High Altitude Distilling from Farm to Glass

By the Scottish Section

Do you have an interest in growing barley, wheat and rye for distilling? Or are you interested in whisky – both Scotch & Canadian, or gin and vodka production? If you are, this webinar is for you!

Danny Gowrie, Director of Distilling & Operations, will give a presentation of spirit production at the Eau Claire Distillery, founded ten years ago in the historic town of Turner Valley, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, with its focus firmly on making spirits from 100% Alberta Malted Barley.

Starting from its Farm to Glass attitude, growing and harvesting its own barley using its own traditional horse-drawn equipment through the varying mashing and distillation processes to its maturation approach. Covering its philosophy of whisky, rye, gin and vodka production and pointing out its own methods and ideas, we will show where a distillery in the heart of the Canadian Barley Belt can differ from Scotch or other types of whisky distillers, but still produce superb award-winning results.

At the end there will be time to ask questions.

Speaker:

Danny Gowrie, Director of Distilling & Operations, Eau Claire Distillery, Alberta, Canada

Danny has been in the industry almost 10 years now, starting as a QC analyst in the W. Grants’ Girvan lab whence he did his MSc at Heriot-Watt where he also was in the team that redesigned Edinburgh Gin for its new distillery. After graduating, he became Head Distiller at Trossachs Distillery (McQueen Gin) where he improved his recipe designing skills to win a double gold at the San Francisco Spirit Comp for his London Dry gin. After 18 months, he moved into whisky at Glasgow Distillery, where he gained valuable experience especially working with the in-house cooper and how proper care and quality of barrels would affect the whisky within. At that new distillery, its first-produced whisky was just starting to come of age, so there was much laying down of casks and disgorging new whisky, which was for Danny a great time to jump in and be part of the full cycle. He was part of the Hendricks’ gin team before being able to head out to Eau Claire Distillery in Alberta, Canada where he is now the Director of Distilling and Operations.

Why you should attend:

1. Learn about Canadian Whisky, Rye and Gin
2. Explore the challenges and benefits of distilling at 4000 feet altitude in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies
3. Expand knowledge of differing styles of spirit production – ideal for those studying for IBD distilling exams

Tickets: Free, register via Zoom.