A mud distillation unit used to measure the water, oil and solids content of a mud. It consists of a cylindrical body fitted with a mud sample holder, a heater element (or an oven) and an aluminum condenser. A graduated glass receiver catches and measures the volumes of water and oil that condense from the mud. Retort devices are available in three sizes, 10-, 20- and 50-cm³ , which are the volumes of mud placed in the retort sample cup. Data from the test are volume percent water, oil and retort solids.