Coppersmithing (stills)
The making, installation, maintenance and replacement of pot stills, condensers and spirit safes for the distillery industry. See the separate entry for coppersmithing (objects).
Status | Currently viable |
Historic area of significance | |
Area currently practised | |
Origin in the UK |
History
Techniques
Skills include hammering and shaping the copper, welding, and cutting using a water jet cutting machine.
Local forms
Sub-crafts
Issues affecting the viability of the craft
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Skills issues: Still making is a specialised craft and requires training from scratch.
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Market issues: The global rise in the popularity of whisky means there is increased demand for coppersmiths to make, repair and replace stills.
Support organisations
Craftspeople currently known
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The Balvenie (1 coppersmith)
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Abercrombie Coppersmiths at Alloa (43 coppersmiths) – take on two apprentice coppersmiths and engineers a year.
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Forsyths (15 coppersmiths) – take on three trainees per year for a five-year apprenticeship.
Other information
Number of trainees: Abercrombie Coppersmiths take on on two apprentice coppersmiths and engineers a year, and Forsyths take on three trainees per year for a five-year apprenticeship. An apprenticeship includes an engineering course at a Further Education College, followed by four years in the workshop working alongside trained coppersmiths. After completing the apprenticeship it takes another five years or so to fully master the craft.
References
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The Daily Record, Coppersmiths at work
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The Drink’s Report, Special Report: Coppersmiths
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Whisky.com, The Scottish Pot Stills
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BBC News, Crafting a Sculpture in Copper