DISTILLERY 101
The Industry Standard for Craft Spirits Education
Entering the craft spirits industry or adding members to your team? Join us for this intensive 2-day course led by experienced industry experts and offered each year during the ACSA’s annual Convention & Expo. This year’s course will be held March 9 and 10, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. Explore key topics including equipment and material selection, flavor chemistry and biochemistry, distillery safety practices, the nuances of tasting rooms, navigating distributor relationships, assembling an effective sales team, mastering distillery finance, and much more! Special thanks to our course sponsor, Lallemand.
Course Topics
Equipment Selection | Facility Layout |Distillery Safety | Basic Overview of Spirits Production (how to make booze, basic biochemistry and flavor chemistry) | Tasting Room Considerations | Distribution/Selling Spirits | Packaging | Distillery Financial Basics and Cash Flow Modeling | Strategic Planning | Staffing a Distillery | Leadership & Culture
2025 Instructors Include
Lucy Farber, St. George Spirits
Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek
Courtney McKee, Wisdom Road
David Morgan, Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Amber Pollock, Backwards Distilling Co.
Nicole Shriner, Michigan State University
Mark A. Vierthaler, Whiskey Del Bac
Program Schedule
March 9 (Day 1)
8:00 am Course starts with financial and business and leadership topics
12:05 pm Lunch (provided)
12:50 pm Production and safety topics
5:00 pm Class happy hour
March 10 (Day 2)
8:00am Course begins with sales and marketing topics
11:55 am Lunch (provided)
12:40 pm Sales topics continue
1:45 pm Release class to TTB Bootcamp (open to all attendees)
2:00-4:00 pm: TTB Bootcamp
2025 Fees & Registration
ACSA Member: $499
Non-Member: $899
How to register: Add the Distillery 101 course to your ACSA Convention registration. Space is limited, so sign up early!
Not a member? ACSA members get a huge discount on Distillery 101! Join now to access this $400 discount.
Questions? Contact kirstin@americancraftspirits.org.