Grain to Glass Craft Whiskey Workshop

Jill from Alembics NZ and Adam from Sparks Brewing will take you through the process of selecting, milling, mashing and fermenting grains and on to the next step – distillation and barreling. A great opportunity for craft distillers, distillery and cellar door staff and of course home distillers to learn the language and process of taking the grain to glass.You will come away with the tools needed to produce fine Whisky in a matter of months!

Day 1 Feb 1st 10.30-4.00

Great Whiskey Starts Here: Cooking, Mashing & Fermenting Grains

Mashing

Grains as a source of fermentable sugar
How to select and where to source your grain
All about the malting process
How to grind and gelatinize your grains
How to mash malted grains
Fermentation

Yeast, bacteria and how they work
How to select and where to source your yeast
How to setup and complete a strong fermentation
How to prepare perfect whiskey wash

Day 2 Feb 2nd 10.30-3.00

Distillation

Safety briefing and general good practice
Types of Stills & how to use them
Alcohol basics, boiling points and chemical composition
Distillation of Low Wines
Distillation of Final Spirit
How to make cuts, removing foreshots and separating hearts
Making your final blend
Aging & Barreling

Types of wood to use & where to source
How to prepare your own wood for aging
Toasting
Charring
What flavours are created through this process
How long to age for
Time, oak and what it does over months and years