Breaking in new copper alembic...

[Guest]

Hi,

New to the forum, great site!

Just bought a 5L copper alembic pot still, plan to make absinthe with it. It has two rows of rivets, quite a beautiful thing. However, it didn't come with great instructions. Supposedly, I'm to boil water in it with some rye flour. On the inside covering these rivets looks like some kind of dried paste that has already been smeared, so I am assuming this is also rye paste.

What I can't figure out is, after I boil this for the first time, will the paste remain, or am I to remove that after the first boil? I guess it's supposed to seem into the rivets, but not sure.

Also, it lacks a thermometer. Would be nice to put one up near the top of it, any recommendations?

Thanks!