What is the nature of your job?
Winemaking is often perceived as an exhilarating and glamorous profession. However, it is a combination of hard work, discipline, and extensive paperwork with only a few moments of true glamour.
What does a distiller do?
A distiller’s daily work involves a blend of scientific knowledge and artistic style, and it requires physical endurance. A distiller applies the principles of chemistry, yeast physiology, and their own creative vision to make careful decisions that shape the distillation process.
Typically, the distiller starts by taking a raw base material such as grapes for brandy, cane for rum, or grains for whiskey, and then prepares it for fermentation by creating a wash that contains the sugar from the source material. As the distiller, you have to choose the appropriate base material, ensure its compliance with local regulations, and consider how it will affect the final product’s characteristics. For example, brandy production is similar to making wine, while whiskey production is similar to brewing beer.
In the actual distillation process, the fermented wash, which has converted sugar into alcohol, is heated in a still to produce alcohol vapor. The vapor is then condensed back into a liquid form through a condenser, separating excess water, source material, and yeast. Not all spirits produced during the distillation process are of the same quality, so the distiller carefully selects different parts of the distilled spirit known as foreshots/heads, hearts, and feints/tails.
After collecting the distilled spirit, the distiller is responsible for determining the style and character of the final product. Ageing plays a crucial role, which can occur in casks or neutral vessels. Similar to wine production, the distiller may choose to blend different batches from casks or tanks to create the desired end product. Once the blend is finalized, the batch may undergo filtration, coloring, or even sweetening before being bottled.
Choosing high-quality distillation equipment
What does it take to become a distiller?
Patience is not just a virtue but a necessity. A successful distiller must possess patience because quality spirits cannot be rushed or produced on a strict schedule.
Understanding the craft of distilling requires hands-on experience. Even with extensive theoretical knowledge, mastery can only come through daily practice. Distillers need to fully immerse themselves in their work and focus on their craft without being distracted by the outside world.
Spirit production is highly regulated, more so than wine or beer production. Distillers must be willing to collaborate with regulatory bodies and diligently complete paperwork. Dealing with bureaucracy may not be glamorous, but it’s an essential aspect of the job. Many countries have laws that require daily reports, equipment and product registration, and reporting the use of raw materials. If you dislike administrative tasks, entering the industry may require you to overcome these feelings and fulfill your dreams.
A well-developed sense of taste is crucial for a distiller. It is an indispensable skill. Distillers must be able to assess the quality of spirits solely based on aroma, without relying on electronic devices. A single incorrect judgment can taint an entire batch of spirits. Consequently, the batch may be labeled as a lower-grade product, resulting in reduced profitability or, even worse, disposal. Such mistakes are not only frustrating but also costly.
A safety-first mentality and a positive attitude towards safety are prerequisites for success in the distilling field.
How can one enter this industry?
Every distiller has a unique story and pathway into the world of distilling. You can immerse yourself fully in the world of distilling, learn quickly, and continue learning as you progress in your career.
You can take advantage of opportunities to visit local distilleries and network with professionals in the field. Develop your knowledge in winemaking, covering topics such as fermentation temperature, barrel selection, marketing, and branding. Professional training can also facilitate your transition into a career in spirits production.
