Distillery University has taught distilling classes since 2015: 3-day hands-on workshops inside working craft distilleries, self-paced online classes with more than 150 hours of recorded instruction, and certification exams across 9 spirit categories. Our graduates include the founders of Quartz Mountain Distillers, who took the hands-on class in 2018, opened in 2020, and now host it. Pick the format that fits where you are.
In person · 3 days · Vancouver, WA
Hands-On Distilling Workshop
- March 5 to 7, 2027, inside Quartz Mountain Distillers
- Mash, fermentation, spirit runs, cuts, proofing and bottling on a 250-gallon still
- 10 seats, no experience needed, instructor beside you
- Lifetime access to every online class included ($499 value)
$1,999 early registration through February 5, 2027, then $2,399. $500 holds your seat.
Online · self-paced · anywhere
Online Distilling Classes
- 150+ hours: recorded workshops, course library and distiller interviews
- Vodka, gin, whiskey, rum and brandy production, still design, fermentation, regulation, business planning
- Business plan tool, fundraising deck and startup cost spreadsheets
- Watch on any device; 15-day refund
$49 a month, or $499 once for lifetime access.
Online exams · 9 spirit categories
Spirits Certification
- Whiskey, bourbon, scotch, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, tequila, liqueurs
- Study guide and recorded lessons, then an online exam
- Pass at 80% for a certificate; bundles include a lapel pin per category
- Built for tasting-room staff, bartenders, retailers and future owners
Single exams or bundles of 3, 6 or all 9.
The hands-on distilling class
3 days inside a producing distillery, mash to bottle. Day 1 covers how distilleries actually work: the regulatory landscape, spirits science and fermentation, the step most people underestimate. Day 2 is spirit runs on professional equipment: cuts, proofing, then vodka and gin production and the whiskey, rum and brandy profiles. Day 3 is advanced operations with your hands on the valves, quality checks, proofing and blending, and a take-home bottle. Saturday night is a tasting and sensory session with the class and a guest.
Your instructors are Randy and Darin Kyle, the father-and-son founders of Quartz Mountain Distillers. They took this workshop in 2018, opened their distillery in 2020, and have won 34 awards since. The class is capped at 10 so everyone runs the equipment.
Full schedule and registration March 5 to 7, 2027 event details
Online distilling classes
The online library is the same material our hands-on students get, without the travel. It includes the recorded Spokane workshop series led by our Director of Education, Todd Buckley (industry overview, distillation details, still design, filtration, spirit types, fundraising), 9 recorded live online workshops and 4 Gin Bootcamps from 2020 to 2026, and interviews with working distillers. Members also download the Business Plan Formulation Tool and the fundraising presentation.
| Sample class | Length |
|---|---|
| Vodka Distillation | 1 hour 1 minute |
| Introduction to Distillation Chemistry | 33 minutes |
| Aging Spirits | 30 minutes |
| Regulation Highlights | 20 minutes |
| Competitive Landscape of the Spirits Industry | 25 minutes |
See membership options Browse the class library
Distilling classes near you
Our hands-on classes are held inside partner distilleries rather than a classroom, so the location follows the distillery. The current home is Vancouver, Washington, 20 minutes from Portland International Airport and about 2.5 hours south of Seattle on Interstate 5, which makes it the hands-on distilling class for the Portland and Seattle areas and for anyone who can fly into PDX. We have also run workshops with partner distilleries in Houston, Texas (Drop of the Creator Spirits Company), Connecticut (Dark Waters Distillery), Kentucky and Seattle, and we return to partner sites as classes fill. If you run a distillery and want to host, see Host a Workshop. If you need training for your own team on your own equipment, we also do on-site training.
Online classes are available everywhere, and most hands-on students watch the fundamentals online before they arrive.
Which distilling class is right for you?
| Your goal | Start with |
|---|---|
| Open a distillery in the next 1 to 3 years | Hands-on workshop (includes the online library and the business planning tools) |
| Get a job in production at a distillery | Online membership now, hands-on workshop before you apply |
| Work in a tasting room, bar or liquor retail | Spirits Ambassador exams, starting with your main category |
| Hobby interest, learning the science | Online membership |
| Train an existing distillery team | On-site training; call (509) 999-1244 |
What students say
“So much practical experience and knowledge. Learning facts is fun, but learning why they’re important and how to use them is awesome.”
A. Lyon
“I just wanted to thank you again for the class this weekend. I have a much better idea of what I’ll need to do, where to start and what questions to ask.”
Kim K., Jefferson, Oregon
“Distillery University didn’t just provide information. It gave us a roadmap.”
Darin Kyle, co-founder, Quartz Mountain Distillers, workshop graduate 2018
Common questions about our distilling classes
Do I need distilling experience?
No. More than half of our September 2026 hands-on class had never run a still. The online courses cover the basics, and in the workshop an instructor works beside you on every step.
Is it legal to learn distilling?
Yes, in a licensed distillery. Our hands-on classes run inside Quartz Mountain Distillers, a federally permitted distillery, on its equipment. Distilling spirits at home without a federal permit is illegal in the United States, which is one reason to learn in a class.
How much do distilling classes cost?
The 3-day hands-on workshop is $1,999 if you register by February 5, 2027 ($2,399 after), and a $500 deposit holds your seat. Online membership is $49 a month or $499 once for lifetime access. Certification exams are sold individually or in bundles; see the Spirits Ambassador page for current prices.
Do I get a certificate?
Hands-on workshop graduates receive a certificate of completion. Spirits Ambassador exams award a certificate download at 80% or better, and bundles include a lapel pin per category.
Do I have to be 21?
Yes for the hands-on workshop, because you taste spirit during the class. Online membership has no tasting requirement.
Where is the hands-on class, and how do I get there?
Quartz Mountain Distillers, 4601 NE 78th Street, Vancouver, Washington. Fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), about 20 minutes away. From Seattle it is about 2.5 to 3 hours on Interstate 5.
What if I have to cancel?
Cancel 30 or more days before a hands-on workshop for a full refund. Inside 30 days you can transfer your seat to any future workshop at no cost. Memberships carry a 15-day refund, and monthly plans cancel anytime.
Can you teach at my distillery?
Yes. We run on-site training for distillery teams and host workshops at partner distilleries. See the Host a Workshop page or call (509) 999-1244.
Ready to learn to distill?
10 seats in March. Online access starts today.
Questions? Call (509) 999-1244 or email info@distilleryuniversity.com.