I have an idea, that I think would provide a flexible setup and allow a user to produce fuel alcohol, or sipping whiskey. I have never seen this, and perhaps I am overlooking something. So... why not build a traditional thumper keg, and instead of cooling the vapors after it exits the keg, run it directly into a reflux column. your vapor would be "pre proofed" before even entering the reflux chamber. When making traditional whiskey (lower proof) just remove the reflux column and condense as usual. I have heard that thumpers can blowback into the still sometimes, so I am not sure if this would create any
safety issues, but I sure think this would work, and give one a very flexible setup.