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Tuzsér, Hungary - February 2026
We have completed the installation of a 400-litre distillation unit at the Tuzsér distillery. This single-stage system, manufactured by Kothe, features three rectification plates and a 1200 mm pot diameter. In the world of craft distilleries, this is considered an exceptionally large diameter; it provides a high specific evaporation surface, which ensures energy-efficient and highly effective distillation.
The evaporation surface is proportional to the heat input, resulting in low energy consumption — significantly lower than that of pots with smaller diameters. The distillation process is relatively fast yet gentler, as the mash is exposed to less thermal stress during the run. Built from 5 mm thick copper plate, this robust unit is designed for durability and is capable of producing world-class spirits. It offers excellent controllability and is visually stunning.
The unit is crafted from forged, high-purity copper with a mirror-polished exterior. It is a piece of precision engineering, evident in both the stainless steel and copper components.
There are massive copper surface areas located above the mash.
The mash is filled up to the lower level of the pot door, which represents the 400-litre nominal filling capacity. Above this, the headspace of the pot is equal in volume to the section in contact with the mash. Additionally, the unit includes a massive copper helmet. These features maximise the contact area between the rising spirit vapour and the copper, which helps ensure that the spirits are smooth and delicate.
Copper plays a vital catalytic role in binding ethyl carbamates, sulphur compounds, and cyanides. From the helmet, the vapour passes into a three-plate rectification column, topped with a highly adjustable dephlegmator that allows for precise control over the reflux ratio. This enables the operator to fine-tune the quality of the vapour heading towards the final condenser. The system allows for high-quality results alongside excellent alcohol yields: the alcohol content of the distillates is typically around 86% ABV. Furthermore, it allows for the intense concentration of aromas and a very sharp separation of heads and tails.
Distilleries using Kothe equipment consistently produce exceptional quality, as proven by their numerous competition wins. The Tuzsér team has long relied on Kothe systems, having won “National Spirit of the Year” titles several times with their Williams pear and apple distillates. We believe this modern equipment is a further step towards producing top-tier spirits efficiently and with an excellent price-to-value ratio.
This new unit replaces a 200-litre pot with an 800 mm diameter purchased back in 2009. That machine saw heavy use; made from 3 mm copper, much of the material had worn away over the years. Its capacity was relatively small, whereas this 400-litre, 1200 mm unit is more energy-efficient. Remarkably, 400 litres of mash can now be distilled to premium quality in nearly the same time it took the old K-800 to process 200 litres.
Essentially, a legacy machine has been upgraded to a higher-capacity, more efficient model. Not only does it operate more economically, but it is also a visually striking piece of equipment with significant marketing value for visitors to the distillery.
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