A system and method for controlling spirit flavor profile

Abstract

The technology generally concerns systems and methods for controlling spirit flavor profiles.

Description

[0001] A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SPIRIT FLAVOR PROFILE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The technology generally concerns systems and methods for controlling spirit flavor profiles.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Distillation is the process of separation of components from a base mixture by evaporation and condensation. Due to different volatilities of molecules in a mixture, the evaporation and condensation processes are utilized for separation and purification of products to required specifications. Typically, batch distillation systems are comprised of a heated pot, shoulder or helmet, swan neck or vertical cylinder, head, Lyne arm or vapor pipe, and condenser. The distillation systems are fabricated in many different orientations, significantly affecting or contributing to the outcome of the resultant distillate.

[0006] Reflux, the process of vaporizing components and re-condensing them, is one of the main processes affecting the attributes of the product of distillation. Some embodiments of spirit distillation systems comprise a column directly above or connected via piping to the pot. These systems are typically called “hybrid stills” which are essentially batch processing systems with capabilities of a stripping column and dephlegmator, allowing for increased reflux control. Hybrid still configurations are comprised of a plurality of vapor pipes with varying angles, depending on the engineering design.

[0007] As the vapors rise from the heated pot into the neck and / or column of the still, heavier components condense due to lower temperatures, while lighter components pass through as vapor to the vapor pipe or Lyne arm. Lyne arm orientation or incline is critical for flavor and quality outcomes for distilled products. Lyne arm orientations are typically angled upwards (at an angle greater than 0° (zero) relative to the horizon or less than 90° relative to the vertical column, swan neck and or condenser, or downwards (at an angle that is smaller than <0° (zero) relative to the horizon or smaller than 90° relative to the vertical column or swan neck and or condenser).

[0008] Fig. 1, extracted from [1], shows 6 different pot still types: 1 is named “Onion” and has a Lyne arm descending, 2 is named “Plain” and has a Lyne arm ascending, 3 is named “Straight” and has a Lyne arm horizontal, 4 is named “Ball” and has a Lyne arm descending, 5 and 6 are named “Lantern” and “Ball” respectively and have a combination of ascending / descending / horizontal sections. Publication [1] teaches that different Lyne arm positions may be used in pot stills for producing different characters of spirits. It is a general conception that past a downwards bend, all condensed flavor congeners continue downstream whereas before such a downwards bend some flavor congeners may condense, return to the pot and generally remain in the spent liquor. The flavor congeners that tend to condense first, generally have specific characteristics whose presence or absence influence the nature of the produced spirit. Typically, a Lyne arm directed upwards will generate more reflux, this is due to the large temperature gradient across the pipe, and backflow of condensed vapors into the pot, therefore, producing a cleaner and lighter spirit than a downward directed Lyne arm, where there is no backflow of condensate. Horizontally oriented Lyne arms provide a product of a balanced nature, and are more typically found in hybrid systems, downstream of a vertical column.

[0009] REFERENCES

[0010] [1] Whisky: Technology, Production and Marketing (Handbook of Alcoholic Beverages) by Inge Russell, Charles Bamforth, Graham Stewart, Charles W. Bamforth Hardcover, Published 2003

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] As noted above, batch distillation systems are comprised of a heated pot, shoulder or helmet, swan neck or vertical cylinder, head, Lyne arm or vapor pipe, and condenser. The arrangement of these elements of the system can significantly contribute to a flavor profile of the resultant distillate. Some spirit distillation systems comprise a column directly above or connected via piping to the pot. Such systems are typically called “hybrid stills” which are essentially batch processing systems with capabilities of a stripping column and dephlegmator, allowing an increased control over the reflux of the spirit. As the vapors rise from the heated pot into the neck and / or column of the still, heavier components condense due to lower temperatures, while lighter components pass through as vapor to the vapor pipe or Lyne arm. Lyne arm orientation or incline is critical for flavor control. Lyne arm orientations are typically angled upwards, at an angle greater than 0° (zero) relative to the horizon or less than 90° relative to the vertical column, swan neck and / or condenser, or angled downwards, at an angle that is smaller than <0° (zero) relative to the horizon or smaller than 90° relative to the vertical column or swan neck and or condenser. With an aim to improve on the exiting ability to generate a gamut of flavor profiles of spirit produced in pot stills, without needing to utilize a variety of different distillation apparatuses, the inventors of the technology disclosed herein propose a variety of modifications to existing distillation systems of distillation apparatuses. The modifications disclosed herein may be carried out on any single distillation system with an industrially effective and a cost-effective advantage.

[0013] In the context of the present invention, reference to a “distillation apparatus or a “distillation system” is not to be construed as limiting to any one type of an apparatus used for distilling spirits. The term encompasses both batch and continuous distillation apparatuses, including pot still, column still, hybrid still, alembic still and reflux still, provided that the aforementioned apparatuses are modified as disclosed herein. The specific reference herein to a pot still is by no way limiting and should encompass any batch distillation. References herein to hybrid stills, as defined herein, should also be construed as non-limiting.

[0014] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a distillation apparatus for generating spirits (a pot still), the apparatus or pot still comprising a detachable and reconfigurable Lyne arm assembly, wherein said assembly is positioned to adopt an upward or downward incline by reversing connectivity or association of the Lyne arm assembly to the distillation apparatus or pot still.

[0015] As used herein and as demonstrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the “Lyne arm assembly refers to a region of a distillation apparatus extending from a neck part of the distillation pot to a condenser (shown in Fig. 3). The Lyne arm assembly is generally a single unit element comprising a straight Lyne arm section having at each end a bend (a curved pipe section) of a different angle or length. The Lyne arm assembly may comprise two or three pipe sections: a sharper or acute angle bend, a straight pipe and an obtuse angle bend, the sections connected by fittings such as flanges or tri -clamps. In some cases, any of the angled or bent sections of the Lyne arm assembly may comprise fittings or joints or a peeking window for insertion of a basket or another feature needed for proper or designed operation of the distillation apparatus.

[0016] Each of the two bends of the Lyne arm assembly is configurable and adaptable for mechanical association with the neck of the distillation apparatus or pot still, or with a helmet, if present, and with a vapor input end of the condenser. Due to the different angle of the two bends, the orientation or incline of the assembly, as a whole, may be upward (as shown in Fig. 2B and 3B) or downward (as shown in Fig. 2A and 3A). To reverse from an upward or a downward orientation to the downward or upward orientation, respectively, the Lyne arm assembly may be disconnected from both the distillation pot and the condenser and reversed to achieve the opposite arm orientation. The angle of one or both bends may be selected to enable positioning of the Lyne arm at an angle ranging from -45° to +45° relative to the horizon. This variable angle may be achievable in advance or by having the bends formed of a flexible spring material which length or relative angle may be varied / modified.

[0017] Thus, the expression “reversing connectivity , or any lingual variation thereof, generally refers to the detachable nature of the Lyne arm assembly and the ability to reconfigure its orientation or inline by disconnecting the Lyne arm assembly from both the neck of the distillation pot and the condenser and reconnecting the assembly in such a way that a bend of the assembly previously connected to the neck of the distillation pot is connected to the condenser and the bend having been connected to the condenser is connected to the neck of the distillation pot. Putting it differently, the upward incline may be achievable by disconnecting the Lyne arm assembly from its downward incline, rotating the Lyne arm assembly by 180° and re-connecting the assembly to result in the upward orientation.

[0018] As stated herein, the Lyne arm assembly comprises a Lyne arm section having at each end a bend of a different angle (or length), such that when said Lyne arm assembly is connected to the neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle greater than 90° (an obtuse angle), the assembly is oriented upwards, at an upward incline. When said assembly is connected to the neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle smaller than 90° (an acute angle), the assembly is oriented downwards, at a downward incline. Thus, one of the bends, having an angle greater than 90° (wherein an angle of 90° represent a horizontal orientation, no downward or upward incline) may be at an angle between 91° and 120°. The other bend, having an angle smaller than 90° may be at an angle between 89° and 60°.

[0019] In some configurations, one bend has an angle between 95° to 105° and the other bend has an angle between 85° to 75°.

[0020] The angle of each bend is selected so that the sum of both angles is 180°.

[0021] In another aspect, there is provided a distillation apparatus for generating spirits (a pot still), the apparatus or pot still comprising a Lyne arm assembly comprising a Lyne arm having at each end a bend of a different angle (e.g., such that the sum of both angles is 180°), such that when said Lyne arm assembly is connected to the neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle greater than 90°, the assembly is oriented upwards, i.e., at an upward incline; and when said assembly is connected to the neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle smaller than 90°, the assembly is oriented downwards, i.e., at a downward incline.

[0022] To enable quick release of the Lyne arm assembly and a quick assembling thereof, each of the bends may be configured with a quick release connector. The quick release connector at each bend is typically the same and of the same diameter, thereby permitting adaptability of both bends to both the pot still neck and the condenser. Examples of quick release connectors include camlocks, a flange, magnetic connectors, tri -clamp, sanitary clamp connector, Luer connectors and others.

[0023] The invention further provides a kit of parts, the kit comprising a distillation apparatus (a pot still), a condenser and a Lyne arm assembly, the Lyne arm assembly comprising a Lyne arm section having at each end a bend of a different angle (or length), as disclosed herein. The kit also comprises instructions for assembling the Lyne arm assembly at an orientation per user’s desire.

[0024] In some embodiments of a kit or an apparatus of the invention, the Lyne arm assembly may comprise one or more spool piece pipe attachments for compensating or offset in height or length between the pot and the condenser. The spool piece pipe attachments may be pipe sections of any length, having connections such as tri-clamps or flanges on both ends and configured for easy insertion or removal.

[0025] In some embodiments, an inner region of the Lyne arm assembly or the Lyne arm itself, may be coated or filled with an active medium capable of removing by adsorption or chemical decomposition unwanted flavor congeners. As an example, copper Raschig rings or pall ring react with sulfur containing compounds that might be present in the vapor, and which commonly exhibit unwanted flavors or odors in spirits, to create a solid patina and thus reduce their quantity or concentration in the condensate and in the product spirit. In a similar fashion, an inner surface of the assembly or arm may be coated or filled with a passive medium selected to enhance mass transfer, such as by promoting turbulence or increasing the gas-liquid contact area. Also, botanicals may be provided at an inner surface of the assembly or arm for adding flavors to the distilled product. Additionally, or alternatively, the Lyne arm assembly or the Lyne arm may comprise a pod or a chamber comprising one or more of an active media, a passive medium and botanicals for achieving any of the aforementioned purposes. In some embodiments, the Lyne arm assembly may be provided with an active medium held by a screen or a perforated plate or a basket or a bag, installed at any internal region of the Lyne arm assembly. The medium can be cleaned with a nozzle or unloaded for cleaning and reloaded through a dedicated service port in one of the bends. For example, the Lyne arm assembly may be provided with copper Pall rings or copper Raschig rings capable of eliminating or decreasing off-tastes of produced spirits and enabling operation at higher distillation rates. Alternatively, the Lyne arm assembly may be filled with at least one botanical for production of flavored spirits such as gin. The botanicals may be held by a screen or perforated plate or basket or bag installed into the Lyne arm, instead of a bypass through a “gin basket”. The loading and unloading of the botanicals can be done through a dedicated service port at any of the assembly bends.

[0026] The ability to quickly and effectively change orientation of the Lyne arm assembly, as disclosed herein, opens the door for the effective generation of spirits of different flavor profiles, using a single distillation apparatus.

[0027] A further control on the flavor profile of the spirit produced or the content of the flavor congeners present in the vapor or remaining in the distillation still may be achieved by externally heating or cooling the reflux vapors generated in the distillation process. Thus, in some embodiments, the Lyne arm assembly may be provided with a thermal apron, being a cooling apron or a heating apron, said thermal apron being provided externally on at least a region of a circumference of the Lyne arm and / or one or both bends. The thermal apron may be provided with a heating element or a means for colling, such as means for water or gas circulation.

[0028] As used herein, a thermal apron being a heating apron or a cooling apron is a member, typically of a flexible material or of a shape capable of coating or covering a circumference of a component of a distillation apparatus, as defined herein. The apron is designed to modify a temperature of the component or region thereof, as disclosed, by applying direct heating or cooling for the purposes disclosed herein. The thermal apron may come in a variety of shapes and configurations depending on its specific application and the component or region it is meant to cover. The apron may be a flexible flat object that can be bent and folded to cover the component or region, it may be curved or contoured, cylindrical or semi-cylindrical, etc. The apron may be made of a cloth material, a polymeric material, a hybrid material, a ceramic material, an insulating material, carbon or glass fibers, or any material combination. Generally speaking, and as further disclosed herein, the thermal apron may be an electrically heated element, configured to connect to a switch or a controller. In some cases, the apron is connected to means for controlling the heat or power provided by it to the system, such as a manual or automatic power regulator for an electrical heater or regulation valve for a heat exchanger.

[0029] Alternatively, the apron may be a heat exchanger element heated by circulation of a heating fluid, having. The apron may provide heating also or alternatively by generating infra-red radiation, or induction.

[0030] The apron may be configured and sized so that it can be releasingly engageable to the component of the distillation apparatus, as disclosed, to enable convenient and safe assembly and disassembly.

[0031] In some embodiments, the thermal apron is provided with a heat exchanger or an electric heater attached to an external surface of the Lyne arm.

[0032] In some embodiments, the thermal apron comprises water or gas circulation on an external surface of the Lyne arm to reduce a temperature of congeners within the Lyne arm.

[0033] In some embodiments, the thermal apron is provided to reduce or prevent condensation and flow back of congeners to the pot still.

[0034] In some embodiments, the still is externally provided with a heat transfer unit operable to transfer or extract heat from said still. In some embodiments, the heat transfer unit is positioned on a region of the still that is not directly heated or cooled (namely it is positioned on a region of the still or apparatus that may be at any temperature, but which does not have heat or cooling applied directly at that region). In some embodiments, the heat transfer unit is provided on a region of the Lyne arm assembly.

[0035] In some embodiments, the thermal apron or the heat transfer unit is releasingly engageable or fixed to a part of the still or any part of the Lyne arm assembly.

[0036] In another aspect the invention provides a system for producing distilled spirit, the system comprising: a distillation apparatus comprising a pot still configured for distilling spirits, a Lyne arm, or a Lyne arm assembly as disclosed herein, and a heating unit or a heat transfer unit (a thermal apron) externally provided on a region of the apparatus not directly heated or cooled; wherein the heat transfer unit is configured and operable to transfer or extract heat from said pot still. The invention further provides a system for producing distilled spirit, the system comprising:

[0037] -a distillation apparatus comprising a pot still configured for distilling spirits,

[0038] -an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or a vertical cylinder or column (the Lyne arm or the cylinder or column being part of the distillation apparatus and connected or associated with the pot still, directly or indirectly), and

[0039] -a heating unit or a heat transfer unit externally provided on a region of the Lyne arm or the vertical cylinder or column, wherein the region is not directly heated or cooled and wherein the heat transfer unit is configured and operable to transfer or extract heat from said region.

[0040] The heating or cooling of the reflux vapor may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, the heating unit may be configured to provide heating to an upward oriented or ascending Lyne arm assembly, using a heat exchanger or electric heater attached to its external surface. The heating may be provided in order to reduce or even prevent condensation and flow back of flavor congeners to the pot of the pot still. Thus, most of the flavor congeners present in the vapor can pass downstream, through the condenser and eventually be collected as part of the product spirit. In such a case, as a result of providing heating through the outer surface of Lyne arm assembly, the upwardly inclined Lyne arm assembly produces a product with a flavor profile characteristic of a downwardly inclined Lyne arm. Furthermore, with the heating unit turned off or disassembled from the Lyne arm assembly, the ascending upwardly inclined Lyne arm can produce a typical flavor profile to its physical structure.

[0041] The actual temperature to be achieved by using a thermal apron of the invention may vary based, e.g., a heat rate or a vapor temperature or a vapor temperature difference. Without limitation and for the purpose of an example only, in some embodiment, the heat transfer unit may be configured, e.g., by presence of use of heating or colling means to maintain a temperature in the range of 50 and 100°C in order to, e.g., reduce reflux.

[0042] In some embodiments, the system is a hybrid distillation apparatus.

[0043] In some embodiments, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the Lyne arm.

[0044] In some embodiments, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the vertical cylinder or column of a hybrid distillation apparatus. In some embodiments, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is releasingly engageable to said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or vertical column.

[0045] In some embodiments, the heat transfer unit is releasingly engageable or fixed to the apparatus or any part of the Lyne arm assembly.

[0046] In some embodiments, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises an electric heater or a heat exchanger or combinations thereof.

[0047] In some embodiments, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises a manual or an automated means for changing the heating power or the flow of a heating fluid through a heat exchanger.

[0048] In some embodiments, the system or the heating unit comprising at least one temperature indicator installed downstream of said heating unit or heat transfer unit.

[0049] The effective use of a heating unit or the heat transfer unit or generally an external thermal apron may be demonstrated in a pot still having a generally horizontally or upwardly inclined Lyne arm assembly or a hybrid still having a generally vertical cylinder or column. Providing heat through an external surface of the assembly to a vertical column decreases condensation and causes return of heavier flavor congeners to the pot. As a result, the passage of heavier flavor congeners increases as vapor downstream to the condenser where they collect as part of the distillate. When providing less or no heat, or even removing heat by cooling, an increase in condensation is observed, with a return of the heavier flavor congeners to the pot. This decreases or eliminates their presence in the distillate, creating a leaner and lighter flavored spirit.

[0050] Thus, the invention further concerns a method for producing spirits in a pot still having a generally horizontal or upwardly inclined Lyne arm assembly or a hybrid still having a generally vertical cylinder or column, the method comprising - during distillation of a spirit- providing heat through an external surface of said Lyne arm assembly or said vertical column in order to influence different flavor profiles.

[0051] As used herein, the “flavor profile generally refers to a sensory map that characterizes the aromatic, taste, and tactile attributes of a distilled spirit. It reflects the unique chemical and perceptual balance shaped by the spirit’s production techniques, ingredients, and aging process. In practical terms, the profile refers to a distilled spirit enriched with heavier flavor congeners or lighter flavor congeners, or a balanced amount of the two. The range of flavor profiles generated by methods of the invention may correspond with the amount of heat provided, or the heating rate. As explained, providing heat through an external surface of the Lyne arm or Lyne arm assembly or to a vertical column, decreases condensation and causes return of heavier flavor congeners to the distillation pot, which results in a spirit enriched with heavier flavor congeners. Thus, the degree or level or amount of the heavier flavor congeners may be generally controlled or achieved by increasing or decreasing the amount of heat delivered. Less heat or no heat applied externally to the Lyne arm, Lyne arm assembly of a vertical column, or extracting or removing heat by cooling, generates a spirit that is leaner, rich in lighter flavored congeners and poor in heavier flavor congeners. Thus, any fraction of heat may be applied as required to partially or completely prevent condensation within the Lyne arm assembly or the vertical column and thereafter, to thereby permit variable amounts or levels of the heavier flavor congeners in the spirit collected from the condenser.

[0052] Similarly, in order to generally prevent all condensation in the Lyne arm or in the vertical column of a pot still the method may comprise controlling the intensity of heating provided to the external surface of the Lyne arm or to the vertical column of a pot still. This permits maintaining a vapor temperature on a downstream side of the heated part higher than the vapor temperature on an upstream side of the heated part. The heating intensity required to generally prevent condensation (some condensation may always remain) may be determined once or occasionally using temperature measurements as described above, and the operational heating intensity is controlled by the distillation rate and the required flavor profile.

[0053] Heat may be extracted from the vapor by convective cooling, such as by passing cooling water in contact with the external surface of the upwardly directed Lyne arm assembly or the vertical column, or by air cooling or even by a direct contact with a Peltier solid-state cooler, in order to intensify condensation for a lighter flavor profile as defined above.

[0054] The method may further include applying heating or cooling to the upwardly directed Lyne arm or the vertical column of a pot still, as described above, during selected parts of the distillation process, such as during collection of the heavy fractions of the distillate. In some embodiments, said applying heat comprises supplying varying levels of heat inputs in order to obtain different flavor profiles in said pot or hybrid still. In some embodiments, the heat input is controlled based on a temperature measurement and distillation rate. In some embodiments, said controlling of the heat input based on a temperature measurement comprises increasing a temperature of vapor in an upstream location of said Lyne arm assembly or vertical column to a higher temperature than a temperature of a downstream region of said Lyne arm assembly or vertical column. In some embodiments, said controlling the heat input based on distillation rate comprises providing heat proportionally to said distillation rate. In other words, a certain power (measurable for example in W or kW) is applied per each kg / h of the condensate, thereby selecting and maintaining a ratio between the power input and the distillation rate (the latter being measured through condensate collection).

[0055] In some embodiments, the method comprises controlling the heat input based on a set temperature of the vapor downstream of said heated part of the still. In some embodiments, the method comprises controlling the heat input to achieve a vapor temperature between 50 and 100°C downstream of said heated part of the still. In some embodiments, heat is provided during part of the distillation process. In some embodiments, heat is applied to any of said horizontal and inclined Lyne arm assembly and vertical column during any stage of the distillation process.

[0056] As explained herein, the various flavor profiles may be achieved by any one of the following means:

[0057] 1. Using a detachable and reconfigurable Lyne arm assembly as disclosed herein; and / or

[0058] 2. Using a distillation apparatus having a Lyne arm (not necessarily of the assembly disclosed herein), that is associated with an external thermal apron; and / or

[0059] 3. Using a distillation apparatus having a generally horizontal or upwardly inclined Lyne arm (or Lyne arm assembly as disclosed herein) or a hybrid still having a generally vertical cylinder or column, wherein said apparatus is equipped with a thermal apron, heating element or a heat exchange unit on an external surface of the Lyne arm or said vertical column; and / or

[0060] 4. Using distillation protocols (methods) in which the reflux or condensation of heavy congeners is controlled by suitable heating or colling of regions of the distillation apparatus.

[0061] The invention further provides a kit of parts, the kit comprising, the kit comprising a pot still, a condenser and a Lyne arm or a vertical column, in an assembled form as a distillation apparatus or in a pre-assembled form configured for assembling into a distillation apparatus; the kit further comprises a heating apparatus for assembling onto a horizontally oriented or an upward inclined or a vertically oriented region of said assembled distillation apparatus, wherein said heating apparatus being configured to provide heat through an outer surface of said region and wherein said heat causes a reduction in reflux and backflow of condensate within said region of the distillation apparatus. The kit may further comprise instructions for assembling a distillation apparatus having a heating apparatus externally provided on a surface region of a horizontally oriented or an upward inclined or a vertically oriented region of said assembled distillation apparatus.

[0062] The invention further provides a heating apparatus for assembling onto an external region of a part of a distillation apparatus for production of spirits, the heating apparatus being configured to provide heat through an outer surface of said part to reduce reflux and backflow of condensate within said part of the pot still or hybrid still back to the pot, said external region being an external region of a horizontally oriented or an upward inclined or a vertically oriented part of the distillation apparatus.

[0063] Regions of the distillation apparatus may be insulated. The extent of insulation and the regions insulated or maintained not insulated may vary between distillation apparatuses or during a course of a distillation process.

[0064] In some embodiments, the heating apparatus is a heating unit or a heater operable to increase and enhance passage or flow of flavor congeners to the product spirit in a hybrid still operating in pot still mode, as if it had a downward inclined Lyne arm. Optionally, as a feature of the present invention, and for the purpose of creating a specific flavor profile, a pot helmet may be covered with a thermal isolation in order to prevent condensation therein.

[0065] The heater may be an electrical heating element such as heating apron, a heating blanket or heating jacket, comprising means to control the level of heating to meet required flavor profile according to any of temperature and distillation rate, and configured to be detachable or releasingly engageable.

[0066] In some embodiments, said heating apparatus is electrically heated.

[0067] In some embodiments, said heating apparatus is heated by circulation of a heating fluid.

[0068] In some embodiments, said heating apparatus is heated by infra-red radiation.

[0069] In some embodiments, said heating apparatus is heated by induction.

[0070] In some embodiments, said part of the distillation apparatus is an upwardly inclined Lyne arm. In some embodiments, said part of the distillation apparatus(e.g., hybrid still) is any of a generally vertical column above the pot of the still, and / or a helmet above the column, and / or a horizontal pipe.

[0071] In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises means to control heat provided to said part.

[0072] In some embodiments, means to control heat provided to said part comprises a controller and at least two temperature indicators connected to said controller and means to increase or decrease the heat provided to said part according to a temperature difference between said at least two temperature indicators by said controller.

[0073] In some embodiments, said means to increase or decrease heat provided to said part according to a temperature difference between said at least two temperature indicators comprises changing the duty cycle of an electrically powered heater and changing a continuous power provided to an electrically powered heater.

[0074] The invention further provides:

[0075] A system for producing distilled spirit, the system comprising:

[0076] -a distillation apparatus comprising a pot still configured for distilling spirits,

[0077] -an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or a vertical cylinder or column (the Lyne arm or the cylinder or column being part of the distillation apparatus and connected or associated with the pot still, directly or indirectly), and

[0078] -a heating unit or a heat transfer unit externally provided on a region of the Lyne arm or the vertical cylinder or column, wherein the region is not directly heated or cooled and wherein the heat transfer unit is configured and operable to transfer or extract heat from said region.

[0079] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the Lyne arm.

[0080] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the vertical cylinder or column of a hybrid distillation apparatus.

[0081] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is releasingly engageable to said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or vertical column.

[0082] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises an electric heater or a heat exchanger or combinations thereof. In some configurations of a system of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises a manual or an automated means for changing the heating power or the flow of a heating fluid through a heat exchanger.

[0083] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the system further comprises at least one temperature indicator installed downstream of said heating unit or heat transfer unit.

[0084] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the Lyne arm is installed or provided in a Lyne arm assembly detachable and reconfigurable to adopt an upward or downward incline by reversing connectivity or association of the Lyne arm assembly to the distillation apparatus.

[0085] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the Lyne arm assembly comprises a Lyne arm having at each end a bend of a different angle, such that when said Lyne arm assembly is connected to a neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle greater than 90°, the assembly is oriented upwards; and when said assembly is connected to the neck of the pot still via a bend of an angle smaller than 90°, the assembly is oriented downwards.

[0086] In some configurations of a system of the invention, each end of the Lyne arm is configured with a quick release connector.

[0087] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the quick release connector at each side of the Lyne arm is the same, thereby permitting adaptability of both bends to both the pot still neck and a condenser.

[0088] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the Lyne arm assembly comprises one or more spool piece pipe attachments for compensating or offset in height or length between the pot and the condenser.

[0089] In some configurations of a system of the invention, the spool piece pipe attachments are pipe sections, having connections on both ends and configured for easy insertion or removal.

[0090] In some configurations of a system of the invention, an inner region of the Lyne arm assembly or the Lyne arm is coated or filled or comprises an active medium capable of removing by adsorption or chemical decomposition unwanted flavor congeners, the active medium may be or may comprise copper or a copper alloy.

[0091] In some configurations of a system of the invention, an inner surface of the assembly or Lyne arm is coated or filled or provided with a passive medium selected to enhance mass transfer. In some configurations of a system of the invention, an inner surface of the assembly or Lyne arm is coated or filled or provided with botanicals.

[0092] The invention further provides a method for producing spirits in a pot still having an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or in a hybrid still having a vertical cylinder or column, the method comprising providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit.

[0093] In some configurations of a method of the invention, heat input is controlled based on a temperature measurement and / or a distillation rate measurement.

[0094] In some configurations of a method of the invention, said controlling of the heat input based on a temperature measurement comprises increasing a temperature of vapor in a downstream location of said Lyne arm assembly or vertical column to a higher temperature than a temperature of an upstream region of said Lyne arm assembly or vertical column.

[0095] In some configurations of a method of the invention, said controlling the heat input based on distillation rate comprises providing heat proportionally to said distillation rate.

[0096] In some configurations of a method of the invention, said providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit comprises using a heating apron, IR irradiation or induction.

[0097] In some configurations of a method of the invention, said providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit comprises externally fitting a thermal apron, being a cooling apron or a heating apron, on at least a region of a circumference of a Lyne arm section and / or a vertical column of a pot still.

[0098] In some configurations of a method of the invention, the method comprises controlling heat input based on a set temperature of vapor downstream of said heated part of the still.

[0099] Also provided is a distillation apparatus for generating spirits, the apparatus comprising a pot still and a detachable and reconfigurable Lyne arm assembly, wherein said assembly is positioned to adopt an upward or downward incline by reversing connectivity or association of the Lyne arm assembly to the pot still.

[0100] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the Lyne arm assembly extending from a neck part of the pot to a condenser. In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the Lyne arm assembly comprises two or three pipe sections: a sharper or acute angle bend, a straight pipe and an obtuse angle bend, the sections connected by fittings.

[0101] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, an angle of one or both bends is selected to enable positioning of the Lyne arm at an angle ranging from -45° to +45° relative to the horizon.

[0102] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, one bend is of an angle greater than 90° (an obtuse angle), and the other bend is of an angle smaller than 90° (an acute angle).

[0103] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, one bend is of an angle between 91° and 120° and the other bend is of an angle between 89° and 60°.

[0104] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, one bend has an angle between 95° to 105° and the other bend has an angle between 85° to 75°.

[0105] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the sum of both bend angles is 180°.

[0106] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, a thermal apron releasingly engageable to at least one region of the Lyne arm assembly.

[0107] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, said thermal apron is a heat exchanger, an electric heater or a Peltier cooler.

[0108] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the thermal apron comprises at least one temperature indicator.

[0109] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the thermal apron comprises a controller configured to change the heat input based on a reading from said temperature indicator.

[0110] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the thermal apron is a heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the Lyne arm.

[0111] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises an electric heater or a heat exchanger or combinations thereof.

[0112] In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises a manual or an automated means for changing the heating power or the flow of a heating fluid through a heat exchanger. In some configurations of an apparatus of the invention, the apparatus comprising at least one temperature indicator installed downstream of said heating unit or heat transfer unit.

[0113] A kit is further provided, which comprises a thermal apron, being a cooling apron or a heating apron, for externally fitting on at least a region of a circumference of a Lyne arm section and / or a vertical column of a pot still, the kit further comprising instructions for assembling said thermal apron.

[0114] In some configurations of a kit of the invention, said thermal apron is releasingly engageable to said at least one region.

[0115] In some configurations of a kit of the invention, said thermal apron is a heat exchanger, an electric heater or a Peltier cooler.

[0116] In some configurations of a kit of the invention, the kit also comprising at least one temperature indicator.

[0117] In some configurations of a kit of the invention, the thermal apron comprises a controller configured to change the heat input based on a reading from said temperature indicator.

[0118] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0119] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0120] Fig. 1 presents 6 different pot still structures of the prior art which are structurally designed to impart different flavor profiles to distilled spirits.

[0121] Figs. 2A-B are schematic illustrations of a Lyne arm assembly according to certain embodiments of the invention.

[0122] Figs. 3A-B are schematic illustrations of distillation apparatuses according to certain embodiments of the invention. (A) depicts an apparatus comprising a pot still structured with a Lyne arm assembly in a downwardly direction and (B) an apparatus comprising a pot still structures with a Lyne arm assembly in an upwardly direction.

[0123] Fig. 4 depicts a typical structure of a hybrid pot still of the prior art.

[0124] Fig- 5 is a schematic illustration of a thermal apron positioned on an upwardly inclined Lyne arm according to some embodiments of the invention. Fig- 6 is a schematic illustration of a thermal apron according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0125] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0126] The technology disclosed herein generally concerns ways by which a flavor profile of a distilled spirit may be modified by using a conventional distillation apparatus. In some configurations of the herein disclosed technology, a detachable and easily configurable Lyne arm assembly is provided, which can be modified in a variety of ways to easily affect flavor profiles prior to and during a distillation process.

[0127] Fig. 2 depicts a Lyne arm assembly 100 according to the invention. The assembly is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, in a region of a distillation apparatus 200, 210, which extends from a neck part 202, 204 of the distillation pot 225 to a condenser 212, 222. The Lyne arm assembly 100 (or 206, 208 in Fig. 3) is thus generally referred to as a single unit comprising a straight Lyne arm 20 (or 211, 221 in Fig. 3) having at each end a bend (a curved pipe section) 10, 30 of a different angle or length. The Lyne arm may comprise two or three pipe sections: a sharper or acute angle bend 10, a straight pipe 20 and an obtuse angle bend 30, the sections connected by fittings 40 such as flanges or tri-clamps. In some configurations, any of the angled orbent sections 10, 30 of the Lyne arm assembly 100 may comprise fittings or joints for a peeking window or insertion of a basket or another feature needed for proper or designed operation of the distillation apparatus (not shown).

[0128] Each of the two bends 10, 30 of the Lyne arm assembly 100 is configurable and adaptable for mechanical association with the neck of the distillation pot 202, 204 (Fig. 3), or with a helmet, if present, and with a vapor input end of the condenser 212, 222 in Fig. 3. Due to the different angle of the two bends, the orientation or incline of the assembly, as a whole, may be downward (as shown in Fig. 2A and 3A) or upward (as shown in Fig. 2B and 3B). To reverse from an upward or a downward orientation to the downward or upward orientation, respectively, the Lyne arm assembly may be disconnected from both the distillation pot neck 202, 204 and the condenser 212, 222 and reversed to achieve the opposite arm orientation.

[0129] As explained herein, a flavor profile originating from an incline of a Lyne arm assembly, as defined, is controlled by a changeable piece of a Lyne arm assembly oriented between an upwardly directed, ascending position 221 (as shown in Fig. 3B) to a downwardly directed, descending position 211 (Fig. 3A) and vice versa. In some variations of a pot still, a spool piece pipe 60 (Fig. 2) or 218 and 228 (Fig. 3) would be required to adjust between the two positions of the same Lyne arm in the same still. As further indicated in Fig. 3A, in the downwardly directed Lyne arm assembly 206 of pot still 200 the flow direction 216 of any condensate is towards the condenser 212, to be collected as part of the product through outlet 214. However, in the upwardly directed Lyne arm assembly 208 of pot still 220, shown in Fig. 3B, the flow direction 226 of any condensate will return back to pot 225 of pot still 210 and thus be present at low concentration or absent in the product collect downstream, at outlet 224 after condenser 222.

[0130] Lyne arm assembly 206 and 208, generally shown in Figs. 2A and 2B as assembly 100, are different representations of the same piece of equipment or piping, only installed in opposite directions (or revered directions), as if rotated by 180°. Thus, pot stills 200 and 210 and all their components are actually different representations of the same still, with the Lyne arm 206 of pot still 225 disassembled, rotated in 180° and then re-assembled to create the configuration of Lyne arm 208 of pot still 225.

[0131] The Lyne arm assemblies 206 and 208, including the bends on both sides (as shown in Fig. 2), are attached to pot still 210 and 220 with quick release fittings such as tri-clamp in order to enable convenient changing of the direction position from upward to downward or vice versa. Lyne arm 211 and 221 also preferably comprise any sort of means to hook onto a lifting device for safe and convenient handling during the changing of one position to another.

[0132] Fig. 4 depicts a hybrid still, as known in the art. As shown, the exemplary hybrid still comprises pot 502, column 504, helmet 505, plate column 510 and condenser 507, with means such as 3 -way valve 512 to direct vapor through the plate column 510 in hybrid mode or directly to the condenser 507 in pot still mode, and wherein there is a heater 520 installed onto the column 504. It is a feature of a hybrid still to produce a controlled reflux in the plate column 510 when operating in hybrid mode, thus providing a greater barrier to flavor congeners from reaching the product spirit and retaining more of the flavor congeners in the remaining liquid in the pot. However, there are no means to enable the passage and collection of flavor congeners together with the produced spirit. The thermal apron, in a form of a heater 520 according to some embodiments the present invention, enables retention of flavor congeners through column 504, which in pot still mode pass over towards the condenser to be collected together with the product spirit. Thus, heater 520 increases and enhances passage of flavor congeners to the product spirit in a hybrid still operating in pot still mode, as if it had a downwards inclined Lyne arm. Optionally, as a feature of the present invention, and for the purpose of creating a specific flavor profile, the helmet 505 is covered with a thermal isolation in order to prevent condensation therein. In a specific non-limiting configuration, heater 520 is an electrical heating element such as heating blanket or heating jacket, comprising means to control the level of heating to meet required flavor profile according to any of temperature and distillation rate, and configured to be detachable or releasingly engageable. Heater 520 may be a heat exchange surface attached onto the column 504 and configured to pass a heating fluid or a cooling fluid in order to provide heating or cooling.

[0133] In a similar fashion and as shown in Fig. 5, heating is provided to the ascending Lyne arm 402 of a pot still 400, by a heat exchanger or electric heater 404 attached to its external surface. The heating is provided in order to reduce or even prevent condensation and flow back 403 of any of the flavor congeners to the pot 401 of pot still 400. Thus, at least most of the flavor congeners present in the vapor will pass downstream, over the downwards bend 405, through the condenser 406 and eventually collected at an outlet 407 as part of the product spirit. Therefore, as a result of providing heat by heater 404 through the outer surface of Lyne arm assembly 402, the upwardly inclined Lyne arm will produce a product with a flavor profile characteristic of a downwardly inclined Lyne arm. Furthermore, with heater 404 turned off or disassembled from the Lyne arm 402, the ascending upwardly inclined Lyne arm will produce a typical flavor profile to its physical structure.

[0134] Optionally, the Lyne arm 402 is filled with active media to positively influence the flavor of the spirit. The media can be held by a screen or a perforated plate or a basket or a bag, installed into the Lyne arm. The media can be cleaned in place with a nozzle (not shown) or unloaded for cleaning and reloaded through a dedicated service port (not shown) in bend 405. For example, filling the Lyne arm with copper Pall rings or copper Raschig rings was found to eliminate or decrease off-tastes of produced spirits, and enable operation at higher distillation rates, or distilling in a stainless steel still with equivalent or better results compared to a copper still. Alternatively, the Lyne arm can be filled with at least one botanical for production of flavored spirits such as gin. The botanicals can be held by a screen or perforated plate or basket or bag installed into the Lyne arm, instead of a bypass through a “gin basket”. The loading and unloading of the botanicals can be done through a dedicated service port (not shown) in bend 405. A heating apron or a heater or a heat exchange unit is depicted as unit 600 in Fig. 6. As explained herein, the heating apron is configured to provide heat through the outer surface of an upwardly inclined part of a pot still or a generally vertical part of a hybrid still for production of spirits in order to reduce reflux and backflow of condensate within said part of the pot still or hybrid still back to the pot.

[0135] Heater 600 may be an electrically heated element, configured to connect to a switch or a controller via ports 611 and 612. Alternatively, heater 600 may be a heat exchanger element heated by circulation of a heating fluid, having inlet and outlet ports 611 and 612. The heating may also be obtained by other means such as infra-red radiation, or induction. For such configurations, the apron or the system may be provided with a member for generating infra-red radiation (such as an IR lamp) or induction, as known in the art.

[0136] Heater 600 may be releasingly engageable to the Lyne arm assembly in order to enable convenient and safe disassembly for production of lighter flavored profiles typical of an upwardly inclined Lyne arm assembly .

[0137] Optionally, the heater is connected to means for controlling the heat or power provided by it to the system, such as a manual or automatic power regulator for an electrical heater or regulation valve for a heat exchanger.

[0138] A method is also disclosed for producing spirits in a pot still having a generally horizontally or upwardly inclined Lyne arm assembly or a hybrid still having a generally vertical cylinder. The method comprises providing heat (heating) through the external surface of the Lyne arm assembly, also applicable to a vertical column, in order to influence the flavor profile. Specifically, providing more heat will decrease condensation and return of heavier flavor congeners to the pot, and will increase their passage as vapor downstream to the condenser where they will be collected as part of the distillate and will contribute to creating a richer and heavier flavored spirit. On the other hand, providing less or no heat, or even removing heat by cooling, will increase condensation and return of the heavier flavor congeners to the pot, and will decrease or even eliminate their presence in the distillate, thus creating a leaner and lighter flavored spirit. Some of the heavier flavor congeners that differentiate pot stills with upwardly directed Lyne arm and downwardly directed Lyne arms are known in the art to be those of oils for example (such as amyl acetate, amyl alcohol, butyric acid, valeric acid and many more).

[0139] The method described above is applicable for production of a range of flavor profile, corresponding to the amount of heat provided. Thus, the method also proposes providing any fraction of the heat required to completely prevent condensation within the Lyne arm or the vertical column and thereafter, in order to create any degree of passage of said heavier flavor congeners into the spirit collected from the condenser.

[0140] The method also comprises controlling the intensity of heating provided to the external surface of the Lyne arm or to the vertical column of a pot still in order to generally prevent all condensation therein or also substantially thereafter, by maintaining a vapor temperature on a downstream side of the heated part higher than the vapor temperature on a downstream side of the heated part. Alternatively, the heating intensity required to generally prevent all condensation is determined once or occasionally using temperature measurements as described above, and the operational heating intensity is controlled by the distillation rate and the required flavor profile.

[0141] Heat may be extracted from the vapor by convective cooling, such as by passing cooling water in contact with the external surface of the upwardly directed Lyne arm or the vertical column, or by air cooling or even a direct contact Peltier solid-state cooler, in order to intensify condensation for a lighter flavor profile as defined above.

[0142] The method disclosed herein further includes applying heating or cooling to the upwardly directed Lyne arm or the vertical column of a pot still, as described above, during selected parts of the distillation process, such as during collection of the hearts fraction of the distillate.

[0143] In certain pot still configurations or structures the method described above is preferably applied to any of a horizontal part and inclined part of a Lyne arm and to a vertical column during some stage of the distillation process.

[0144] It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the drawings and explanations are focused on the core features of the present invention as applied in combination with common elements known in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for producing distilled spirit, the system comprising:-a distillation apparatus comprising a pot still configured for distilling spirits,-an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or a vertical cylinder or column, and-a heating unit or a heat transfer unit externally provided on a region of the Lyne arm or the vertical cylinder or column, wherein the region is not directly heated or cooled and wherein the heat transfer unit is configured and operable to transfer or extract heat from said region.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the Lyne arm.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is provided on an upward inclined region of the vertical cylinder or column of a hybrid distillation apparatus.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit is releasingly engageable to said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or vertical column.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises an electric heater or a heat exchanger or combinations thereof.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises a manual or an automated means for changing the heating power or the flow of a heating fluid through a heat exchanger.

7. The system according to claim 6, comprising at least one temperature indicator installed downstream of said heating unit or heat transfer unit.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner region of the Lyne arm is coated or filled or comprises an active medium capable of removing by adsorption or chemical decomposition unwanted flavor congeners.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the active medium is or comprises copper or a copper alloy.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner surface of the assembly or Lyne arm is coated or filled or provided with a passive medium selected to enhance mass transfer.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner surface of the assembly or Lyne arm is coated or filled or provided with botanicals.

12. A method for producing spirits in a system accoridng to any one of claims 1 to 11, the system having a pot still with an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or the system being a hybrid still having a vertical cylinder or column, the method comprising providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit.

13. A method for producing spirits in a pot still having an upwardly inclined Lyne arm or in a hybrid still having a vertical cylinder or column, the method comprising providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein heat input is controlled based on a temperature measurement and / or a distillation rate measurement.

15. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said controlling of the heat input based on a temperature measurement comprises increasing a temperature of vapor in a downstream location of said Lyne arm or vertical column to a higher temperature than a temperature of an upstream region of said Lyne arm assembly or vertical column.

16. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said controlling the heat input based on distillation rate comprises providing heat proportionally to said distillation rate.

17. The method according to claim 16, the method comprises controlling heat input based on a set temperature of vapor downstream of said heated part of the still.

18. The method accoridng to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein said providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit comprises using a heating apron, IR irradiation or induction.

19. The method accoridng to any one of claims 12 to 18, wherein said providing heat through an external surface of said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or said vertical column during distillation of a spirit in order to influence a flavor profile of said spirit comprises externally fitting a thermal apron, being a cooling apron or a heating apron, on at least a region of a circumference of a Lyne arm section and / or a vertical column of a pot still.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the thermal apron is a heating unit or a heat transfer unit being releasingly engageable to said upwardly inclined Lyne arm or vertical column.

21. The method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the thermal apron is a heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprising an electric heater or a heat exchanger or combinations thereof.

22. The method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the heating unit or the heat transfer unit comprises a manual or an automated means for changing the heating power or the flow of a heating fluid through a heat exchanger.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein at least one temperature indicator is installed downstream of said heating unit or heat transfer unit.

24. A distillation apparatus for generating spirits, the apparatus comprising a pot still and a detachable and reconfigurable Lyne arm assembly, wherein said assembly is positioned to adopt an upward or downward incline by reversing connectivity or association of the Lyne arm assembly to the pot still.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the Lyne arm assembly extending from a neck part of the pot to a condenser.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the Lyne arm assembly comprises two or three pipe sections: a sharper or acute angle bend, a straight pipe and an obtuse angle bend, the sections connected by fittings.

27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein an angle of one or both bends is selected to enable positioning of the Lyne arm at an angle ranging from -45° to +45° relative to the horizon.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, one bend is of an angle greater than 90° (an obtuse angle), and the other bend is of an angle smaller than 90° (an acute angle).

29. The apparatus according to claim 27 or 28, wherein one bend is of an angle between 91° and 120° and the other bend is of an angle between 89° and 60°.

30. The apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 29, wherein one bend has an angle between 95° to 105° and the other bend has an angle between 85° to 75°.

31. The apparatus according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the sum of both bend angles is 180°.

32. A kit comprising a thermal apron, being a cooling apron or a heating apron, for externally fitting on at least a region of a circumference of a Lyne arm section and / or a vertical column of a pot still, the kit further comprising instructions for assembling said thermal apron.

33. The kit according to claim 32, wherein said thermal apron is releasingly engageable to said at least one region.

34. The kit according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said thermal apron is a heat exchanger, an electric heater or a Peltier cooler.

35. The kit according to any one of claims 32 to 34, also comprising at least one temperature indicator.

36. The kit according to any one of claim 35, wherein the thermal apron comprises a controller configured to change the heat input based on a reading from said temperature indicator.

37. The kit accoridng to any one of claims 32 to 36, for use in a method of any one of claims 12 to 23.

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