Proposed edition 01
iStill University · Master Distiller Course
Master Distiller Course.
Four days at iStill.
For distillers, distillery teams and founders. Learn the modern theory of fermentation, flavour and cuts, then put it into practice at the still. Four days of hands-on training and direct feedback at iStill in the Netherlands.
March or April 2027 · Four days in the Netherlands
9.5/10University student rating04days, fully immersedSmallgroups, personal guidanceWoerdenthe Netherlands
Master Distiller Course · 2027
Choose your
course dates.
Choose March or April. Your place includes four days of guided training, course materials, lunches and a group dinner.
Woerden, Netherlands · Taught in English
9.5/10 University student rating
“This was my third distilling class and this one taught me things the other two never even mentioned.”- Four days of guided group training.
Theory, Mini experiments and a shared iStill 500 project. Taught in English.
- Meals and course materials included.
Lunches, one group dinner, training materials and preferred-hotel transfers. Travel and accommodation are separate.
- €500 towards an iStill Mini
€500 off one full Mini purchase per paid place. Valid until 12 months after the course. Benefit terms apply.
Start preparing now with 7+ hours of free online teaching by Odin. The 67 lessons are open to everyone; completing them is recommended, not required.
The return on four days
Better decisions.
Better spirits.
Read what’s happening in the still. Make a change. Taste the result. Learn how to do it again.
iStill University / Learning by doingThe free online course gives you the foundation. Four days here turn it into practical confidence. Explore both learning routes ↗
01 / Theory into practice
A decision.
A different result.
Understand why.
Put the theory to the test in pairs on the iStill Mini. Use recipe development as an exercise: change a variable, follow the run and evaluate the result. Connect what you taste to the decisions behind it.
Our experienced iStill teacher is right there: for the practical questions, the unexpected results and the ideas you want to take further.
02 / A bigger picture
One group.
One iStill 500.
Bring the group’s questions and ideas to a shared project on the iStill 500. Connect the small-scale experiments to a larger system, discuss the process and understand the decisions behind the run.
See the practical programme ↓03 / The people you meet
The conversation
keeps going.
Distillers come here from around the world. Some are starting out. Some already run a distillery. Everyone brings a different question, a different palate and something to share.
We regularly see participants stay in touch, compare notes and support each other’s projects long after the course. The four days end. The connections often carry on.
From people who have been here
Their experience.
In their words.
Read the transcript
This week’s been amazing. There’s so much support, lots of theory blended with practical. I learned so much about what can go wrong, how to fix it, as well as what you’re looking for to make a perfect craft distilled product. So we learned the theory behind it, but also the blend of the practical, being hands-on, really helped with getting more comfortable using your iStill Mini or various iStills. I really highly recommend joining the team on the course.
“This was a fantastic course, filled with wonderful people and important information.”
“This experience has changed the trajectory of my distillery”
“This was my third distilling class and this one taught me things the other two never even mentioned.”
Your learning programme
Learn the why.
Apply it at the still.
01 / Before you arrive
7+ hours with Odin
Build your foundation in fermentation, flavour and distillation with 67 online lessons, at your own pace. The complete online course is free for everyone.
Start with three short lessons ↗02 / At iStill University
Four intensive days
Connect the science to the production decisions. Guided Mini experiments, a shared iStill 500 run, product evaluation and direct feedback from your iStill teacher. Taught in English in Woerden, the Netherlands.
03 / Keep applying it
€500 towards a Mini
Each paid course place includes €500 off one full iStill Mini purchase. Use it from payment until 12 months after the course. Excludes VAT and shipping; cannot be combined with other offers.
See the course offer ↗Start before you arrive
Your first 17 minutes.
Three short lessons with Odin. About 17 minutes of video to start connecting fermentation, cuts and tasting.
Free for everyone. No course ticket required. Online preparation is recommended, rather than an entry requirement.
- 01Why Fermentation Drives Flavor03:26 ↗
- 02Heads, Hearts, and Tails Cuts07:36 ↗
- 03How to Taste Fractions05:24 ↗
As you watch, note one production decision you would like to understand better. Bring that question to the four days of guided practice.
Make 2027 a hands-on year
We’re doing
this again.
Two editions. The same four-day experience. Choose March or April when you book. Dates are planned; we’ll confirm the final schedule by email.
2027 Course Waitlist: Now Open
Be part
of the next one.
Leave your details. Choose a date, or hear about both. We’ll help you work out the rest.
The iStill team will contact you when dates and pricing are confirmed. No payment now. No booking commitment.
Your four days include
Practical teaching, iStill equipment, training materials, lunches, one group dinner and transfers between a preferred hotel and iStill HQ. Travel, accommodation and airport transfers are separate.
The useful details
A closer look
at your four days.
What you will learn
The science matters. We connect mashing, fermentation, distillation, extraction, tasting and recipe development to the practical decisions you make on the equipment.
- Understand the science behind mashing, fermentation, flavor creation, and distillation control
- Connect distilling theory to real production decisions on iStill equipment
- Practice cuts, vapor speed thinking, extraction, recipe development, and product evaluation
- Leave with clearer next steps for your own distillery, equipment setup, or spirit portfolio
The four-day programme
A guide to the week. Exact runs and timings can adapt to the group and the equipment schedule.
Day 1 / From theory to production floor
Align on goals, cover the core science, connect it to real equipment, and begin the practical framework for fermentation, flavor, and distilling control.
Day 2 / Mashing, fermentation, and flavor creation
Work through the decisions that shape flavor before distillation: raw materials, yeast behavior, esterification, temperature, pH, and process control.
Day 3 / Distillation, extraction, and product feedback
Run practical distillation and botanical extraction work, taste fractions, discuss cuts, and review existing product samples from participants.
Day 4 / Operating iStill equipment with confidence
Translate the week into daily operation: equipment setup, program choices, repeatable recipes, troubleshooting, and next steps for your own production.
What is included, and what to arrange yourself
- Four days of theory and practical training at iStill HQ
- Hands-on work with the iStill Mini
- Mashing and fermentation masterclass
- Distillation of multiple spirit styles and a botanical extraction
- Professional feedback on existing products when you bring samples
- Training material, coffee, tea, lunch, and certificate of participation
- 1x Group dinner with the iStill team
- Daily lunch and coffee
- Taxi service between the recommended hotel and iStill HQ
You arrange travel and accommodation. Airport transfers are not included. We include taxi transfers between a preferred hotel and iStill HQ in both directions.
Getting here and where to stay
iStill HQ, Woerden, The Netherlands
Wagenmakersweg 8, 3449 HV Woerden, The Netherlands
Closest airport: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Recommended hotel: Best Western City Hotel Woerden.
Wait for the course dates to be confirmed before booking flights or accommodation.
How do the online and hands-on courses fit together?
The free Online Distilling Course gives you the theoretical foundation, taught by Odin. The Hands-On Distilling Course is four days of practical work at our dedicated iStill University location in the Netherlands, led by our experienced teacher. They are complementary: prepare online, then apply what you learn to equipment, recipes and real distillation runs.
Do I have to finish the online course first?
No. We recommend it as preparation so you arrive with a useful foundation, but it is not an entry requirement. The online course is already free for everyone; you do not need to buy a ticket to access it.
Will Odin be teaching in person?
Our experienced iStill teacher leads the hands-on course. Odin teaches the online course and may drop by at University, but a visit is a possibility, not a guaranteed part of the programme.
Can I book and pay for 2027 now?
The 2027 waitlist is open. We are considering 15–18 March and 19–22 April, with an indicative fee of around €3,000 per person excluding VAT. Dates and the final fee are not yet confirmed. Joining is free, does not reserve a seat and creates no booking commitment. The iStill team will follow up when registration can open.
Can I bring my own spirits for feedback?
Yes. Bring samples if you already produce. Product feedback is one of the most valuable parts of the training because it connects theory to your real flavor goals.
Can you train our team privately?
Yes. Use the private training option in the form for group training, staff onboarding, equipment-specific coaching, or one-on-one guidance.
Do I need a big beard to attend the course?
No. Big curiosity helps more. Beards are optional; attention, good questions, and a willingness to taste critically are the useful parts.
A note from the team
A good week. Let’s do it again.
Why we’re already looking forward to the next group.