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How to become A Distiller

Manufacturing

The word distillery conjures vivid images of a bustling work environment marked by fumes and barrels, stills and casks. We owe such strongly appealing visions to Distillers who judiciously blend a passion for developing singular spirits with desirable experience, knowledge, focus and patience to create a... Continue Reading

Skills a career as a Distiller requires: Food Safety Wine Food And Beverage Alcohol View more skills
Distiller salary
$56,000
USAUSA
£32,500
UKUK
Explore Career
  • Introduction - Distiller
  • What does a Distiller do?
  • Distiller Work Environment
  • Skills for a Distiller
  • Work Experience for a Distiller
  • Recommended Qualifications for a Distiller
  • Distiller Career Path
  • Distiller Professional Development
  • Learn More
  • Conclusion

Introduction - Distiller

The word distillery conjures vivid images of a bustling work environment marked by fumes and barrels, stills and casks. We owe such strongly appealing visions to Distillers who judiciously blend a passion for developing singular spirits with desirable experience, knowledge, focus and patience to create a recipe for success.
Similar Job Titles Job Description
  • Certified Distiller
  • Certified Scotch Professional
  • Certified Whiskey Specialist

 

What does a Distiller do?

What are the typical responsibilities of a Distiller?

A Distiller would typically need to:

  • Monitor the malting, mashing, fermentation and distillation processes under the supervision of a Master Distiller
  • Be responsible for the design and quality management of an entire range of manufactured spirits or a part thereof 
  • Select, measure, weigh and mix quality ingredients after ensuring they comply with local regulations and considering how they will affect the finished product
  • Ferment and distil the alcohol; make cuts to select the different parts of the distilled spirit - the foreshots/heads and feints/tails
  • Determine the style and character of the end product by ageing it in a cask or neutral vessel
  • Ensure quality control via product inspections to perfect the taste; filter, colour, and sweeten the batch before bottling it
  • Label and package spirits; box bottles manually, if necessary
  • Collaborate with the production manager to meet the production targets promptly and to assess speciality flavours
  • Market and sell the finished product; support shipping and receiving; greet and sell/serve tourists and guests who visit the distillery
  • Duplicate the product consistently to satisfy the consumers who come back for more
  • Develop unique tastes and flavours with the help of a highly trained nose, patience and strict adherence to safety and hygiene for potential market distribution
  • Maintain recipe logs of all products and process logs for distillation
  • Record, manage and report data for stock production and raw material usage, as required
  • Move raw materials, fill/empty casks and store/position casks correctly in the warehouse
  • Maintain a high level of housekeeping within the distillery building; monitor cleaning and maintenance of mash tuns, still, and washbacks to ensure a smooth operation
  • Address issues concerning the operational budget; report to the production manager when they exceed budget allotments or require special attention

Distiller Work Environment

The size of the distillery you work in may range from a simple tasting room akin to the neighbourhood tavern to huge enterprises that cater to consumers worldwide. Regardless of the size, all distilleries must be temperature-controlled, clean and hygienic enough to pass state regulations. 

 

Certain areas will be hot and humid from the fumes produced at different stages of distillation. The warehouse may be cold and damp. 

Work Schedule

Most Distillers work eight-hour shifts, which may include early mornings, evenings and weekends. Part-time jobs are an option where you must take up another job to pay the bills.

Employers

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Distillers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting employers directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media and inquiring at staffing agencies.

 

Distillers are generally employed by:

  • Government Distilleries
  • Corporate Distilleries
  • Microdistilleries
  • Craft Distilleries
Unions / Professional Organizations

Professional associations and organisations, such as The World Wide Distillers, are crucial for Distillers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. 

 

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

Workplace Challenges
  • The work environment may be hot and humid or cold and damp
  • Exposure to fumes and steam may cause injuries
  • Distraction due to a noisy work setting
  • Irregular work schedules defined by production targets and the distilling process
  • Physical strain due to significant bending, stretching and occasional lifting of heavy items
  • An excessive amount of patience is required to ensure the process runs smoothly and results in an award-worthy product
  • Stricts and often confusing government regulations that need to be understood and adhered to totally

 

Work Experience for a Distiller

With no clear-cut study program in place, Distillers have forged unique paths into the world of distilling. Among the numerous resources Distillers use to build their knowledge of distilling are learning from a mentor, internships and voluntary work experience.

 

Apprenticeship or mentorship with a master distiller is by far the best way to learn the trade. Aspirant Distillers may take up internal education opportunities offered by some distilleries and train alongside Master Distillers. 

 

Employers seek applicants willing to learn about a wide variety of spirits categories, familiar with various distilleries and aware of the practices that appeal to their style and sensibility and the ones that do not.

 

Two- to six-day-long workshops on topics ranging from essential distillation and maturation to spirit specific classes on whiskey, rum, and gin production will get you started on the path of hands-on training.

 

Since home distillation is illegal in most countries, for those who do not have access to valid internship/mentorship programs, it is better to gain experience by simply walking into a distillery and asking if they are hiring. It’s the best way to get your feet wet and work your way up to the position of Distiller, although you cannot expect anything beyond minimum wages in the beginning. The job is likely to include a lot of tank scrubbing, sweeping and routine tasks.

 

Individuals with bartending or serving experience may offer to help out in the distillery’s tasting room. Proximity to the distillery may result in being asked to help with other tasks such as packaging and cleaning. Take the initiative and offer to help out in the back whenever there is an opportunity.

 

Prospective Distillers may also find it helps to join the packaging team in the distillery. Although the packaging is quite monotonous, you may find that your enthusiasm and proficiency will open the doors to other parts of the distillery operations and eventually lead you to your dream role.

 

Be on the lookout for open requests to participate in bottling events posted on social media by distilleries. Mainly voluntary, such events afford a valuable opportunity to see the distillery and meet the people in charge of hiring.

 

Since brewing coffee and distilling have a bit of crossover in terms of sensory evaluation, Baristas with significant expertise may get to catch the eye of the folks who do the hiring.

 

There are cases of individuals with experience in boutique wine retail befriending local distillers and taking the plunge into the currently exploding distilling market. They could add insight into spirits to their existing knowledge of wines. A resume including such a combination and application at the local distillery or brewery may work wonders.

 

Read about the profession and interview/job shadow experts working in the distillery business to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. Go to industry gatherings whenever possible. Travel to different corners of the world to learn the practical skills of distilling prevalent in each region. 

Recommended Qualifications for a Distiller

Distilling is rarely offered as a career option to mere high school diploma holders. It can be pretty challenging to put together a tried-n-tested study plan to enter the spirits industry, with a shortage of internationally recognised study programs or certifications. 

 

Most often, people with degrees as diverse as law, manufacturing, chemical engineering, management or psychology take advantage of the unique distilling programmes combined with brewing or winemaking offered by quite a few universities worldwide. 

 

A little trade education can go a long way in increasing your chances of landing a desirable job as a Distiller. Spirit-specific courses on offer from reputed universities that hold industry gold standards for trade education will teach you the latest and best techniques to mill, mash, ferment, distil, age, blend, market and sell spirits.

 

Week-long distiller courses and shorter classes on how to get products to market are ideal for those who wish to test the waters before making a firm decision.

 

Look for accredited beginner- and advanced-level certificates/diplomas which will enhance and test your knowledge of the principles of spirit production, the types of spirits, how to serve spirits and the factors affecting the flavour of spirits. Awareness of the science behind fermentation, along with cleaning regimens and packaging, will go a long way in helping you produce award-winning spirits. 

 

Look for high quality, fact-based educational resources offered by your local craft spirits association to gather all the information required and build bonds with other distillers.

 

Science, math, English and speech classes in high school will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Certification in distilling and the business of spirits from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and allow you to become an independent consultant.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region.

 

Working with alcohol requires expert knowledge of the rules and regulations involved in the marketing, production, distribution and zoning. Typically, licensure requires an application, processing fees, an examination, and relevant education and experience. Check-in with local or national distillery organisations to find whether you will need licensure.

Distiller Career Path

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Distillers. 

 

Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion as a Master Distiller. You may also aim for managerial positions such as Production Manager.

 

Entrepreneurial Distillers with a wealth of distillation expertise and a bit of capital can open boutique spirit companies and craft distilleries. 

Job Prospects

Candidates with significant work experience, patience, and the readiness to learn have the best job prospects.

Distiller Professional Development

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Distiller build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age or level of knowledge.

 

Distilleries usually provide on-the-job training specific to their production processes and regulations. They encourage their Distillers to build on the knowledge acquired by completing accredited distilling, bottling, and packaging programs. Ensure you continue to research and maintain your understanding of the current product or distillation trends.

 

Professionals who wish to open their own business must be aware that the process can be long-drawn-out. You will need permits and licenses from central/federal, state and local authorities that are not easily given. 

Learn More

Microdistilleries 101

 

Microdistilleries create sophisticated flavours through organic or local ingredients, fresh spring water, quick turn-around time schedules, special barrels for ageing and distinctive distilling techniques. Add to that a unique location, an inspirational story, unexpected ingredients and small special batches, and it’s no wonder the field continues to thrive.

Conclusion

Distilling is hard work; it is an industry built on sweat, intense self-discipline and mountains of paperwork. However, the joy that they bring to many spirit fans drives dedicated Distillers to keep pushing the envelope of what is possible in the world of spirits.

Advice from the Wise

Be willing to learn from others openly, no matter what your stage of professional development is in distilling.

Did you know?

Whiskey’s classic smokey flavour with overtones of vanilla and golden-brown colour comes from being aged in used oak barrels for around four years.

Introduction - Distiller
What does a Distiller do?

What do Distillers do?

A Distiller would typically need to:

  • Monitor the malting, mashing, fermentation and distillation processes under the supervision of a Master Distiller
  • Be responsible for the design and quality management of an entire range of manufactured spirits or a part thereof 
  • Select, measure, weigh and mix quality ingredients after ensuring they comply with local regulations and considering how they will affect the finished product
  • Ferment and distil the alcohol; make cuts to select the different parts of the distilled spirit - the foreshots/heads and feints/tails
  • Determine the style and character of the end product by ageing it in a cask or neutral vessel
  • Ensure quality control via product inspections to perfect the taste; filter, colour, and sweeten the batch before bottling it
  • Label and package spirits; box bottles manually, if necessary
  • Collaborate with the production manager to meet the production targets promptly and to assess speciality flavours
  • Market and sell the finished product; support shipping and receiving; greet and sell/serve tourists and guests who visit the distillery
  • Duplicate the product consistently to satisfy the consumers who come back for more
  • Develop unique tastes and flavours with the help of a highly trained nose, patience and strict adherence to safety and hygiene for potential market distribution
  • Maintain recipe logs of all products and process logs for distillation
  • Record, manage and report data for stock production and raw material usage, as required
  • Move raw materials, fill/empty casks and store/position casks correctly in the warehouse
  • Maintain a high level of housekeeping within the distillery building; monitor cleaning and maintenance of mash tuns, still, and washbacks to ensure a smooth operation
  • Address issues concerning the operational budget; report to the production manager when they exceed budget allotments or require special attention
Distiller Work Environment
Work Experience for a Distiller
Recommended Qualifications for a Distiller
Distiller Career Path
Distiller Professional Development
Learn More
Did you know?
Conclusion

Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits
  • R Realistic
  • I Investigative
  • A Artistic
  • S Social
  • E Enterprising
  • C Conventional
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that this career profile addresses
Good Health and Well-being Decent Work and Economic Growth Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure