As we have said before, rum has different flavors. Not only do they differ in fermentation time, but they also use different distillation methods. There are three ways to distill rum: pot distillation, column distillation and mixed distillation. The pot distillation pots are made of wood or copper.
When it comes to the still pots used for distilling spirits, the most well-known one may be the "Charente pot". This kind of still pot was made of copper when it was first invented. Wooden still pots like rum are relatively rare. Although most rum distilleries that use pot stills now use copper stills, there are still a few distilleries that retain wooden stills, and Diamond Distillery in Guyana is one of them. The Diamond Distillery still has two wooden stills still used in its production: the Versailles still and the Port Morante still.
The Versailles still uses a mixed distillation method that combines pots and towers. The body of the still pot is made of green camphor wood, and the top is made of copper pot neck bent to connect to the distillation retort. The distillation retort is then connected to a small distillation tower to add Reflux and finally connect the condensing system. The wine distilled from this still is very rich and meaty.
The Port Morant still is a double-pot still. During production, both pots will be filled with fermentation liquid. The first still is fully heated first, and the alcohol vapor will enter the bottom of the second still through the connecting pipe for heating. The fermentation liquid in it boils and the steam generated then enters the distillation retort. The wine distilled from the Port Morant still has obvious flavors of black banana and ripe fruit, and a smooth taste.
The wine distilled from wooden stills is stronger than the wine distilled from copper stills and requires longer aging. Other auxiliary ingredients also need to be added when blending the finished wine.
