Hilda being installed – week commencing 13 Nov 2017
Hilda being installed
Week commencing 13 November 2017 was a real milestone for Henstone Distillery as our still, Hilda, was installed. We all worked long hours but the end result was well worth it as I hope the following photographs show…
Phew, the postal address was correct!
Tim and Bob start unpacking.
Michael, Bob and Shane measure up whilst Tim checks his phone!
It was a bit of a squeeze getting the Manitou in!!
Michael supervises the lifting of the main body of the still.
Bob, Tim and Michael watch on as Shane lifts the still up onto the distillery floor.
Almost there!
Hilda is gently lowered into place as Dean watches on.
Michael starts assembling her.
Unbeknown to us quite a few parts were transported in the main body of the still. Tim found it amusing as Michael tried to retrieve them.
Final bit of adjusting
I think it was at this point Shane was wondering what he’d (or we’d) done!!
The helmet is lifted into place.
Shane really is wondering what he’s done now 😉
Main still and hot water tank in place now.
Michael trying to work out how we’d get the column on top of the hot water tank!
Ah, we’d do it with a block & tackle and a genie (good job we have a great hire shop close by)! Note that Iain, our resident engineer and electrician, was called in to advise at this stage.
It was a struggle with not much room between the top of the column and the roof.
Getting the condensing column in place proved a little easier.
Looking like a still now.
Iain and Shane discuss how the supporting beams will be installed beneath the distillery mezzanine floor whilst construction continues above.
We had a few burner issues but were lucky to have the AWS Plumbing team on hand to help.
Now time to work on the flue.
Dean and Shane cutting through the roof so the flue could be installed (note that Shane looks a lot happier now).
The water jacket being filled.
Alex polishes the final article. We all have to say we’re really pleased with the end result and we’re now looking forward to producing our Henstone products.