Hello thinbluebbq; I have also wondered this very question. Hopefully, by now you have found a solution, but if not, I have a recommendation. If you are serious about distilling, whatever you distill, then you should definitely insulate the kettle or pot. The heat should be transferred to the liquid in the kettle so that it can change phase and be efficiently distilled. If heat is transferred to the surroundings; it is wasted heat. Period. You probably already knew that. Distilleries use vacuum evacuated jackets for insulation because they are awesome. Either way, insulation is excellent.
When performing industrial operations like distillation, it is a generally a good idea to take it seriously. Do not bother with home supply stores because they generally deal with the typical atmospheric temperature range (<200F). Not too often will any building materials or etc. have a better temperature rating than 200F. There are very few examples. Go with automotive supplies! The temperature rating on items usually far exceed what distillers need, and gives that extra feel of safety. Never ignore common sense, though. Heat wrap for headers is a great, flexible solution for what YOU need. Temperature ratings usually push 2,000F degrees. If you are ready to spend 50 bucks on 50 feet of highly resistant heat tape, then you are serious about insulating. That is great for safety and efficiency. This may also lower your required heat input, since far less will be wasted to the surrounding environment. However, I cannot make any recommendations for the column, though. I have not tested the effects of insulation on the column. My wild guess is that only 3/4 of the column should be insulated (bottom to top) because of the reflux action and such. Good luck, be safe, and remember: safety, safety, safety.