T500 Turbo 500 Reflux Still

The T500 Turbo 500 is the reflux still most Australian home distillers own. It strips a 25 litre sugar wash down to clean neutral spirit at up to 93% ABV, recovering about 95% of the alcohol in the wash, then you flavour that spirit with an essence to make whatever you like. Everything here is in stock and ships Australia wide.

Why the T500 still is the standard

Two reasons. The first is performance: 95% alcohol recovery at 93% purity beats every other condenser in its class, which is why it has been the default 25 litre reflux still here for over a decade. The second is support. Because so many Australians own one, every consumable, spare part, upgrade and troubleshooting answer exists for it. If something goes wrong at 2am mid-run, somebody has already written down the fix.

A full run works through 25 litres of wash in about four and a half hours and yields roughly 8 litres at 40% ABV. That is six times what a benchtop Air Still manages per batch.

T500 or T500 Pro: copper or stainless

Both reach the same 93% ABV on the same wash. The difference is the condenser material.

The T500 Pro runs a copper condenser. Copper reacts with sulphur compounds during the run and pulls them out of the vapour, so the spirit comes off noticeably cleaner on an identical wash. It is our best seller and the most reviewed kit on the site.

The standard T500 runs stainless steel. It is the more cost-effective option, around $340 less for the equivalent complete kit, and it is the right choice if the budget is tight. Same boiler, same column packing, same purity.

See the T500 Pro range for the copper version, or compare every option in our best home distilling kit guide.

What you need to run one

A T500 still is the condenser plus the 25 litre Create+ boiler. The boiler and condenser are sold separately and are not a still until joined, so you can buy the parts in either order.

Beyond the still itself you need a fermenter, distiller's yeast, carbon for filtering, a hydrometer for the wash and an alcometer for the spirit. The complete starter packs bundle all of it, which works out cheaper than buying the pieces separately. Consumables after that run about $44 per 25 litre wash.

You also need a tap. The T500 is water cooled and draws roughly 200 litres of cooling water per run, held at a flow rate of 400 to 700 ml per minute. If you are in an apartment, on tank water or under restrictions, look at the air-cooled Air Still Pro instead.

One practical note on space: the T500 stands about 133cm tall in reflux configuration, so it will not fit on a bench with a cupboard above it.

Turning it into a pot still

Fit an Alembic dome and pot condenser to the same Create+ boiler and you have a pot still for whisky, rum and brandy, where the flavour of the wash carries through. The Craft kits include both condensers so you get reflux and pot distilling from a single boiler.

The rules

The T500 uses a 25 litre boiler, so it sits above the 5 litre threshold and needs still permission from the ATO, which is free to apply for. Apply before you assemble the boiler and condenser together. Distilling water or essential oils needs no licence at all; distilling spirit requires a free excise manufacturer licence. Detail is in our guide to the ATO rules for home distilling.

Quick answers

What is the difference between the T500 and the T500 Pro?

The condenser material. The Pro is copper, which strips sulphur compounds for a cleaner spirit. The standard T500 is stainless steel and costs less. Both reach 93% ABV.

How much water does a T500 use per run?

Roughly 200 litres, depending on flow rate and run length. Still Spirits specifies 400 to 700 ml per minute, held so the cooling water outlet sits between 50 and 65°C.

How much spirit does a T500 make?

About 8 litres at 40% ABV from a 25 litre wash, or up to 3.5 litres at 93% before dilution. A full run takes around four and a half hours.

Do I need ATO permission for a T500?

Yes, because the boiler is 25 litres. Still permission is free and it is a short application form. The parts are not a still until joined, so permission is needed before assembly rather than before purchase.

Can I use a T500 as a pot still?

Not with the reflux column. Fit an Alembic dome to the same boiler instead, or buy a Craft kit that includes both condensers.

What can I make with it?

Clean neutral spirit, which becomes vodka once filtered, gin once redistilled through botanicals, and anything else once you add an essence. The full process is in our T500 instructions guide, and the T500 troubleshooting guide covers what to do when a run misbehaves.