With a name like the Missisippi Distiller (yep, they misspelled Mississippi), there’s little room to suspect this thing does anything but produce cheap alcohol in some obscure garage in the middle of nowhere. As it turns out, that’s not what it does at all. Instead, the distilling machine is designed to extract scented oils from plant leaves, so you can concoct your own perfumes and fragrances (and, perhaps, your own moonshine, too).
Looking like an apparatus out of a mad scientist’s lab, it’s the kind of contrivance that’s sure to pique the curiosity of everyone who sees it, making it as much a conversation piece as it is a useful machine. Oddly enough, it’s from Barcelona, Spain (making the spelling forgivable) and was produced with the idea of paying homage to the distilling heritage of the American South.
The Missisipi Distiller, which measures 11 x 10 x 7 inches, consists of a series of glasses and tubes, mounted on a walnut base and backed by a copper frame. All the tubes are built of copper, while the alcohol burner, cucurbit, condensing pot and collection cup are made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass.
To use it, simply steep the fragrant leaves in water, strain it into the distiller and light the oil lamp. As the water boils, steam will rise from it, filling the vessel with oil vapor, eventually cooling into the condensing pot in the form of concentrated liquid. Collect them, experiment with various mixes and bottle your own original scent.
If you’ve ever wanted your own brand of stink, you can’t go wrong (actually, you probably can) with the Missisippi Distiller. It’s available now for $199.95.