Dick Adams wrote:
RichD wrote:

...
Anybody have any ideas when/where/how distillation
was invented/discovered? What are the earliest records?

You can read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distillation
But Wikipedia is highly suspect, at least to me.

While some crude forms of distillation may have existed
before 1200, the stills probably couldn't get the ABV much
higher than 25% to 30%. We know that, with tender loving
care, you can get fermentations without distillation to
from 20% to 25% ABV.

Brandy which is distilled wine (~40% ABV) was available,
at least in northern France, in the late 1100's.

I suspect the Scots were the first to run stills that
reached 40% ABV and were probably the first to use
double distillation to reach 80%+ ABV.

I have come across a mention that indicates the Romans had it but not very
efficient and did not catch on. It all depends on the equipment.

Reportedly the pot still was perfected in Islam and there came to be used in
alchemy for extracting essences from every thing as in perfumes. The next
improvement would be the coil condenser.

Clearly freeze separation would have been known in any climate cold enough to
have freezing temperatures.

--
He poureth me out as milk. He curdleth me as cheese.
Yeah though I walk through the Valley of the Cheesemakers
I shall fear no evil
-- The Iron Webmaster, 4032
http://www.giwersworld.org/holo/ a8