Delve back into the history of the Craft Distilling Expo with talk and workshop details of past conferences.
This is where you’ll find information from our earlier events. The events might have passed, but it’s often helpful to have an archive to delve into.
Event Archive
25th February 2020Event Archive / Past EventsCraft Distilling Expo – Programme 2019
THURSDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2019
Pre-Expo Event:
09:00-10:20 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Hands-on Rum Blending with Peter Holland
10:00 – EXPO OPENS
11:30-12:00 – SPACE B – Keynote speaker – Ian Hart of Sacred Spirits
12:00-13:20 – SPACE B – Panel: How to Grow Your Distillery
12:00-12:25 – SPACE C – Distilleries in Small Spaces, Matthew Servini of Craft Distilling Business Limited
12:30-13:15 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Great British Rum with Peter Holland
13:00-13:25 – SPACE C – Chemistry of Botanicals, Matthew S. V. Pauley of Heriot-Watt University
13:30-14:00 – SPACE C – Carbon Negative Distilling with Russ Wakeman of Two Drifters Distillery.
14:00-14:50 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Aged Gin: Roll Out the Barrel with David T Smith
15:00-15:25 – SPACE A – The Benefits of Signature Serves, Sam Carter – Laverstoke Mill
15:00-15:50 – SPACE B – Panel: How to Start a Distillery
15:30-15:55 – SPACE C – “Are we running out of Juniper?” – Beacon Commodities
16:00-16:50 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Single Malt Whisk(e)y with Stephen Gould from Golden Moon Distillery
16:00-16:25 – SPACE B – Distillery Safety with Scott Allen, Allen Associates
16:00-16:50 – SPACE C – From Distillery to Destination with Amy Dobson, Distillery Manager at Laverstoke Mill
16:30-17:00 – SPACE C – Duty and Legal Issue in Distilling, Alan Powell, British Distillers Alliance
18:00-19:00 Gin and Tonic Networking Session
FRIDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2019
09:00-10:00 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Nosing for Faults with Julia Nourney and The Aroma Academy
10:00 – EXPO OPENS
10:00-10:45 – SPACE B – Panel: Distillers & The Media
11:00-11:50 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Gin FAQ Vol. 4 – Pot Distillation of Botanicals
12:00-12:25 – SPACE B – Vacuum Distillation with Dr. Abbie Neilson from Cooper King Distillery
12:00-12:25 – SPACE C – Lab Techniques for Distillers with Robert Cassell
12:30-12:55 – SPACE B – Brand Ambassadors – An Introduction with Steph DiCamillo
12:30-12:55 – SPACE C – What Happens When Tasting Whisky: The Senses, The Brain and Emotions with Ian Wisniewski
13:00-13:45 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Old Tom Gin – A Fresh Look with Keli Rivers from Sipsmith Gin
13:00-13:45 – SPACE B – Discussion: Import and Export with Michael Vachon of Maverick Drinks and Chelsea Washburn of The American Spirits Exchange.
13:00-13:25 – SPACE C – Packaging and Branding Revamp: A Case Study with Warner’s Distillery
13:50-14:00 – SPACE C – Gin of the Year Awards Presentation
14:00-14:45 – SPACE B – Designing a Cask Management Program with Julia Nourney
14:00-14:45 – SPACE C – “How to make whisky and rum on a rectifiers license” with Odin from iStill
15:00-15:50 – SPACE A – Masterclass*: Beyond Gin: Botanical Spirits with Stephen Gould from Golden Moon Distillery
15:00-15:25 – SPACE C – Innovation in Spirits – Duncan McRae from Atom Brands
16:00-16:50 – SPACE B – Panel: Distilling in 2019 [...]
18th July 2017Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsJoin the team at London’s finest example of a Destination Distillery to learn about the process of making whisky.
The East London Liquor Co. will be joined by Independent Whisky Consultant, writer, and expert, Julia Nourney from Germany.
The session will cover the theory and techniques used in fermentation, mashing, and distillation, which attendees can witness first-hand at the distillery.
The workshop will also cover maturation and casks, with discussion on the theory and blending of casks. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsThe Craft Distilling Expo are once again running their one-day Post-Expo workshop exploring designing and distilling your own gin. Join them at East London Liquor Company with distiller Tom Hills where, as well as instruction on the practical aspects of gin, the workshop will allow attendees to discuss the more nuanced aspects of bringing a spirit to market.
Topics covered include: recipe formulation, production methods, “making the cuts”, working with botanicals, proofing and filtration.
10:00-15:30, East London Liquor Company, Unit GF1, 221 Grove Road, Bow Wharf, London E3 5SN
£240 (lunch & cocktail included).
[...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsJoin the team for a Pre-Expo Event at London’s finest example of a Destination Distillery to learn about the process of making whisky.
The East London Liquor Co. will be joined by Independent Whisky Consultant, writer, and expert, Julia Nourney from Germany.
The session will cover the theory and techniques used in fermentation, mashing, and distillation, which attendees can witness first-hand at the distillery. The workshop will also cover maturation and casks, with discussion on the theory and blending of casks. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsJoin Master Distiller Stephen Gould as he provides a guide to the ins and outs of apple brandy production; in particular, the raw materials and methods needed to make Calvados: from apple selection and fermentation, to distillation and maturation.
Includes instruction and tasting. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsIan Smiley, noted distilling consultant, author, and distillery equipment division manager for Allied Beverage Tanks, explains why and how it takes more than just a still to make different types of whiskies and other spirits in the same distillery. Ian explains the equipment and procedural choices that have to be made upfront in order to be able to make various types of spirits. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsA chance to hear from and put your questions to a range of representatives from some of Europe’s top importers of spirits. The session will be chaired by Michael Vachon of Maverick Drinks. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsJoin rum expert Peter Holland of theFloatingRumShack.com for some insight into the art of blending. This is a hands-on session and each attendee will be able to craft their own blend of rum and take a small sample home with them. Includes instruction, supplies, and a small bottle of attendee’s own blended rum to take home. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsWith Ivan Bell, Group Managing Director, Stranger & Stranger and Greg Dillon, spirits industry brand strategy consultant & writer, GreatDrams Consulting. Why and how to achieve great shelf standout from the start – thoughts on making your super exciting new brand’s packaging work hard for you so you can focus on the liquid creation. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsPeter Holland, rum expert and educator from theFloatingRumShack.com, guides an audience through the olfactory analysis of rum. Utilising the new Aroma Academy Rum Nosing Kit, which Peter helped to develop, attendees will be introduced to the skills need to identify various characters and traits in the spirit. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsMichael Vachon of Maverick Drinks will discuss some of the advantages that small brands have over larger ones and how to utilise those advantages to greatest effect in the modern drinks market. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsSince releasing its first gin in 2012, Warner Edwards has become a well-known and respected brand in the gin industry and is achieving growing recognition on both national and international scales. In 2016, they won the HSBC Elevator Pitch final and have opened their on-site botanical garden. Join founder Tom Warner as he shares his insights as one of the more experienced and established Craft Distillers in the UK. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsThere is much that can be learned from nosing spirits alone and it is an essential skill for any distiller to hone. Nosing expert and independent spirits consultant Julia Nourney will introduce attendees in the skill needed to nose whisky and identify various characters and traits in the spirit.
Includes instruction and nosing samples. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsA chance to meet Director General Nicholas Cook, find out a little more about the Gin Guild, and try some of its members’ spirits. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive / Past EventsFrom absinthe to Aquavit, gin to botanical vodkas and liqueurs, Master Distiller Stephen Gould will discuss: the techniques used to produce spirits and liqueurs using herbs and botanicals; the different results received by imparting botanical flavours into a distilled spirit using varying methods of infusion, maceration, distillation, redistillation; and achieving a desired flavour through the effective application of the plant material in the production process.
Includes instruction and tasting. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveJoin Odin of iStill for a 21st century take on the art of distilling. The session will cover some of the recent and future developments and innovations in distilling and distillation equipment, as well as exciting new technologies. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveMany distillers across Europe are approaching the release date of their first legal whisky, having waited 3 years for it to mature. Accomplished distiller Adam Spiegel will share his insight on how to build a whisky brand and range after the buzz of an initial release. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event Archive5 Common Gin Production Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Creating a quality and consistent gin is quite a task to master, with botanical mix, botanical supply, distillation, and proofing all presenting potential obstacles. David T Smith will introduce the audience to some of the common faults he has encountered in his career, during which he has tasted over 1,000 different gins. David and Anne will explain why they happen and how to fix them.
Includes instruction and samples. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveJoin FDT Consulting Engineers for a talk looking at health, safety, and environmental compliance for distilleries. This talk focuses on considerations in design to minimise explosion risk and other safety and environmental issues. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveWhen friends, family, and crowdfunding are exhausted, you’ll need some serious cash. Proper funding may just make the difference between success and failure. Assuming you don’t want to remain a croft distiller (that’s a craft distiller with a lifestyle business) for ever more, Ian Buxton discusses the price of serious money and investigates what funders really want – and are looking for. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveJoin International Gin Consultant David T Smith and botanical suppliers Beacon Commodities for a closer look at the key component of gin: the juniper berry.
The talk will cover how different methods of distillation can bring out different flavours from juniper, including maceration, vapour infusion, vacuum distillation, and even the effects of juniper wood.
Tommy Haughton from Beacon Commodities will also share some insight into the harvesting of the berries and what to look for in quality juniper. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveJoin the experts from Lallemand talk on the Impact of yeast on the Quality of Spirits looking at both whisky and fruit spirits. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveAlan Powell on an introduction to the British Distillers Alliance and legal matters of the day. [...]
17th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveExperts from across the industry hold a question and answer session on setting up a distillery. [...]
16th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveAlexander launched the East London Liquor Company in April 2014, a craft spirits producer with a distillery situated in the heart of the capital’s old spirits industry. [...]
14th September 2016Blog / Event ArchiveIn this extended Masterclass, independent spirits consultant Julia Nourney will guide the class in the art of whisky blending, long considered to be one of the most difficult parts of whisky production to master.
As well as an insight into blending, each attendee will be able to have a go at creating their own blend with guidance from Julia.
Includes instruction, supplies, and a small bottle of attendee’s own blended whisky to take home. [...]