Air Still
Pro

A two-mode home distillation unit from Still Spirits. Designed in New Zealand, capable of reflux (neutral spirits) and pot still (flavoured spirits) distillation.

Pot Still

Stripping Run

Flavoured spirits — whisky, rum, brandy. Manual shutoff. Pulsing purple light.

Reflux

Spirit Run

Neutral spirits — vodka, gin. Auto shutoff when alcohol exhausted. Pulsing green light.

Parts List
1
Head unit
Fan, pump, condenser
2
Boiler
4L, heating element
3
Reset button
Thermal cutout reset
4
Boiler light
Red = element active
7
Mode selector
Press to cycle modes
8
Column cap
Never remove when running
10
Foreshots vial
30ml — always discard
13
Botanical basket
Pot still mode only
16
Boil enhancers
Ceramic chips — prevent surging
Cleaning

Run before first use and after every 4–6 distillation runs. Uses pot still mode with a vinegar/water solution.

1

Soak the distillation tips

Fill the spare foreshots vial with 15ml white vinegar and 15ml hot water. Remove the pre-fitted reflux tip "R" and place both tips ("R" and "P") in the vial to soak for 1 hour. Rinse with water after soaking.

2

Fill the boiler

Add 500ml of boiling water and 500ml of white vinegar to the boiler.

3

Fit the pot still tip

Fit the "P" pot still distillation tip using the spanner provided.

4

Seat the head unit

Place the head unit onto the boiler, aligning so the power cord can reach the boiler socket. Press firmly down — the silicone seal must not be visible. If you can see the seal, it is not seated correctly.

⚠ Visible silicone seal = incorrectly fitted. Hot vapour can escape. Re-seat before running.
5

Connect power

Connect the short head unit cable to the boiler socket. Then connect the long mains cable to the head unit and into the wall socket.

6

Place collection vessel

Place a container of at least 600ml under the spirit outlet.

7

Prime the column with water

Remove the foreshots vial and fill it with cold water. Remove the column cap and botanical basket and slowly pour the water down the centre of the column. Reinstall the vial, basket, and cap firmly.

8

Enter standby

Press the mode selector button once. The light turns white — standby mode is active.

9

Select pot still mode

Press and hold the mode selector until the light turns purple, then release. A pulsing purple light and 2 beeps confirm pot still mode. The fan and pump will briefly run — a brief whining noise while the pump primes is normal.

10

Check boiler light

Confirm the red light on the boiler base is illuminated — this confirms the heating element is working.

11

Run for 1 hour

After around 15 minutes the boiler reaches temperature and the fan/pump start running. Let the unit run for 1 hour — cleaning fluid may drip into your collection vessel. After 1 hour, turn off at the wall.

12

Cool down

Allow at least 20 minutes cooling before removing the head unit. Hot vapour burns risk if removed too early.

⚠ 20 minute minimum cooldown — do not skip this step.
13

Rinse and flush

Empty the boiler and vial, rinse with water. Once cool, remove the column cap and pour water continuously down the reflux column until it flows out of the small outlet on the underside — do this over a sink. Water will also exit from the distillation tip.

✓ System is now ready for distilling.
Distilling

Standard distillation run. Have your wash prepared and ready before you start.

1

Prepare the boiler

Fill to the full line with 4L of wash. Maximum 40% ABV — do not exceed this. Add Still Spirits Distilling Conditioner and Ceramic Boil Enhancers to prevent surging, foaming, and temperature fluctuations.

⚠ Never put liquid above 40% ABV in the boiler.
2

Seat the head unit

Align the head unit on the boiler so the power cord reaches the socket. Press firmly until the silicone seal is not visible.

3

Check foreshots vial

Ensure the 30ml foreshots collection vial is fitted securely to the head unit.

4

Prepare the column

Reflux mode: Remove cap and basket, check that packing materials (copper and steel saddles) sit below the weir. Replace basket and press cap firmly.

Pot still mode: Remove cap, basket, and all packing material from the column. If not using botanicals, remove the basket too. Press cap firmly.

5

Connect power

Connect the short head unit cable to the boiler socket. Connect the long mains cable to the head unit socket, then into the wall.

6

Place collection vessel

Place a vessel of at least 800ml under the distillation tip. Use multiple smaller jars if taking cuts.

7

Enter standby

Press the mode selector once — white light confirms standby mode.

8

Select your mode and start

Reflux: Fit tip "R". Press and release when button glows green. Pulsing green light + 1 beep confirms reflux mode started.

Pot still: Fit tip "P". Press and release when button glows purple. Pulsing purple light + 2 beeps confirms pot still mode started.

✓ Fan and pump briefly test themselves for 5 seconds, then go silent until operating temperature is reached (60–90 min).
9

Check boiler light

Red light on the boiler base = heating element active. If it's not lit, the thermal cutout may have tripped — see Troubleshoot.

10

Wait for first drips

Once temperature is reached, the fan and pump start. First spirit drips typically appear 60–90 minutes after starting, depending on wash and ambient temperature.

11

Complete the run

Reflux mode: Unit automatically shuts off after ~4 hours when alcohol is exhausted. Do not manually stop it unless something is wrong.

Pot still mode: Unit does NOT auto-shutoff. Monitor the run, take cuts as needed, and manually press the mode selector to stop when done.

12

Cool, empty, discard foreshots

Cool for at least 20 minutes. Remove head unit. Empty the boiler. Discard the contents of the foreshots vial — do not consume. Rinse and clean the unit.

⚠ Foreshots contain methanol and harmful congeners. Always discard — never consume.
Distilling Modes

The Air Still Pro has two modes with different column configurations, spirits, and behaviour.

Pot Still Mode

Whisky Rum Brandy Botanicals
Run typeStripping run
Light colourPulsing purple
Startup beeps2 beeps
Auto shutoffNo — manual
Column packingRemove all saddles
Distillation tip"P" tip
Botanicals basketOptional
Output characterFlavourful
Next stepDilute to ≤40%, store

Reflux Mode

Vodka Gin Neutral spirit
Run typeSpirit run
Light colourPulsing green
Startup beeps1 beep
Auto shutoffYes — when alcohol gone
Column packingSaddles below weir
Distillation tip"R" tip
Botanicals basketNo
Output characterNeutral / clean
Next stepDilute to 38–40%, filter, flavour
Botanicals (Pot Still Mode Only)
When using the botanical basket, you must be in pot still mode with the column empty of saddles. Fill the basket with your botanicals and place it at the top of the column before pressing the cap on.

For the best results, Still Spirits recommend first doing a spirit run in reflux mode on your wash, then using the botanicals on a second distillation in pot still mode with the output diluted to 40% ABV or below.
Pausing a Run
Distillation is best run uninterrupted. If you must pause:

1. Let the boiler and liquid cool fully.
2. Aerate the wash — empty it into another container and return it. The more agitation the better.
3. Add additional dry Ceramic Boil Enhancers.
4. Restart and complete as normal.

Failure to aerate can cause superheating of the degassed, purified remaining wash — a serious hazard.
Lights & Sounds

Every state has a corresponding light colour and sound cue. Use these to understand what the unit is doing without guessing.

Standby

Solid white. Unit is powered and ready. Press and hold to select a mode.

Pot Still Mode

Pulsing purple + 2 beeps on startup. Running a stripping run. Does not auto-shutoff.

Reflux Mode

Pulsing green + 1 beep on startup. Running a spirit run. Auto-shuts off when alcohol exhausted.

Fault / Error

Continuously flashing red + 3 loud beeps. Extreme temperature event in reflux mode. Unit has auto-shut off. Investigate before restarting.

Boiler Base Light

Red — Element Active

The boiler heating element is working. This should be lit whenever the unit is running.

Off — Cutout Tripped

Element not receiving power. The thermal cutout has tripped. Cool fully and press the reset button on the boiler base before restarting.

Sound Cues
1 BEEP Reflux mode started
2 BEEPS Pot still mode started
3 BEEPS Fault / auto-shutoff in reflux mode
WHINE Pump priming — normal at startup, lasts a few seconds
✓ People with colour blindness can operate the unit using the sound cues alone.
Troubleshoot

Common issues and fixes based on the manual.

Unit powered off mid-run and won't restart +
The boiler's thermal cutout has tripped — this happens from overheating or dry boil.
  1. Turn off and unplug from the wall.
  2. Leave to cool for at least 20–30 minutes.
  3. Press the reset button on the base of the boiler.
  4. Check the red boiler light is on before restarting — this confirms the element is active.
  5. Investigate the cause before running again (low water, ambient temp, restricted airflow).
Continuously flashing red light + 3 beeps +
This is the auto-shutoff fault state in reflux mode — triggered by an extreme temperature increase or decrease. The unit has protected itself.
  1. Do not attempt to restart immediately.
  2. Let the unit cool fully — at least 20 minutes.
  3. Press the reset button on the boiler base.
  4. Check the column weir is clear of obstructions. Check packing materials are correctly positioned below the weir.
  5. Ensure the foreshots vial is properly fitted.
  6. Restart and monitor closely.
Boiler red light is off (element not working) +
The red light on the boiler base confirms the heating element is receiving power. If it's off:
  • The thermal cutout has tripped. Cool fully and press the reset button.
  • Check the head unit power cable is fully connected to the boiler socket.
  • Check the mains cable is properly connected to both the head unit and the wall socket.
No spirit dripping after a long time +
First drips typically take 60–90 minutes after starting — longer in cold ambient conditions. If nothing has appeared after 90–120 minutes:
  • Check the boiler red light is on (element is heating).
  • Check the distillation tip is fitted and not blocked.
  • In reflux mode, check the column packing is below the weir and the weir is clear.
  • Check the collection vessel is positioned correctly under the tip.
Very low ABV output / early autocomplete in reflux mode +
Likely caused by surging, foaming, or temperature fluctuations in the boiler.
  • Ensure you are using Still Spirits Distilling Conditioner and Ceramic Boil Enhancers in every run.
  • Check the column packing is correctly positioned below the weir in reflux mode.
  • Check the weir is not obstructed.
Silicone seal is visible between head unit and boiler +
Do not run the unit. A visible seal means the head unit is not properly seated. Hot vapour can escape and cause burns.
  • Remove the head unit and reseat it — align it so the power cord faces the boiler socket.
  • Press firmly downward until the seal disappears completely.
  • Confirm by checking all around the join — no seal should be visible.
Pump makes a whining noise at startup +
This is normal. When a distillation mode is selected, the fan and pump briefly test themselves for 5 seconds. The pump may whine for a few seconds while it primes. This is expected behaviour and nothing to worry about.
I had to pause mid-run — is my wash still usable? +
Yes, but you must follow the restart procedure to prevent superheating:
  1. Ensure the boiler and liquid are fully cooled.
  2. Aerate the wash — pour it into another container and back. More agitation is better.
  3. Add additional dry Ceramic Boil Enhancers.
  4. Restart and complete as normal.
Skipping aeration risks superheating the degassed, purified remaining wash — a serious safety hazard.
Safety

Key safety rules from the manual. Read fully before operating.

🌡️

Thermal Cutout

The boiler has a high temperature cutout. In a dry boil it trips and cuts power. Cool fully, press reset, check boiler light is red before restarting.

💧

Max 40% ABV

Never put liquid higher than 40% ABV in the boiler. Exceeding this is a fire and explosion risk.

☁️

Hot Vapour Risk

Unit contains boiling liquid during operation. The head unit can lift without warning if unseated. Never remove the head unit or column cap while running. Keep face and hands clear.

🧪

Foreshots — Never Consume

Always discard the 30ml foreshots vial contents after each run. Foreshots contain harmful compounds. Do not consume under any circumstances.

⏱️

20 Minute Cooldown

Allow at least 20 minutes after switching off before removing the head unit. The element retains significant heat.

🌡️

Ambient Temperature

Designed for ambient temperatures up to 25°C. Do not operate above 40°C ambient — this can cause unsafe operation.

👀

Do Not Leave Unattended

Do not operate the unit unattended. Monitor throughout the run.

💨

Ventilation

Always run on a flat, dry surface in a well-ventilated area.

🔌

Power Cable

Inspect power cords before each use. If damaged, replace via manufacturer or qualified person only. Do not use other power cables.

⚙️

Correct Parts Only

Do not use the Air Still Pro boiler with an Air Still (original) head unit. Do not use other distilling boilers with this head unit. Warranty is voided and safety cannot be guaranteed.