Gas, Electric, or Wood? The Heat Sources That Work With a Copper Still, Ranked by Control

Every run on a copper still is an experiment. You load the pot, add heat, and watch vapor rise, meet copper, and turn back into liquid. What decides whether that experiment goes your way is mostly one thing: how well you can control the heat. Copper spreads heat evenly. Your heat source decides how steady and how fine that heat is.

This is a buyer's list, so we'll keep it simple. Below are the three common heat sources ranked from most control to least, the stills on our list that fit each one, and a quick guide by size and budget. If you'd rather wait for a price drop, sign up for our sale alerts at the bottom of the page.

A quick note before you start: owning a still is legal in the US, and people use them for distilled water, essential oils, and fuel alcohol. Making alcohol requires federal (TTB) permits, and fuel alcohol needs a permit too. Follow federal, state, and local law for whatever you plan to run.

The Short Answer

Electric: the most precise and repeatable heat, and the easiest choice for beginners and smaller batches.
Propane gas: quick and strong, with good control once you learn your burner. It's the standard pick for flame-heated copper.
Wood: traditional and full of character, but the hardest to control. Best kept for people who already know their still well.

#1 Electric: The Lab-Bench Choice

If you think of distilling as a science, electric heat is your lab equipment. With a controller you can set the heat and leave it there. That matters most when you're making cuts, where a small rise in temperature can push you past the point you wanted. Electric also takes open flame out of the setup. That's one less variable, and it gives you more options for where you can run.

What to check before you buy: whether the still runs on 110V or 220V, and whether your space has the right circuit for it. A 220V unit needs a 220V supply, so talk to an electrician if you're not sure what you have.

Electric stills on The Distillers List

6 Gallon Advanced Model 110V Electric Moonshine Liquor Still, Complete (from $999): the only 110V complete unit on our list. It's a good starter if you don't have a 220V outlet.
10 Gallon Advanced Model, Complete 220V Electric Copper Moonshine Still (from $1249)
15 Gallon Advanced Model 220V Electric Copper Moonshine Still, Complete (from $1299)
20 Gallon 220V Electric Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port, Complete (from $1199)

Already have a copper still, or want to convert one? The 110v & 220v Electric Heating Element with Controller (from $349) is sold as an add-on to an order. It's the cheapest way onto the top spot of this ranking. Ask the shop which stills it pairs with before you order.

#2 Propane: Fast, Strong, and Learnable

Propane is how most copper pot stills are run. It heats up fast and puts out plenty of power, and turning the valve gives you real control once you get to know it. You won't get the set-and-forget precision of a controller, though. Expect to watch the flame and the output and adjust as you go. That hands-on feel is part of the craft for a lot of distillers.

Run propane outdoors or somewhere with plenty of airflow, keep the area clear, and never leave a lit burner unattended. Vapor and open flame need respect.

Propane picks on The Distillers List

Propane Burner for 6 Gallon to 30 Gallon Sized Copper Distillers (from $129): the burner made for this size range.
6 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still with Thumper and Worm (from $699)
10 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still Distiller (from $899)
15 Gallon Copper Moonshine Still, Advanced Model with EZ Seal Cap and 4 inch Thumper Port, Complete (from $1049)
30 Gallon Advanced Model Copper Moonshine Still, Complete Pure Copper Distiller (from $1200)

The patented FlameFlow™ line also belongs in the flame-heated group: the 6 Gallon (from $1199), Brilliant 10 Gallon (from $1499), and 30 Gallon Flame Flow™ (from $2999). If you're set on gas and want the shop's premium design, start your research here and ask the shop how each one pairs with your burner.

#3 Wood: Old-School, Least Control

Wood fire is how stills were run for generations, and some people love the ritual. As a controlled experiment, though, it's the hardest to manage. Heat rises and falls as the fire burns, and adding or pulling fuel changes the temperature slowly and unevenly. Sparks and embers add risk too. If you go this route, keep it outdoors, keep water close by, and learn your still on a more controllable heat source first. None of the stills on our list are sold as wood-fired units, so check with the shop before you put a fire under any of them.

Stills by Size and Budget

Under $400: getting started

3 Gallon Copper Moonshine Still, no thumper, Flash Sale (from $229)
Durable Craft Distillation Unit (from $329)
2 Gallon You-Build EZ KIT Advanced Model (from $379), a DIY kit you solder yourself

$600 to $1,300: the home-hobby sweet spot

15 Gallon You-Build EZ KIT (from $629) and 30 Gallon EZ KIT (from $699), if you're comfortable soldering
20 Gallon Complete Copper Moonshine Still, Craft Distillation Unit (from $899)
25 Gallon Advanced Model Pure Copper Distiller (from $1100)
Any of the electric units listed above

Big batches

50 Gallon Advanced Model Complete Copper Distiller with 10 Gallon Thumper and 10 Gallon Worm (from $1900)
60 Gallon EZ KIT (from $1200) and 100 Gallon EZ KIT (from $1699), both DIY
Massive Craft Distillation Unit (from $2699)

For stills above 30 gallons, the propane burner listed here is outside its stated range. Plan your heat source with the shop before you buy.

Matching Heat to Use

Essential oils and distilled water: electric. Gentle, steady heat is what delicate runs need.
Learning cuts: electric with a controller, so you can repeat your results.
Outdoor hobby setups: propane, for strong heat and a hands-on feel.
Tradition: wood, once you've earned it.

Get Sale Alerts

Prices on this list move, and some of the best deals are flash sales. Sign up for The Distillers List sale alerts and we'll let you know when a still or heat source you're watching drops in price. Want to talk to a person first? The family shop in New Hampshire behind these stills answers the phone at 603-997-6786.