Please Note: All event times refer to BST

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (available from Monday 12th October) - with Robert Piggott

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October - with Maryse Bolzon

Overview of Rum and Rhum Production with Robert Piggott

This presentation reviews the production of Rhum Agricole (made from fresh Cane juice) and Rum (made from molasses). Robert will discuss the impact yeast strains have on fermentation, how distillation can influence aromatic profiles and finally will review aging and the effects of casks.

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (available from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

The Forgotten Flavours of Grain

Colin Johnston from Crisp Malt talks about embracing the revival of more flavoursome grains and malts as a way to differentiate spirits, in particular whisky. He will also discuss the impact of terroir and production technique, as well as the resurrection of ancient grains.

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (available from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

How to Start A Distillery

Our regular panel discussion on the ins and outs of starting a distillery: from picking the right still to finding somewhere to house your distillery.

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (available from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

Two smaples will be used in the session:

1) Glenmornagie 10yo 2) Laphroig 10yo

These are readily available in most off-licences and supermarkets and mini are avaialble for Just Miniatures.

What Happens When We Taste?

Join Ian Wisniewski, a leading taste expert, as he discusses the process of tasting spirits. He discusses what happens on a biological level and his recommended approach to get the most out of your appraisal of spirits, including: nose, palate,  glassware, and even location and time of day.

Ian has appraised thousands of spirits and this is a rare opportunity to learn from such an expert.

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (available from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

Proofing in Spirits with Julia Nourney

It’s one of the last things a distiller does before bottling and it can be easy to overlook the subject, but a mistake in proofing your spirit can result in hours of hard work wasted.

International spirits expert Julia Nourney will take the audience through the key considerations of proofing as well as common mistakes, possible rectifications, and the approaches taken for different spirits, including gin, whisky, brandy, and rum.
 

*Please note that this session is Live Only and not prerecorded*

LIVE - Alan Powell Duty and Legal Issue with Distilling

*Please note that this session is Live Only and not prerecorded*

Alan Powell from The British Distillers Alliance gives his annual update on the  licensing, legal and duty situation in the UK. Alan will also be able to take questions live via the text box.
 

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (avaialble from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

Environmental Packaging Panel

Environmental concerns are of increasing importance to distillers, but they go beyond the raw materials and power supplies for your distillery - what about the container the spirit comes in? Not just the bottle, but the closure, the secondary pack, the gifting pack, and even how those bottles are then shipped? Our panel will look at this subject in much greater detail.
 

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (avaialble from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

Botanical Update with Tommy Haughton

Tommy Haughton of Beacon Commodities provides an update from the world of botanicals. 

Tommy will cover topics including:

• “Are we really running out of juniper?”;

• The impact of Covid-19 on botanical supplies;

• The future of supplies of: juniper (what does a bumper mushroom crop mean for this key ingredient?), coriander seed, and citrus; and

• The impact of climate change on botanicals.

This session consist of two parts:

1) The pre-recorded discussion (avaialble from Monday 12th October)

2) The Live Q&A session on Thursday 15th October

Gin Trends for 2020 with Aaron Knoll and David T Smith

Join Aaron Knoll (author of Consumer Taste Preference in Gin and Botanical Spirits: Report for Distillers and Spirit Creators) and spirits writer David T Smith for a look at the trends they’ve identified so far in the topsy-turvy world of 2020 and what they anticipate for 2021.
 

Spirits competitions can have a major impact on a distillery or brands public awareness but what as a distiller should you expect from a competition? How can they help? What are judges looking for in a spirit and why do certain spirits consistently do well? How does the judging work? Who are the judges?

Our panel of seasoned judging professionals will be on hand to answer your questions.

Julia Nourney - International Spirits Judge

Aaron J Knoll - International Spirits Judge

Bernadette Pamplin - International Spirits Judge

Eric Zandona - Director of Judging at American Distilling Institute

David T Smith - International Spirits Judge