Back to Basics?
Introduction
Over the years iStill's portfolio has grown tremendously. We added the Mini's and Nano's. The Essential line-up offered a lower level of automation at a reduced price-level. Adding a potstill and a plated iStill made sense, as it brought us on the radar of existing distilleries, that already invested in those older technologies. A copper column? Your request was our command! And even though all of these choices made sense at the time, they do not feel all that sensical now.
Examples
An iStill has always had full potstill capability build in ... so why should we offer a separate potstill? With an iStill you can dial in the exact ABV you want to produce at ... so why should we offer plated stills? Our copper waffles have more surface area than a copper column, so why should we offer expensive and difficult to clean copper columns? And who'd want a lower degree of automation, when this is essential to the process control that is the precursor to reproducibility and quality?
Why offer the versatility of being able to add agitators or boiler radiators to your iStill later if basically nobody ever does that? Why offer fermenters and mashers, when you can mash and ferment in any iStill? Why offer a pump when there are pumps a-plenty available on the market place already? And why do we still offer a 100 liter iStill, that is too small to be upgraded to the boiler radiator, so that it cannot - like the other iStills - mash or ferment?
Impact
In short, isn't it time to prune the shrubs? I think it is. I think it is high time that we bring our focus back on where we impact the most. Back to a product line-up that makes the difference, and that - for so many - translated the dream of becoming a craft distiller into the reality of being one.
We all know what unit I talk about. Let's focus once more on the unit that revolutionized craft distilling: the iStill formerly known as "hybrid". The one machine that can do it all: mashing, fermenting, and distilling any spirit to perfection. The distillery generally known as the iStill ... that's the unit that matters. And it will be the only one I want to focus on. The only one I want YOU to focus on. As it is the only one the industry should focus on.
No need to bring inferior technologies to a market - even where we can improve them significantly - when we have the best technology by far in house. No need to conform to the stupidity of others. Let's renew our focus on where we make the biggest impact instead of watering down iStill's amazing craft distilling technology to lesser designs. Let's prune the shrubs so that the tree can shine.
Discontinuation
Therefore, as per January 1st 2025, we'll discontinue:
- The Essential line-up;
- The potstill series;
- The plated series;
- The iStill 100;
- And fuck copper columns, they are out too!
Outstanding Purchase Agreements and orders with one of the above units will of course still be honored and built. Potstills and plated stills can still be purchased for specific circumstances, like for instance a stripping still that feeds another iStill.
At your service ...
www.iStill.com
