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Al-AmbiqAl-Ambiq ® IberianIberian CoppersCoppers SS.A..A. Avenida Dr. Francisco SanchesSanches no. 222 TuídoTuído 4930-3274930-327 GandraGandra VLN PortuPortugalgal
Telf.:Telf.: +351 251 823823 370370 Fax:Fax: +351 251 818818 050533 E-mail:E-mail: [email protected]@al-ambiq.com Website: www.al-ambiwww.al-ambiq.comq.com
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Iberian CCoppersoppers S.A.S.A. thank you for the confidence you have placed in our officialofficial Al-Ambiq®Al-Ambiq® ddistributoristributor by purchasingpurchasing one our finefine hand-hand- crafted pproducts.roducts. OurOur distributors are alwaysalways at yyourour disdisposalposal should youyou need anyany assistanceassistance whatsoever. If yyouou need more iinformationnformation inin additionaddition to the assistanceassistance provprovidedided byby our ddistributoristributor please contact us byby e-maile-mail at [email protected]@al-ambiq.com
Destilarias Eau–de-Vie, its collaborators or representativesrepreseepresentatives shall not be liable for damages or bodily harm caused by the impropererr useu of our equipments. This compre-compre- hensive limitation of liability applies to any damage sustained,ustained including compensation, compensation didirect,rect, indirectindirect or consequentialconsequential damages,damages, lossloss of or damagedamage to property andand thirdthird party claims or personal injury resulting from the buyer’s negligence or improper use of the eequipments.quipments. Furthermore, our company absolves itself of any liability relating to the HandmadeH by Portuguese Artisans consumption and use of the products resultingresulting from distillations.distillations. we still do it the old fashionashionhi wayway GuaranteeGuarantee
All Al-Ambiq® productsproducts havehave a 2 year guaguaranteerar nteee asas from the date of ppurchase.urchase. ThisThis warrantywarrantyy ddoesoes notnot applyapply to anyany defects iinn tthehe goods ararisingissining dueduue to improperimproper use of iitemstems or iiff ddidistillationstillation gguidelinesuiu ded liinees andand proceduresprocedures are not resrespected.pected. We havehava e thethhe solesoole rightright to passpass judgement andand taketakeke actionacttioi n in anyanyn ssuchuch DearDear Friend,Friend, scenario. ShouldShould youyou not bebe entirelyenntit reelyy satisfiedsata isfiiedd withwitth youryour purchasepurchase youyou maymay requestrequest a refundrefuund withinwithih n a 14 dayday peperiodriod from the date ofof acquisitionacquuisiti ioon of iitem.tet m. ItIt is Thank you for ppurchasingg one of ouourour the customer’s obligationobligation to preservepreseervr e goodsgog ods inin goodgooo d Al-Ambiq®qp products. We havehhavavee condition.condition. TheThe consumerconsumer wouldwwould bearbeb ar thethe costcoso t ofof preparedpp this small bookletkl soo as to geget returningreturning thethego goodsods in suchsuchha a case.cacase. you started in the agee old tratraditionradidditditition of distilling essential oilsoi orr alcoholicalca spiritspp and hope youo willwilillll findffin much enenjoymentjoj yment as you embarkembarbarkarkarrkk on this new adadventure.venture. Please read thishiss bbo bookleto et through througroughgh carefully before youroouuru venturee intoto theth world of distillation.ation.oonn DistillationDistillatioDistillatlationation is as mumuchch a sscienceciience aass itt iiss an artart andand requiresq s a rresporesponsibleespospssponssponsipponsponsibo ib attitude, we advisee yououu to rereareadead upp on distillation as muchuchchh as ppossiblessibib e beforehand and to followfollfoll instructionscttioio s carefully. We strive to establish a llongg lasting relationshipp of trust withh ourouo clientscl and are always on hand too ofooffer any assistance you may need ttoo gget tthe best out of ouourr proproducts.ducts.
Best wisheshes fromfrof allll of us at Iberian Coppers S.S.A.S AA. Certified Al-Ambiq® Products DustinDustin Hoffman and based on the internationalinternationallyly acclaimed best selling novel by Patrick Süskind.Süskind. How do you recognise genuine Al-Ambiq® products TheThe moviemovie isis set iinn the pungent back alleysalleys of 18th18th and distinguish them from similar products on offer centurycentury ParisParis and tells the storstoryy of Jean-BaptisteJean-Baptiste in the market? GrenouilleGrenouille born with no personal body odour bbutut withwith an acute sense of smell. GGrenouillerenouille apprenticapprenticeses Our products have a an identifying Al-Ambiq® himself to a perfumer anand becomes murderousmurderouslysly plaque which distinguishes them from other poorly obsessed wwithith prprocuringocuring thethe perfectperfect scent that willwwill made ones that may not conform to our standards makemake hhimim fullyfully human.human. of quality. When buying Al-Ambiq® products you are ToTo recreate the peperfumers’rfumers’ workshoworkshopp our servicesservices assured peace of mind and avoid the health risks werewere called uponupon to manufacturemanufacture alembic units andand associated with buying cheap imitations. accessories true to that era and according toto We have taken care to earn a good name and specifications.specifications. ThisThis called fforor some hhistoricalistorical back-back- ensure that our distinctive trademark is recognised groundground work on our partpart ppriorrior to thetheirir creatcreationion aandnd as being synonymous with superior quality and wewe were fortunate enouenoughgh to ffindind some alembicsalembiccs craftsmanship. fromfrom that era for a comparativecomparative study.study. Genuine Al-Ambiq® products are available from At the time cocopperpper sheetingsheeting was not availablee in thtthehe official Al-Ambiq® distributors and retailers. Get the largerlarger sizes we have todtodayayy and rivetedd uniounionsonsns werewwerre real thing and don't settle for cheap imitations. usedused extensextensivelyively to jojoinin ththee copperpper sheetsssheetsheeheets and thethhe different papartsrts of the alemalembicmbicmbiic together.ttogethtogeog This techtech-h- This is the identifying Al-Ambiq® plaque niquenique has beeneen eemployedmpm looyeyeddds sincesi ancient EgyptianEgyptiaan times andd stillll employedempemployo ede byby ourselves to join the totop,op,op, bellybelly andndd bottomb of somesomme of our alembic stillsstilst lls together.together. In addition thesetheses units were chemicallychemicalche ly treated to givegive them an antiqueantiquen finish.
Because of their reduced size some of our decora- tive units may have a tag identifying them as Al-Ambiq® originals. If you would like to know more about the quality of our alembics please consult or site at: TheThe pestilentpestilent odours exudingexuding from the fish markmarketet and murkmurkyy backstreets of Paris in this film scenarioscenario contrast wwithith the exexquisitequisite scents assocassociatediated withwith thethe art ooff ththee MastMasterer PPerfumer.errfumer. ThThee didistillationstillation ofof www.al-ambiq.com these exoticexotic essences withwith the aaidid of the character-character- isticistic coppercopper alembics,alembics, add to the seductiveseductive allure of thisthis mysticalmystical art. Iberian Coppers S.A. have a great tradition in the AnAn alteralternativenanatit vev mmethodete hood iss tthehehe uuseses ooff sissiliconliliccon tapetapepe – asas creation and sale of high quality copper distillation cancan be sseeneeen inn thethee ppicture,icctuuree, oror anyany oothertht er sealingseae lingng systems. Our mission is to ensure customer satis- tapetaaape tthathahat wiwwilllll sustainsustaainin hhighiggh temperatures.teempererata ureses. TakeTake carecarre faction by offering high quality products at afford- notnot too ttapeappe thtthee alaalembiceme bib c jointsjooinntst excessivelyexcxcesssisivev lyy asas theththe able prices. We have distinguished ourselves by our objectiveobjectivive iss ttoo sesealeala ooffffff eescapingscscappining vapoursvav pop uru s andana d allowala loow wide selection of b eautifully handcrafted copper thethhhe alembicalembibic hoodhoh odd toto poppoop offofo f shsshouldouuld anan obobstructionbststrur ctioon inn products. thethhe pipingpiping causecauausese excessiveexcxcesssis vev pressurepreessure buildbubuili d up.up.
We have available:
- Decorative pieces ideal for decorating your home or for surprising your friends and family with a unique gift; - Practical and completely functional, small distilling units and distilling appliances; - Soldered or riveted distillation units; - Reflux or rotating column alembics; PerfumePPferfume the hM Movie - Graceful Charentais alembics, - Water sealing distillation units; - Diverse professional and continuous distillation systems; - A wide range of accessories (essenciers, sieve plates, drain pipes, copper parrot spout, alcoholme-- ters and mustimeters amongst others.
Our products are made from 100% copper whichwh grants them great resistance and durability.ty All soldering, wherever applied is guaranteed to be non-toxic and perfectly suitable for distillation.st Copper has well documented anti-bacterialr and anti-corrosive properties which make it the preferred material for the manufacture of distillation units for distilling essential oils, floral waters and alcoholic spirits. Iberian Coppers S.A. is a Portuguese Company that holds the trademark for Al-Ambiq®. We have a proud and ancient tradition in the manufacture of quality handcrafted copper distilling units. Recently we were commissioned to create several alembic units for the movie “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” directed by Tom Tykwer starring SealingSealing TechniquTechniquee OurOuur cocopperpper units can be used to distil numerous Hand-made and hammered from sheets of cocopperpper ttoo organicorrganic matermaterialsials fforor makmakinging alcoholalcoholicic spiritsspirits (from form gentlegentle and graciousgracious curves, there are no twotwwo variousvaarious fruits, winewine,, cereals and plantsplants),), essential oils potpot stills that are identical in diameter. Each lid isis orr floral waters. ForFor such there are 4 different distildistill-l- speciallyspecially made to fit into each ppot.ot. Being hand-hand- inging processes: simsimple,ple, steam, fractional and continucontinu-- made there might be some slight slack between thethe ousouus distillationdistillation.. Ind Independentlyependently of the material to be separateseparate ppieces.ieces. To seal off anyany eventual vapourvapouur distilleddiistilled do rememberremembebberr to consider consider the the basic basic distilladistilla-distilla- leaks a ververyy simsimpleple techniquetechnique maymay be used – ryerye tiontion laws so as to avoid any harm.harm. flour and water. SimSimplyply mix the ryerye flour with somesome YouYoou should clean your alembic regularly so as to get water to make wet soft dough in a small recipient.recipient. thethhe best out of it for many years to come and use Then with yyourour fingers simplysimply pushpush and rub thisthis thethhe sealing technitechniqueque to keekeepp vapoursvapours from escap-escap- mixture into the jointsjoints of all the itemsitems.. ing.ing. When assembling youryour potpot still, insert the swan neneckck into the pot with gentle pressure. Also connect thethe WeWe hope youyou will find complete satisfactionsatisfaction with the swan necneckk ((and/orand/or any ototherher partsparts)) to tthehe concondens-dens- itemitem yyouou have acquired.acquired. ing recipient. When vapours start to rise, should a ForFor more information ppleaselease consult the attached leak occur simplysimply add some dough to this leakingleaking documentationdoocumentation or contact tthehe ddistributoristributor fromfrom whwhichich area.area. youyoou ppurchasedurchased our products.products. If yyouou are unableunable to After yearsyears of usageusage some natural slack may may occur occuur sourcesoource the information youyou need byby thesethese means between the copper pot and the swan neck lid andand pleasepllease e-mail us at [email protected][email protected]. shouldshould bebe sealedsealed offoff to prevent thethe escape ofo vapours.vapours.
To loosen the separateseparate ppartsarts of the still for cleanincleaningg once distillation is complete, simplysimply give a directdirect blow with the heel of yyourour palm upwards to the ririmm of the separate pieces. The rryeye dough comes offoff easily.easily. To separateseparate the tubes simsimplyply ppullull these aapartpart carefully (where brass connectors are not provided)provided) VapoursVapours will alwaysalways search for an easyeasy wayway out – through the ppipingiping – so there is no great need ttoo apply thick quantities of theth flour mixture. BasicBasic DistiDistillationllation LawLawss With regular use and in time, copper oxidizes and Our copper stills can be used to distill aann endlesendlesss list will gradually take on an overall dark red colour. of substances. If yyourour iintentionntention isis to obtainobtao in alcoholalcohol Should you wish to polish the exterior we suggest for human consumconsumption,ption, indeindependentpendent of what youyou you use an appropriate non-toxic polish. It is impor- are distilling, it is imimportantportant to resrespectpectt basic chchemi-emi- tant not to use abrasive cleaners. You may also calcal distillation laws in order to avoid pepersonalersonal injury,injury, clean your pot with one of two traditional methods: blindnessblindness or even death which can be caused byby rub with a cloth dampened in a salt and lemon continuouscontinuous consumptionconsumption of poorpoor results. The follow-follow- solution; or use the ashes from the wood fire (if you inging are some basic pprinciplesrinciples of the distillation used this as your heating source) on a damp cloth. process.prrocess. This last method can be used for both the interior TheThe pprinciplerinciple of distillation is simple.simple. The importantimportant and exterior of the still. aspectasps ect remains the means of seseparatingparating alcohol If you are using your still to make essential oils – be fromfrrom an alcohol containicontainingng lliquid.iquid. WhenWhee distilling at aware that the oils will stick to the walls of the pot seaseea level, alcohol starts to evaporateevaporate at 778.38.3ºC andand and copper coil and will start to form a sticky crust. wwaterater atat 110000ºC , therefore when an alcalcoholohol containincontainingg You should always clean all the parts of your still liliquidququid is heated to that temperaturetemperature the alcohol with warm to hot water to eliminate the grease, startsststarrtst ttoo vavaporize.porize. The result of ananyy distillation is especially in the condensing coil or it may clog with dividedddiivided d intoini toto three separateseparate partsparts in the following time. order:orordeer:r Heads,Heae dsd , Hearts and Tails. TheThe best and Please note that alembics used to produce essential desireddedesired poportionortrtioi n of the distillation is obtainedobtained from the oils should not be used to make alcoholic spirits as Hearts-HeHeara tss- YouYoou wawwantantn ttoo obobtaintain eethanolthanol alalcoholcohol whichwhich oils will naturally become impregnated into the boilsboboili s offofoff bebetweenetweeen 78-8278-82ºC ((betweenbetween 4545%5% and 665%5% in copper with time and my influence the spirits which alcoholicallcocohoolilic percentage-percrcenntat ge- if measuring withwith an alcohol-alcohol- may become improper for human consumption. meter).memeter)r . TheThhe mostmomosts volatilevololaatille productsproducts are the firstfirst to come out asas ttheyheh y hahhavevee llowowow boiling points.points. TheyThey are known as thethhe Heads.Heeada s.s InIn generalgeg neral these are substancessubstaancesa such asa acetone,acacete onone,e methanolmetethanol and various esteestersrs which must bee sseparatedepe arrata eded and discarded ((oror savesavedd for adding to thethhe nextnenextx batch)batch) as it is the methanol alcoholalcohol that can causeccaausu e blblindness.liindness. It is common to separateseparate the first 50ml500mll perpere 25L wash if using a reflux stistillll or 100ml per 20L2020L wawashshs from the rest of the batch if usingu g a tradi-traditra - tionaltiono ala alembic.alembic. CleaningCleaning && MaintenancMaintenancee You can prevent the heads from contaminating the BeforeBefore yyouou use yyourour still for the first time, indeindepen-pen- rest of the product by watching the temperature º dent of its model, we recommend that (these boil off at temperatures below 70 C) but many youyou process a distillation of water to clean awayaway ananyy experienced distillers carefully monitor the taste (it impuritiesimpurities that have been left behind from the manu-manu- usually has a very sharp taste) and smell the first facturing process. Afterwards, just like with anyany distillate to insure that all the heads have boiled off other piece of machinerymachinery or hardware, it is essential before they begin to collect the body of the spirit – thatthat youyou maintain yoyourur still clean to last years.years. the Hearts (the ethanol) which is totally transparent. IfIf yyouou use yyourour still justjust once a year,year, youyou should A similar distillation cut off point is also needed with makemake sure that it is thoroughlthoroughlyy cleaned before the ethanol. This phase is commonly referred to as storingstoring itit awayaway for next year’syear’s distillation,distillation, whichwhich isis the Tails. The Tails contain a large amount of com- what happens here iinn the IberianIberian PenPeninsulainsula after the pounds with higher boiling points, such as the higher harvestingharvesting season. The cleancleaninging process wwillill elelimi-imi- alcohols and furfural. These compounds can spoil natenate sulsulphuricphuric acids and other harmful substances the taste of the spirit if the collection is carried on thatthat have collected and deposited on the walls of too long. It is necessary to have a cut off point. youryour still, from the pot to the coil. You can carrycarry out Again this point can be identified by watching the º a cleaningcleaningg distillation with a mixture of ryryeye flour and temperature (82 C or higher) or monitoring the taste water. It is ququiteite sisimple.mple. Fill 40%40% of youryour pot’spoot’s (diluted eau de vie or watered down), smell and milky capacitycapacity with water and 5% with ryryee flour. Prior to colour of the distillate by collecting a few drops on commencingcommencing cleaningcleaning distillation youyou should verifyverify the back of a spoon every so often and checking thatthat there is no obstruction in the swan neck ppipeipe what it tastes or looks like on a regular basis. The and seserpentinerpentine coil. The joints of the alembic shoshoulduld tails are usually saved to include in the next batch be sealed usinusingg a traditional sealinsealingg technitechniqueque ooncence as a considerable amount of ethanol alcohol can be youypyou have placedplaced the hood on the alembic ppot.ot. recovered.
IfIf however, yoyouu use yoyourur still qquiteuite frefrequently,quently, ssayay everyevery other month, youyou do not have to clean it ooutut with rryeye flour and water. A single distillation usingusing onlyonly water willwill be sufficient.sufficient. SafetySafety PrecautionsPrecautions Q < DDistillationistillation is not child’s playplay and could proveprove the liquid in the alembic to boil uncontrollably. The dangerous if yyouou do not know what yyouou are doing heat source should be at high strength at the begin- and do not pay constant attention to the process. ning of the distillation to start off and reduced when Please read these safety precautions through carecare-- approaching boiling point. Try to maintain the wash ffullyully before starting off. at a slow boil or simmer. U " X&< the line (residual current device - or circuit breaker) area should bebe wwellell lit, clean and well ventilated to if at all possible. ppreventrevent the aaccumulationccumulation of alcoholic vavapours.pours. & - - so no vapours are exiting the condenser spout and nnolol care shouldshould be taken to eliminateeliminate anyany firefire calculate the ratio wash to distillate so as not to boil hazardshazards.. Keepp a firfirerer extinguisher handy and collect your still dry. tthehe ddistillateistillate secusecurelyrely so the rriskisk of spspillingilling itit isis - rreduced.educed. DoDon’tn’t smsmoke!okeo ! ing. You should remain sober during the distillation " " process. no obstructioobstructionnninth in ththehehe pipipingping thatthat couldcould causecause exexcesexces-ces- > ssiveive ppressureressure builbuildd upup in the still and cause it to guide to distillation and may have inadvertently burst. You mmayaya risriskk burning yourselfyourself if the vapoursvapours included some inaccuracies. Please read up on the do not have aann eeasyasy exit ppoint.oint. For this reason we distillation process as much as possible. There are ffrequentlyrequently emphasiseempm hasise that the alembic head should many good books available on the distillation be pplacedlaced looselyloosely on the pot,pot, for appropriateappropriate process. You may also join a discussion group such mmodels,odels, so it maymay easilyeasily poppop off in such a case. as at # $ $ & and maintenmaintenance)aannce) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new_distillers/ * or before pperformingerforrmming a distillation. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Distilling/ ((seesee SSealingealing technique)tteechnique) for free exchange of information on distillation. < C > " < C > " fforor the vapouvapoursrs to collect in. The lliquidiquid volume in the alembic maymay expandexpand or foam if the heat source is nnotot carefully monitoredmonitored and boil over or cause an obstruction inin thethe piping. For this same reason, wwhenhen distillindistillingg a thickthick mash dilute it sufficientlsufficientlyy to give it a liliquidquid conconsistency.sistency. As a generalgeneral rule do not ffillill youryour potpot moremore thanthan ¾ of its capacity.capacity.