Islay Whisky Academy Certificate

An exciting new adventure for Spring 2027 – page under construction – but you can email to book on

14, 15, 16 April 2027

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Only £1087 GBP per person

Three days of authentic Scotch Whisky Wisdom for those looking to further their whisky education, experience & expertise.

DISTILLING PRODUCTION. HISTORY & HERITAGE. UNDERSTANDING THE LIQUID OF SCOTCH WHISKY

Presentation of IWA CERTIFICATE

Book Here FOR 3 DAY IWA CERTIFICATE ~ only

Day 1 Explore Distilleries

9.30 – 17.00 Pick up in Bowmore.

Islay delve into PRODUCTION at Islay’s special distilleries. Hear from the people who know how to make whisky. MALTING and GERMINATION – what is this? How does it happen? Learn all about it.

Learn about YEAST – liquid or dry, what difference does it make? Which style does each distillery prefer to use, and why.

Focus on STILLS & DISTILLATION – explore cut points, lyne arm angles, still charge temperatures and much more. Want to know how condensers work? Learn here.

SMELL THE EARTHEN FLOOR OF A DUNNAGE WAREHOUSE. Take whisky directly out the cask – yourself! using a valinch. Drink glasses of whisky in the warehouse where the casks of whisky are sleeping around about you. What can be more immediate than that?

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DAY 2. Heritage, History & Culture

9.30 – 17.00 Pick up in Bowmore

DISCOVER FINLAGGAN Ancient Seat of the Kings/Lords of the Isles. It is believed this is where King James IV of Scotland got his taste for Uisge Beatha/Whisky in 1492. THEN went back to Edinburgh and asked for 8 bolls of malt for Friar John to make “aqua vitae” (using Latin words) The King had enjoyed the Uisge Beatha we has already been distilling in Islay for years.

Try your hand at PEAT CUTTING, fitting and stacking. How is PEAT used to flavour Islay malt whisky? Understand the value of TRADITIONAL SKILLS. Environmentally friendly skills and traditions preserve carbon and are not harmful to the environment. Learn why with Islay Whisky Academy.

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Explore history and heritage at THE MUSEUM OF ISLAY LIFE. Find treasures to contribute to your understanding of Scotch Whisky in Islay, and Scotland.

Undertake a GEOLOGY WORKSHOP ~ rocks inform water, water informs the distilling process. Find out how and why.

perhaps visit a special SPRING where the water keeps us young… 🙂

Learn about BARLEY PLANTING, HARVESTING & STORAGE

DAY 3. LEARN ENOUGH TO BUILD YOUR OWN DISTILLERY & COURTING THE DRAM

MORNING –

Understand what you are nosing and tasting in your dram. Learn flavours and aroma and enjoy a blind tasting experience. Analyse the structure of your whisky. Is it peat forward? How creamy is it, what is the viscosity of the liquid? Practise your Gaelic with us. Become expert at pronouncing distillery names and whisky names. Learn how chemistry and biology create flavour and texture in whisky. Learn the practise of using your mind to decide which whisky it is NOT in blind tastings. 90% of blind tastings are your mind, only about 8-10% is actual nosing and tasting.

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