Sidestill

Sidestill is a term that can refer to a few different concepts, primarily within the context of distillation and also in less common slang.

In the realm of distillation, a sidestill refers to a secondary or tertiary distillation apparatus that is connected to a primary still. This setup is used to perform additional distillations on the product of the first still, often to achieve higher purity or to separate different components more effectively. For example, in the production of certain spirits, a wash might be distilled once in a primary still to produce a low-wine. This low-wine could then be redistilled in a separate still, or a sidestill, to produce a more concentrated or refined spirit. The arrangement of sidestills can vary, but they are typically designed to process the output of the preceding distillation stage.

Beyond the technical application in distillation, the term "sidestill" can occasionally be used in slang contexts, though these are less common and often informal. These slang uses might imply something unofficial or secondary, mirroring the concept of a secondary distillation process. However, the primary and most widely understood meaning of sidestill relates to its function within distillation systems.