Siebel Institute launches Craft Distilling Operations & Technology course

Keith Lemcke of the Siebel Institute says that they have been watching the interest in small-scale commercial distilling grow over the last decade or so and noticed that in the last couple of years that interest seems to be accelerating.

They have been getting inquiries from people looking for courses in distilling that were a bit more comprehensive than a one- or two-day workshop but still concentrated on smaller production volumes.

One of their instructors, Dr Graeme Walker of the University of Abertay-Dundee in Scotland, suggested an outline for a 5-day program, and since then the Siebel Institute has been working on course content and hands-on activities that will give students the skills they need to work with confidence in a craft distilling operation.

Mr Lemcke thinks that most of the students entering the course will be working in craft distilleries or looking towards getting their first job in a distilling operation, but he assumes that they will also see a lot of entrepreneurs taking part who are considering starting their own business.

The craft brewing sector in North America is growing dramatically, and probably many hopeful future distillery owners are counting on the same phenomenon in the craft spirits sector.

Topics covered in this comprehensive 1-week program include:

• Introduction to distilling

• Materials and processing

• Fermentation – Theory & fundamentals

• Fermentation – Distilling applications

• Distillation technology: Fundamentals of distillation

• Distillation technology: Applied methodology

• Post-distillation: Flavour development/maturation/blending of distilled spirits

• Packaging

• Sensory aspects of distilled spirits

• Utilities: Energy, water

• Process control

• Quality control, plant cleaning & microbiological control

• Craft distillery management

• Taxation and compliance

• Environmental issues

• Engineering and maintenance

• Practical exercises conducted in a local craft distillery

For further information, please contact Keith Lemcke at .