Route to Market Workshop

You’ve got whiskey, now what? For small entrepreneurs in any industry, getting into the marketplace has always been a challenge. Our two-day workshop will provide you with the knowledge and skill set you need to be successful introducing your spirit to the masses. Whether you’re making whiskey, rum, brandy, or another beverage alcohol, this panel of professionals will dig into some of the techniques, methodologies, mistakes, and secrets they’ve uncovered during their time in the industry: learn how to compete with the big guys, maximize a minimal budget, and successfully build your brand on your terms.

5-Day Rum Course

Moonshine University has joined forces with The Rum University to offer the most comprehensive rum training in the world. Designed for both existing and future rum distillers and brand owners, this 5-Day course combines theory and practice to provide attendees with a practical, hands-on education on all things rum. From the financial, marketing, and regulatory considerations to the distillation, aging, and blending processes, every student will leave this course with a nuanced understanding of rum production, the spirits business, and how rum fits into the global, economic landscape.

Fermentation Workshop

Fermentation is the conversion of sugars into alcohol. In the spirits business, alcohol is synonymous with money. which means the success of your finished product will rely on the efficiency of your the fermentation process. This course shows students how to perfect that process, covering a variety of key fermentation considerations and best practices. We'll explore everything from the microbiology and cultivation of yeast, to the stages of its life cycle, paying special attention to how different variables affect the quality and consistency of fermentation in spirits production.

Nosing for Faults: Advanced Sensory Analysis

Master the skills required to take your products to the next level of consistency and quality. In this hands-on, two-day course combining theory with practice, attendees will examine the use of sensory analysis methods in distillate production, product development, and quality control. By the end of this section, you’ll have the knowledge and skill set needed to confidently sniff out problems in your own distillery, troubleshoot causes, and implement solutions that may end up saving your next production from disaster.

Gin, Absinthe, & Amari: Botanical Spirits Workshop

As of 2018, gin is the leading growth category in beverage alcohol, worldwide. Using a broad palette of botanicals and styles, craft distillers are creating unique expressions of gins, absinthes, and amari that stand out on the shelf without needing to spend years in a barrel. Our hands-on, three-day advanced workshop will focus on the art of botanical spirit production, sensory training, and an examination of individual essences. We’ll explore history, category styles, production methods, and distillation processes, as well as botanical mash bills, maceration, filtration, and finishing. Students will also get to practice hands-on distilling of a botanical spirit, scaling up from compounding to a table-top still and finishing with a 50-gallon still.

Age-ucation: Barrel Aging Workshop

For distillers, aging alcohol to get the flavor and consistency you desire can take decades of trial and error, which can be both frustrating and expensive. That's why we’ve partnered with our friends at Independent Stave Company and for a two-day experience unlike any other. With 30 experimental barrels and 9 hands-on experiments, attendees of our Age-ucation Workshop will get to access exclusive GC data and explore aging variables like entry proof, toast and char profiles, wood species, bottle soaks, and more.

Bourbon Making Workshop

Fall in love with Kentucky’s signature spirit in this day-long workshop, which combines classroom instruction with hands-on bourbon distilling. With a strong focus on production, students will get to delve deeper into the nuanced styles and processes involved in the bourbon making craft. We'll also return to our roots by examining the history of bourbon and its relationship with other whiskeys, before discussing the best ways to guide consumers through an informative and engaging sensory evaluation of this national treasure.

WSET Level 2 Spirits Certification

Conducted by Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and hosted by Moonshine University, this special course is ideal for individuals who wish to deepen their understanding of spirits and liqueurs in an informative and structured manner. This course involves two full days of classroom study followed by a 1-hour multiple-choice examination on the morning of day 3.

ONLINE Whisk(e)y Workshop

Thirsty to learn more about the wonders of whiskey? Get ready to master your craft from a distance. Become a whiskey connoisseur with this advanced two-session workshop led by Matt Strickland, Master Distiller at Distillerie Cote des Saints. To register for this online opportunity, please click the Learn More button. You will be redirected to the webinar registration page.