Still Spirits Vortex reflux still kit assembled, two air cooled modules on a Create+ column

Vortex reflux kit parts laid out: modules, column section, elbows, clamps

Vortex reflux kit parts: thermometer, collection cup, saddles, tubing

Vortex reflux equipment kit retail box, front

Still Spirits Vortex Reflux Still Kit - Air Cooled, No Cooling Water (Boiler Sold Separately)

Name: Still Spirits Vortex Reflux Still Kit - Air Cooled, No Cooling Water (Boiler Sold Separately)
Brand: Still Spirits
SKU: 57001
Price: 1099.0 AUD
Availability: InStock

$1,099.00

The Vortex Reflux Still Kit is the air cooled answer to the T500: two Vortex modules on a Create+ 2-inch column, everything above the boiler in one box, and no cooling water at all. Up to 93% ABV. Sits on the Create+ 25L boiler.

Quantity:

Normally shipped from our Melbourne warehouse within 2 business days (longer in peak periods). Shipping calculated at checkout by weight and postcode.

Shipping & returns

Dispatch. Orders normally ship from our Melbourne warehouse within 2 business days, longer during peak periods, fully tracked by Australia Post or one of our couriers. We email the tracking the moment it leaves.

Cost. Shipping is calculated at checkout from the parcel weight and your postcode, so you see the exact figure before you pay.

Changed your mind? Return it within 30 days of delivery, unused and in its original packaging, for an exchange or refund. Contact us first so we can arrange it. Original delivery and return postage are not refunded.

Arrived damaged or missing parts? Tell us as soon as it lands and we will replace or fix it and cover your return postage.

Warranty. Every product carries its manufacturer warranty, backed by Australian Consumer Law. Full refund policy

Still Spirits Still Spirits Vortex Reflux Still Kit - Air Cooled, No Cooling Water (Boiler Sold Separately)

$1,099.00

The details

Everything above the boiler for a reflux still that needs no cooling water. Two Vortex air cooled modules do the work the water jacket does on a T500: one as the dephlegmator, one as the product condenser. A dial on each sets the cooling. The Create+ 2-inch column parts, the saddles, the thermometer and the clamps are all in the box.

It sits on the Still Spirits Create+ 25L boiler (sold separately, or get the kit with the boiler). Still Spirits rates it at the same speed, output and quality as a water-cooled T500: up to 93% ABV, about 8 litres at 40% from a 25 litre wash on 6 kg of sugar.

It is also a 2-in-1. The same parts reconfigure into an air cooled alembic setup when you want flavour rather than a clean neutral.

What's in the box

2 x Vortex air cooled condenser modules
2 x universal power supplies
Instruction booklet
500 mm straight column section
Create+ 90 degree thermowell elbow
Create+ 90 degree elbow
Create+ vented collection cup
Create+ beeping alarm thermometer
2 x Create+ 45 degree elbows
2-inch sieved gasket
9 x 2-inch silicone gaskets
8 x 2-inch tri-clamps
100 g copper saddles and 500 g stainless saddles for column packing
Ceramic boil enhancers
Tether system
1 m silicone tubing

Already run a T500?

Keep the boiler, the fermenter and the filter. This kit replaces the column and condenser, and the hose goes in the bin. Your Turbo yeast, carbon and essences carry over unchanged.

Our verdict

The water was never the hard part of distilling, it was just the annoying part. The hose to the laundry, the flow that creeps when someone runs a shower, the shed with no tap. The Vortex takes that off the list and leaves the parts that matter: a clean wash, a steady boil and good cuts. It is a condenser, not a shortcut.

Not sure which setup suits your boiler? Call us on 03 9575 3900 and we will talk it through.

Distilling spirits in Australia requires an excise manufacturer licence from the ATO. We sell the equipment; check the rules before you run it.

What's In The Box

2 x Vortex air cooled condenser modules
2 x universal power supplies
Instruction booklet
500 mm straight column section
Create+ 90 degree thermowell elbow
Create+ 90 degree elbow
Create+ vented collection cup
Create+ beeping alarm thermometer
2 x Create+ 45 degree elbows
2-inch sieved gasket
9 x 2-inch silicone gaskets
8 x 2-inch tri-clamps
100 g copper saddles and 500 g stainless saddles for column packing
Ceramic boil enhancers
Tether system
1 m silicone tubing

Who it's for

For the distiller who wants clean neutral spirit without a hose to the sink: the shed, the garage, the unit, tank water country. Suits a T500 owner upgrading the column, or a first reflux still if you add the boiler.

Works With

Still Spirits Create+ 25L boiler (sold separately) or any 2-inch tri-clamp boiler. Your Turbo yeast, carbon, filter and essences carry over from a T500.

Specifications

Still type: reflux, air cooled (two Vortex modules: dephlegmator and product condenser)
Cooling water: none
Max purity: up to 93% ABV before dilution
Yield: about 8L at 40% ABV per 25L wash on 6 kg of sugar (Still Spirits figure)
Connection: 2-inch tri-clamp; sits on the Create+ 25L boiler
Materials: 304 stainless Create+ components and product tubes, 1060 aluminium fins, food-grade silicone gaskets
2-in-1: reconfigures to an air cooled alembic setup
Warranty: 3 years (Still Spirits)
Ease of use: intermediate
Kit dimensions: H 37 cm x W 33 cm x D 61 cm
Kit weight: 10.6 kg

Reviews

What customers say

Verified reviews from customers who've bought this.

Buying from us

Quick answers

Questions about this product, shipping and orders. See the FAQ page for more topics.

Customer support:
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST.We normally get back to you within a day—often sooner.

Does the Vortex really need no cooling water?

Yes. Three fans push air over a finned stainless core and a dial sets how hard they work. The reflux kit and the alembic kit run with no cooling water at all. A single module in an existing water-cooled setup replaces one condenser or dephlegmator, so that part of the run goes water-free.

Will it fit my boiler?

It connects to any 2-inch tri-clamp setup. That covers the Still Spirits Create+ 25L boiler and the Create+ range of columns, domes and fittings. If your still is not 2-inch tri-clamp, call us before you buy and we will check.

Is it slower or does it make less?

Still Spirits rates the Vortex at the same speed, output and quality as a water-cooled T500 or alembic setup. The reflux kit distils at up to 93% ABV and Still Spirits quotes about 8 litres at 40% from a 25 litre wash made with 6 kg of sugar.

Does it need power?

Yes, mains power. Each module comes with its own plug pack (Australian plug fitted). If there is a power point, you can run it. Still Spirits has not published the wattage of the fans.

I have a T500. Can I just add a module?

The T500 column has its condenser built in, so a single module is not the upgrade path. The Vortex reflux kit is the air-cooled equivalent of the T500 column and sits on the same Create+ 25L boiler, so you keep your boiler, fermenter and filter. Call us if you are not sure what you have.

How do I clean it?

Vacuum dust off the fan grill and the fins with a household vacuum. To clean the inside of the product path, run a distillation of equal parts white vinegar and drinking water through it. The metal fins have sharp edges, so handle the module by its body.