–96% (mode-dependent) |
| Flavor retention | High | Low | Adjustable |
| Footprint (500L) | ~4 m² | ~6 m² (tall column) | ~5 m² |
| Investment vs. running 2 systems | Baseline | Baseline | −40 to −60% |
| Best for | Single-spirit specialists | Neutral spirit / gin bases | Multi-product craft distilleries |
Table B · METO Configuration by Output
Recommended METO Hybrid Still by Annual Production
| Annual Output | Model Tier | Pot Capacity | Column Plates | Heating | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 5,000 L PA/yr | Pilot | 100–300L | 4 | Electric | PlaceholderQuote on inquiry |
| 5,000–30,000 L/yr | Craft | 500–1000L | 6–8 | Steam jacket | PlaceholderQuote on inquiry |
| 30,000–100,000 L/yr | Mid-Scale | 1500–3000L | 8–14 bubble cap | Steam | PlaceholderQuote on inquiry |
| 100,000+ L/yr | Industrial | 5000L+ | 14–20 bubble cap | Steam + reboiler | PlaceholderQuote on inquiry |
-06 · FAQ
Eight questions we get every week.
If your question isn’t here, our distillation engineers respond within one business day. No sales script — you’ll talk to the person who’d actually build your machine.
What is a hybrid still, and how is it different from a pot still?
A hybrid still combines a copper pot with one or more column sections and a dephlegmator, so the same machine can be run as a pot still for flavorful spirits or use the column for cleaner, higher-strength spirit. A pure pot still only offers single-stage batch distillation. Hybrids suit distilleries that want to make more than one spirit style without buying separate stills.
What sizes of hybrid stills does METO manufacture?
METO builds hybrid stills from 100L to 5000L pot capacity, from pilot units for recipe work through craft and mid-scale systems to large commercial stills. Custom sizes between the listed ranges are quoted on request. Tell us your annual output and spirits and our engineers will recommend a pot volume and column arrangement.
Copper, stainless steel, or copper-clad — which should I choose?
Copper removes sulfur compounds and softens the spirit, so it is the traditional choice for pot, head and upper column sections. Stainless steel is robust and easy to clean, and is often used for structure and lower sections. A combined build balances flavor and cost. We recommend a construction based on your spirits and budget.
Can one hybrid still really produce whiskey, gin, and vodka?
Yes, provided the configuration includes the right features: run as a pot still for whiskey, use column sections with reflux for a clean vodka-type spirit, and fit a botanical basket for gin. Each product needs its own cleaning and operating routine, and results depend on your recipe and operator skill. Tell us your product list so we can specify the still.
What certifications does METO provide for hybrid stills?
METO holds a D1/D2 pressure vessel manufacturing license, CE, ISO 9001 and ISO 18001, and can supply material certificates, weld records and pressure test reports for each still. Rules for alcohol equipment vary by country, so please confirm local requirements with your authority; this is not legal advice.
What's the typical lead time and delivery process?
Lead time depends on size, materials and options, and is stated in your quotation together with the technical parameters. The process is design confirmation by drawing, fabrication, factory testing, export packing and shipping under your chosen trade term (FOB, CIF or DDP to many countries). We update you with photos during production.
Do I need a steam boiler, or can the still be heated electrically?
Steam jacket heating gives gentle, even control and is common on larger stills, but it needs a boiler. Smaller hybrid stills can be heated electrically, which is simpler to install, as long as your site has enough power capacity. Tell us your utilities and still size and we will confirm the best heating method.
Does METO offer OEM or fully custom hybrid still designs?
Yes. Custom scope includes pot geometry, column height and plate count, dephlegmator, condensers, botanical baskets, instrumentation, cleaning systems and branding. Send us your sketches or process goals and our engineers will prepare a drawing for your approval before fabrication begins.
Ready to configure your hybrid still?
Send us your target spirits, annual output, and site constraints. Our engineers return a spec proposal and quote within 2 business days.
Spirit Applications
One machine, five spirit programs.
Hybrid stills switch operating mode by valve — pot mode preserves flavor compounds, column mode reaches high ABV. Configuration guidance below reflects the actual setup we ship for each spirit category.
01
Whiskey
Whiskey Production with Hybrid Stills
Hybrid stills produce whiskey by operating in pot mode with the column bypassed or set to low reflux. For malt whiskey, we recommend a copper pot (500L+) with a 2-plate column and dephlegmator, matching Scottish and Irish industry practice. Copper contact removes sulfur compounds during distillation. Cuts controlled via sight glasses at the parrot and hydrometer test.
Full Copper Hybrid
01
Whiskey