What is
Apparatus for distilling. In Mallorca, the brandy and herbes machine. At the end of the 18th century there were 177 stills on the island.
How is
Three vessels (DCVB): a tank that is heated, a capitell where the vapor is collected and a refrigerant duct where it condenses. Formerly with lead cover and copper pots ("sis alambís ab les cuters de plom e les caçoles d'aram", 1415).
How is fa
- Copper beaten by calderers ( calderers i courers ); coil in cold water.
Com s'usa
- Wine, pomace or macerated herbs are loaded; slow fire; heads, hearts and tails are separated (general practice).
Vocabulary
- alambí / alambic: alembic.
- capitell: capital where steam is collected.
- alambiner: who distills (craft of the artisan repertoire).
- aiguardent: brandy.
- fer aigua ardent: distill liquor (doc. Sóller 1596).
History
- 1415: stills with lead covers and copper pots (Valencia).
- 1596: Sóller regulates “all those who have alambins”.
- 1617: Fra Miquel Agustí describes the alembic in his Secrets d'Agricultura.
- Finals XVIII: 177 stills in Mallorca.
On veure'n
- Registered artisan distilleries (12 alambiners in the registry, check 10/13/2026).
Why is it design
- Form that follows the process: each glass is a physical phase.
- Copper object that lasts generations.
For the project
- Tabletop still to distill local herbs in educational workshops.
Frequently asked questions
What is Alambí (still)?
Apparatus for distilling. In Mallorca, the brandy and herbes machine. At the end of the 18th century there were 177 stills on the island.
What are the traditional words for Alambí (still)?
Some words: aiguardent, alambiner, alambí / alambic, capitell, fer aigua ardent.
Sources
- dcvb.iec.cat/results.asp?Word=alamb%ED
- ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbes_de_Mallorca
- caib.es/siciefront/artesania/index.jsp?idioma=ct
Working text from the Disseny Indígena knowledge base, machine-translated from Spanish.