Abstract: Modular ethanol distillation units housed within one or two shipping containers and ethanol distillation units that include an evaporative plate located inside a distillation tank to promote evaporation of the ethanol. Modular distillation units housed within shipping containers are easily transported and set up in remote locations where suitable feed stocks are available or can be cultivated to supply the unit and to distill ethanol for local use or export. Distillation units include feedstock storage tanks, a mixing chamber, fermentation tanks, and a distillation system/tank, which can all be located within one or two shipping containers. Evaporative plates can include holes therethrough, dimples, troughs, or a combination thereof, and holes can be located within dimples.