Distillation apparatus, 19th century artwork. This is the system developed by the French distiller Pierre Allegre in 1806. The liquid to be distilled was heated in the vat at left, with the vapours passing through a Woulfe bottle and then a series of Menard condensers. The resulting distillate was collected at right. In the early years of the 19th century, a great number of distillation patents were filed by French distillers and winemakers. Engraving from 'Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l'Industrie' (Great Men and Great Facts of Industry), published in France circa 1880.