2-DAY INTRODUCTION TO DISTILLING COURSE AND WORKSHOP 

 

The two-day introductory course covers the beginnings of commercial distilling logistics from building codes to regulations through sales and distribution, which is followed by a hands-on workshop that covers commercial production from top to bottom. 

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Introduction to Distilling Day 1: Distillation

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Pre-Production

• Water quality, water testing, and pH adjustments

• Grain mashes and sugar washes

• Enzymes, yeast, and infusions

• Record keeping and data management

• Malting vs. cereal mashing

• Temperature and time management ​

 

Distillation

• Types of stills, columns, and infrastructure

• Types of runs, stripping, and proof

• Heads, hearts, and tails

• Whiskey, gin, rum, and vodka runs

 

Post-Production

• Filtration of vodkas and rums

• Infusion of vodkas and rums

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Introduction to Distilling Day 2: Logistics

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Commercial Logistics

• Facilities selection, building, and fire codes

• Regulatory jurisdictions, and Federal/State licensing

• Local rules, self-distribution rights, and tasting rooms

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Marketing

• Developing a budget, pricing and promoting your spirits

• Defining your market, reaching your market

• On-premise and off-premise, promotions and product placement

 

Sales & Distribution

• Supplier responsibility, distributor expectations

• Distribution types, selection, forms, and channels

• Contract, franchise, and control states

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This workshop will be led by Mitch Abate, Head Distiller at Down Slope Distilling in Colorado and Dr. Kallie Stavros from Falls Church Distillers. 

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Accommodations will be available at the Hilton Garden Inn - 706 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

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