Course Introduction

Welcome to iStill University

Set expectations: what iStill University is, why it exists, and what you’ll cover next.

Welcome to iStill University

Welcome. If you want to become a craft distiller (or you already are one), the hard part is often not motivation—it’s knowing where to start and which advice is worth trusting. This course exists to make that first step clearer and more practical.

Quick summary

iStill University started because many people want to distill but don’t know where to begin
It grew from in-person trainings (around 200 people per year) into an online course you can take at your own pace
This module sets up the big questions: goals, fit, bias, and how theory connects to hands-on practice

What iStill University is

IStill University started as an education initiative after we kept seeing the same problem: people want to become craft distillers, but they don’t know where to start—what to read, who to trust, or which advice is real.

After years of research and hands-on work, we began sharing what we learned in live trainings. People flew in from all over the world, and over the last few years we’ve trained around 200 people per year. The next step is delivering that online, so you can learn at your own pace with structured content and interaction.

Why we built it

To help beginners get a real starting point instead of random opinions
To help experienced distillers see their process with fresh eyes
To share the “why” behind distilling decisions—so you can make your own choices confidently

What we’ll cover next

Here’s the agenda you’ll unpack in the next sections:.

Your goals (and our goals) so you can decide if this is a fit
Who this course is for—and who it isn’t
Whether the course is “iStill biased” (and what that even means)
Why we focus on toolkits instead of strict procedures toolkits vs procedures
How we combine theory with practice theory first, then practice
The iStill Mini and hands-on training the iStill Mini
What certification looks like certification and community

How to use the course

Tip

Don’t just read, apply

Distilling isn’t something you learn by watching or reading alone. You build skill by applying the ideas and getting your hands dirty. This course is built to support that.

What’s next

Next up: what the course will actually teach you, who tends to get value from it, and how we think about bias, tools, and real-world practice.