For most beginners the best first still is the Air Still Pro: it sits on the bench, needs no water connection, and makes both clean neutral spirit (reflux mode) and flavoured spirit (pot still mode). If you want volume, choose the T500, which runs a 25L wash and makes about 8L of 40% spirit per batch but needs a cooling water connection. If you want T500-sized batches without the hose, choose a VORTEX setup. The original Air Still is the simplest and smallest option.
Our picks at a glance
- Best for beginners: Air Still Pro (or the Air Still Pro Starter Pack)
- Simplest and smallest: Air Still (or the Air Still Super Starter Pack)
- Best for volume of neutral spirit: T500 Starter Pack or T500 Pro Starter Plus Pack
- Best with no water connection at full size: VORTEX Reflux Still
- Best for whisky and rum at full size: VORTEX Alembic Pot Still
The four stills compared
| Air Still | Air Still Pro | T500 / T500 Pro | VORTEX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still type | Pot still | 2-in-1: reflux and pot still | Reflux (fractionating column) | Reflux or alembic pot still, depending on kit |
| Batch size | 4L boiler | 4L boiler | 25L wash | 25L boiler |
| Strength | Up to 60% ABV | Up to 90% (reflux), up to 80% (pot) | Up to 93% ABV | Depends on configuration |
| Output | About 1L bottle per run | Small batches | About 8L of 40% spirit per 25L wash | Rated by Still Spirits to match a water-cooled T500 or Alembic |
| Cooling | Built-in fan, no water | Air cooled, no water | Tap water through a faucet adaptor | Three fans per module, no water |
| Best for | First-timers, small spaces | Beginners who want vodka and gin, plus whisky and rum | Clean neutral spirit in volume | Full-size batches without a hose |
Reflux or pot still: the one thing to understand first
Every still on this page is one of two types. A reflux still sends vapour up a packed column where it condenses and re-boils over and over, stripping out flavour so what comes off is clean and strong. That is what you want for vodka, gin bases, white rum and any spirit you will flavour with an essence. A pot still sends vapour straight to the condenser and keeps the character of the wash, which is what you want for whisky, rum, brandy and botanical gin. The Air Still Pro and VORTEX can do both. The T500 is reflux only, and the original Air Still is a pot still.
Air Still: the simplest still you can buy
The Still Spirits Air Still is a 4L air cooled benchtop still that looks and works like a kettle. It needs no water connection or plumbing: plug it in and each run takes about two hours, giving enough distillate for a 1 litre bottle of spirit or liqueur at up to 60% ABV. An 8L wash made with an Air Still Fermentation Kit fills it twice. It switches off at the end of a run and carries a 3 year warranty.
Best for: people who want to try home distilling with the least fuss, apartments, and anyone without easy access to a tap. It also distils water. Most people buy it as part of the Super Starter Pack.
Air Still Pro: the best all-rounder for beginners
The Air Still Pro keeps the 4L benchtop, no-water design and adds a second mode. In reflux mode it makes clean neutral spirit up to 90% ABV; swap the tip for pot still mode and it makes flavoured spirits such as whisky, rum and gin up to 80% ABV. It automatically collects the first 30mL (the foreshots) into a separate vial, comes with a botanical basket for gin, and shuts down when the run is complete.
Best for: beginners who want one small still that can do vodka, gin, rum and whisky. Already own an Air Still? The Air Still Pro Head Unit fits your existing boiler. For a full kit see the Air Still Pro Starter Pack, and for gin, our guide to making gin with the Air Still Pro.
T500 and T500 Pro: the volume choice for neutral spirit
The T500 is a reflux column on a 25L boiler. It distils a 25L wash (6kg of sugar) to up to 93% ABV and collects about 95% of the available alcohol, giving about 8L of 40% spirit per batch for vodka, gin, white rum or any essence-flavoured spirit. The Create+ boiler has two element switches so you can halve the power for finer control. The condenser is water cooled, so you need a tap nearby; a water flow regulator is recommended on household water.
The T500 Pro uses a copper column with 2 inch tri-clamp fittings and about 30% less cooling water than the standard T500. Copper also removes sulphur compounds from the vapour.
Best for: anyone who wants a lot of clean neutral spirit per run. The T500 Starter Pack has everything for the first batch, and the T500 Pro Starter Plus Pack is the copper version. Want whisky or rum later? Add an alembic pot still dome and condenser to the same boiler.
VORTEX: full-size distilling with no cooling water
The VORTEX is a fan-cooled condenser for 2 inch tri-clamp stills. Vapour runs through two internal tubes wrapped in aluminium fins, and three built-in fans carry the heat away. Turning the dial changes fan speed, which does the job the water tap does on a T500. Still Spirits rates it at the same speed, output and quality as a traditional water-cooled T500 or Alembic setup. It needs mains power for the fans.
- The VORTEX Reflux Still with Create+ 25L Boiler is a complete reflux still for clean neutral spirit. Its two VORTEX modules can be reconfigured into a water-free alembic setup.
- The VORTEX Alembic Pot Still with Copper Dome and 25L Boiler is the flavour still, for whisky, rum, brandy and bourbon, and for hydrosols and essential oils.
- Already own a 2 inch tri-clamp still? The VORTEX Alembic Equipment Kit adds just the condenser side.
Best for: distillers who want T500-sized batches but have no convenient tap, or who don't want hundreds of litres of cooling water going down the drain each run. See the full VORTEX range.
Which still is right for you?
| If you... | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want the easiest possible start | Air Still |
| Want vodka and gin now, whisky and rum later, on the bench | Air Still Pro |
| Want about 8L of spirit per batch and have a tap nearby | T500 or T500 Pro |
| Want full-size batches with no water connection | VORTEX Reflux Still |
| Mainly want whisky, rum or brandy | VORTEX Alembic Pot Still, or an alembic dome on a T500 boiler |
| Already own an Air Still | Air Still Pro Head Unit upgrade |
What else you need
Whichever still you choose, you need a fermented wash, carbon to polish the spirit, and an essence or botanicals to flavour it. Starter packs include the first batch. After that, see turbo yeast and distilling consumables, carbon filters and spirit essences. Our complete guide to home distilling in Australia walks through the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Air Still or Air Still Pro?
The Air Still is a simple pot still for spirits up to 60% ABV. The Air Still Pro adds reflux mode for neutral spirit up to 90% ABV, a pot still mode up to 80%, automatic foreshots collection and a botanical basket. For most people the Pro is worth it.
Air Still Pro or T500?
The Air Still Pro is a small benchtop still with no plumbing. The T500 runs a 25L wash and makes about 8L of 40% spirit per batch, but needs a cooling water connection. Choose on batch size and whether you have a tap handy.
T500 or VORTEX?
Both run 25L batches. The T500 is water cooled; the VORTEX is fan cooled and needs only a power point. The VORTEX kits can also be set up as a pot still for whisky and rum.
Which still makes the best vodka?
A reflux still: the T500, T500 Pro, VORTEX Reflux Still, or the Air Still Pro in reflux mode. See our guide to making vodka from a sugar wash.
Which still is best for whisky and rum?
A pot still, because it keeps the flavour of the wash. The Air Still Pro in pot still mode suits small batches; the VORTEX Alembic Pot Still or an alembic dome on a 25L boiler suit full-size batches.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. An Air Still takes the Air Still Pro Head Unit, and a T500 boiler takes an alembic dome and condenser or a VORTEX kit, because the Create+ parts share 2 inch tri-clamp connections.
Still not sure?
Browse every option in alcohol stills and home distilling kits, or ask our team which still suits what you want to make.
