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

Tyee Carr, Westward Whiskey

Mitch Codd, Lallemand

Jordan Cotton, Cotton & Reed Distillery

Lucy Farber, St. George Spirits

Scott Harris, Catoctin Creek

Courtney McKee, Wisdom Road

Clay Yarn, Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Amber Pollock, Backwards Distilling Co.

Nicole Shriner, Michigan State University

Mark A. Vierthaler, Whiskey Del Bac

Program Schedule

2025 Fees & Registration

ACSA Member: $499
Non-Member: $899

How to register: Distillery 101 is offered prior to our annual Convention & Expo, so please register for the course via our convention registration site. You do not have to register for the ACSA Convention to attend the course. 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.

Thanks to Our 2025 Course Sponsor