Learn about distillery operations
Running a distillery is complex. This course makes you better at it.
Every section comes as its own workbook, backed by hours of video. Work through the workbooks at your own pace, or press play and learn the way you would in a classroom, seminar or lecture.
Modern, relevant and holistic
Most spirits training is designed for those working for multinationals. It’s expensive, theoretical first, and out of touch with the everyday reality of craft producers.
This course flips that model – offering theory and facts alongside the practical insight for how that can be applied. The information is there to service decision making, not for learning background trivia.
Increase your knowledge
As it covers all the major areas involved in distillery operations, this is an ideal course for those working in spirits production and wanting to sharpen their skills.
Theory is made practical, technical breakdowns are made accessible. It gives you the understanding you need to become a better operator, and workbooks to help you implement it day-to-day.
Built for how craft distilleries really run
Most craft production operations, from raw material input through to finished spirit, run on fewer than six people and equipment that is at most only semi-automated. I’ve built several and toured hundreds and I know this holds true whether you’re in the UK, Australia or the US.
This course is built at that scale, not an industrial framework scaled down. It’s sized for teams who wear multiple hats and who need their learning to lead to getting better results form their operation this year.
It works just as well if you’re new to distilling or a founder looking at how to improve their operations. Bottom up and top down thinking are always tethered. The workbooks are built so that both perspectives are included and that big picture understanding is matched with actions that can be implemented.
“This course was built to help distillers get better – at their craft, their operations, and their decision-making. It’s about mindset, skillset, and making sense of how everything fits together so you can keep improving, every day.
Olivier Ward – Founder Everglow Spirits
If you’re juggling multiple roles in a distillery, you need more than just theory. You need it alongside context, clarity, and guidance you can act on. That’s exactly why I built this course. So, if you want to improve, this course is your foundation for that journey.”
PROCESS, PERFORMANCE & DISTILLING
Ten workbooks apply to any spirit you make. Two further go deep on a specific category, gin and whisky for extra layers of detail (Rum, Brandy and Vodka are in video format). Work through them in order, or jump straight to what’s relevant to your operation today.
01
Mindset & Leadership
The psychology of the job and what leadership means at every level, from junior operator to owner.
How to set a culture of excellence in operations.
02
Raw Materials
Sourcing, intake checklists and quality control, from grain to bulk spirit.
Testing discipline, storage principles and how to manage a supplier.
03
Yeast & Fermentation
What’s happening in the tank, the role yeast plays, substrates and sugar
profiles.
Yeast selection,
handling, nutrition, pitching rate and the fermentation curve phase by phase.
04
Health & Safety
The regulatory picture, DSEAR, ATEX and hazardous area zoning.
Self-audit checklist, risk assessments, environmental aids (bunding, ventilation, detection, ignition control).
05
Water, Effluent & Cleaning
Quality parameters, treating water for consistency, and closing the loop through recirculation and reuse.
Effluent, measurement and discharge consents.
06
Structure, Systems & Workflow
Tanks, pumps and hoses, optimisation strategies, maintenance and safety considerations.
Mapping how production flows.
07
Process Control & Quality
The systems that make your spirit consistent.
Variations,
specifications and tolerances. QA, QC, handling deviations and food safety compliance, sensory assessment treated as a measuring instrument.
08
The Business of Distilling
Forecasting, cost, cashflow, and understanding your place in the commercial heartbeat of the business.
Inventory management, the true cost of a bottle and how to build commercial resilience into operations.
09
Distillery Tourism
Risk assessment, insurance and
licensing, accessibility, responsible service policy, and scheduling tours around production
Designing the experience, the commercials and the bigger wins.
10
Sustainability
Why it matters and the easy wins. Sustaining people, building resilience, mapping footprints honestly.
Packaging and logistics, energy, water and waste.
The big frameworks and the business case
What no other spirits course covers
Despite it being one of the biggest differentiators for any operation – what leadership means and how to shape culture and frame mindset is never taught to distillers. This does, both as theory and how to implement it on the floor, be it for yourself or if you’re managing a team of five.
Same goes for explaining the business side of craft distilling, or the operator’s role in brand building, route to market and tourism, from the operator’s own view. That context, both upstream and downstream, matters if you want to understand what you are making and why – let alone how to improve. This course takes that on directly.
Every workbook is yours to keep and return to as you implement the learnings. Fully downloadable, built around worked examples and tools, not something you read a few times, pass a test and then lose access to in three months.
Time to up-skill! Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
Confidence in your process – from raw materials selection through to optimising the final spirit.
A better understanding of fermentation, distillation, health and safety, control systems, and workflow.
Clarity on how to improve production, reduce waste, increase sustainability and make better decisions.
Tools (and context) to connect your operations with broader business goals.
A more rounded perspective that will make you a better distiller, manager, or owner.
Deep level insight into whisky and gin production specifically, plus workbooks with specifics that can be applied to making any form of spirits.
Continuous Professional Development
While the course is geared towards the individual and for those seeking to empower themselves and boost their own skillset – many operators are afforded training opportunities from their workplace.
With that in mind – to answer a frequently asked question: At the end of the course there’s a certificate of completion, as well as other downloadable materials that help further the value of the course to both individual and organisation.
These will allow you to better apply the learnings to your workplace, continue your journey and also provide documentation for those with formal CPD assessments.
It costs £250 (+ VAT where applicable), which includes over 12h of content delivered in bite-sized format. Plan for it to take roughly 30 hours to work through the material as reading, and a further half day per workbook to apply it to your operation and begin implementing the plans they contain.
Want to see the full curriculum and enrol? Click below or head to our course platform.
What makes this course different
This course was built differently, with craft distillers and independent operators in mind. Here’s how we stand apart:
- Comprehensive Curriculum: It covers a similar depth and width you’d expect from qualifications like the CIBD General Certificate, but goes further – connecting theory to real-world application in a small-scale setting.
- Multi-Spirits Perspective: Unlike many category-specific courses, we explore operations across all spirits, helping you develop transferable skills and broader context. We then deep dive into two in particular for additional insights on how to specifically make better gin and whisky.
- Made for the Craft Sector: Designed specifically for distillers juggling multiple roles, it reflects the resource constraints and the need to be a jack of all trades when working in a small-to-mid-size operation.
- More Than Technical: We’re the only course that brings together operations, mindset, leadership, and business context – because producing great spirits isn’t just about running a still. It’s about decision-making, communication, and your role in the bigger picture.
- Workbook-Led, Video-Supported: Every section has its own workbook you can work through at your own pace, backed by extensive video, like a self-paced lecture or seminar. However you learn best, this course is built to fit
“After years of consulting for spirits brands big and small, I saw the same thing time and again: distillers left to figure it out on their own. That resourcefulness is great to begin with, but it only gets you so far. It limits growth, creates knowledge gaps for new team members, and often means key decisions are made without the full picture.
Olivier Ward – Founder Everglow Spirits
Over a decade into the craft distilling boom – this is what so many in the industry have been asking for. Knowledge to help them improve, give them confidence and allows teams to flourish as they feel empowered with information they can actually use – not just pass a test with.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who delivers the course?
Our Distillery Operations Course 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. As a journalist he has covered the span of the spirits industry, from trade news, to industry trends, production insight and commentary.
Olivier is also a trained and qualified distiller, and has helped clients build distilleries in several countries.
Do I get a certificate on completion?
Yes! We will issue a certificate on completing the course.
Please note, this is intended as a way of building operational competency through building theoretical knowledge tied to actions for craft scaled distilleries – this isn’t an exam based course.
How much does it cost?
Our Distillery Operations is £250 – less than half the cost of the CIBD General Certificate in Distilling. It’s designed to be accessible to individuals, practical for teams, and high-value for craft operations everywhere.
Is it possible to extend the amount of time the course is accessible after purchase?
The cumulative total time needed for the video parts of the course is around 12h. Once purchased, the course is available for 3 months. Ample time to learn at your leisure, and return to sections if needed.
All workbooks are fully downloadable – expect them to take roughly 30 hours to work through the material as reading, and a further half day per workbook to apply it to your operation and begin implementing the plan.
Difficulty logging into the Course?
No problem – drop us a note and we’ll help!
Can I receive an invoice detailing my charges?
Absolutely. The course is hosted on Teachable and each transaction will carry its own invoice and tax receipt.