How to open a gin distillery
A start-up specific course focussed on category insight and how to go from inception to selling out in the trade.
Botanicals, recipes, still configurations, branding and route to market – each step is interlinked. To be successful in a saturated category like gin, each needs to be considered and expertly executed. Here’s how.
On demand and bite sized
Learning should be fun, and it should fit around your schedule.
We’ve broken down the course into clear modules, delivered in video format with further reading on this site, as well as downloads.
Build your dream
The difference between building a dream distillery and a financial nightmare is know-how.
Becoming a Gin maker can be endlessly rewarding, but key to it ensuring you keep a commercial mindset.
THE ULTIMATE GIN GUIDE
Everything you ever need to know about gin, from the history, the styles and how they are made, as well as where the front line of innovation lies today. With the context in hand, we go onto how to make it, how to sell it and how to create a cohesive and compelling product.
01
History & Current Market
Understanding the state of the market require a look at the category’s key moments over the past 20 years, as well as where it’s headed. Each region has its unique markers.
02
Established & Emerging Styles
Explaining London Dry, Old Tom, Navy and the newer Contemporary and Flavoured Gin genres. Not just what they are, but how to excel when making them.
03
Botanicals and flavour Wheels
Juniper, fully explained. How to think of flavour profiles, sequence journey’s and dose the ideal botanical intensity.
04
Stills & Distillation
Techniques to maximise flavour extraction. Comparing ‘cold’ distillation, pot, vapour and debating what’s ideal depending on the desired outcome.
05
Recipes & Cuts
How to come to the right grams and the types of methods used to create great tasting gin, while also maximising your cuts to make it consistently and with commercial viability.
06
Assessing Quality & Managing Inventory
How to set up process control, test in context and get valuable feedback.
We explore inventory management and other distillery equipment.
07
Co products & Distillery Practicalities
What to do with waste, effluent and potential by-products.
How to go about cleaning stills, equipment maintenance and what other equipment might be needed.
08
Route to Market
From bottling to bar pour – there are many universal factors to consider irrespective of your location.
Margins, distribution, applying your USP and ensuring your pitch is palpable.
09
Branding
What makes bottles stand out? How can gin brands tell their story more effectively?
We explore the touch points you need to consider and how can you build a coherent strategy to build a customer base.
10
Sense Check
Once you are ready and have taken your learnings further, benefit from a one on one 30-40 minute call to answer any questions specific to your distillery build or brand idea.
STand out from the croud
Success in saturated categories requires extraordinary brands
Be under no illusions – gin is one of the most competitive, creative, and hard to breakthrough categories in the spirits industry. It’s also one of the most fun too!
This course is designed for those who want to understand the challenge ahead, want the context of the category, want to interweave process, people, place and product into a coherent package and want experienced guidance through that journey.
Excellent already exists. Being a great all round product is the minimum requirement you need to be successful in the gin category – this course will give you that advantage.
Holistic planning, coherent delivery
All the context needed, right from the beginning
Crafting world class gin doesn’t happen by chance. It’s by putting all the inputs on the table, mapping it out and considering it in context that you can deliver great products.
Why? Because when it comes to gin, nothing is in isolation. By building the links and curating your plan so everything is aligned – you can take every aspect of the operation and idea to its maximum potential. Critically, it makes sure that those ideas will come through in every pour.
This course is about getting all the building blocks in place.
It’s about creating a vertically integrated business plan, from idea to execution. Through the process, you’ll be able to ensure that authenticity runs through everything you do, differentiation is built up stage by stage and the outcome is quality and at a competitive advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who delivers the course?
How to open a gin distillery is lead by Olivier Ward. Having spent over a decade at the forefront of the craft gin boom, Olivier is widely recognised as a global gin expert and an ambassador for the category.
How country specific is the advice?
The course is based around universal concepts, advice and practical implementable solutions that are applicable anywhere in the world.
That said, we flag country specific quirks as we go along too, as a reminder for those based in various parts of the word to look into further.
How long is the course accessible after purchase?
The cumulative total time needed to complete the course is 7h-8h.
Once purchased, the course is available for two months. Ample time to learn at your leisure, and return to sections if needed.
Difficulty logging into the How to Open a Gin distillery Course?
The course is hosted on Teachable, which comes with support and easy access. If you are having issues however, no problem – drop us a note and we’ll help!
Can I receive an invoice detailing my charges?
Absolutely. Each transaction will carry its own invoice and receipt. Taxes are based on where students enrol from and are automated in this process.