Exploring the fascinating world of whisky across nine modules, Edinburgh Whisky Academy's fun and accessible SQA-certified online course will enhance your appreciation of all things aqua vitae.

Working through a series of interactive exercises, videos and pop quizzes, you’ll discover more about the history and business of Scotch before covering the entire production process, from raw materials to distillation, maturation and bottling. The flexible, self-paced format allows you to learn in your own time and, with quizzes at the end of each module, you can measure all the knowledge you’re distilling as you go.

Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • William Grant & Sons spirits overview
  2. 2

    • Overview

    • Origins of Distillation

    • The End of Illicit Stills

    • Whisky Market Developments

    • Rise of "The Big Three"

    • Phylloxera, Pattison & "What is Whisky"

    • First World War & Prohibition

    • Activity: Key Dates in the History of Whisky

    • World War II & Aftermath

    • The Rise of Scotch Single Malt

    • Growth in Single Malt Market

    • Interview: David Grant

    • Recent Developments

    • Key Dates in the History of Scotch

    • Quiz
  3. 3

    • Overview

    • The Scotch Whisky Regulations (2009)

    • Dr. Gordon Steele on Scotch Whisky Categories

    • The Five Categories of Scotch whisky

    • Activity: Scotch Whisky Categories

    • Dr. Gordon Steele on Scotch Whisky Regions

    • Activity: Scotch Whisky Regions

    • The Recognised Scotch Whisky Regions

    • Dr. Gordon Steele on Scotch Whisky Labels

    • Guidance Relating to Labelling of Scotch Whisky

    • Activity: Design your own Scotch Whisky Label

    • Impact of Whisky Ageing on Cash Flow

    • Activity: Guess the Tax (UK)

    • Pricing a Bottle of Scotch Whisky

    • Issues for the Scotch Whisky Industry

    • Scotch Whisky Exports

    • COVID-19 & Scotch

    • A Growing Industry

    • Quiz
  4. 4

    • Overview

    • Malted Barley

    • Water

    • Yeast

    • Peat

    • Malt or Grain?

    • Activity: Single Grain Whisky

    • Activity: Categories of Scotch & their Raw Materials

    • Quiz
  5. 5

    • Overview

    • Activity: From Malting Barley to Wash

    • Steps 1 to 3: Barley Treatment, Handling & Analysis

    • Activity: Barley Grain

    • Step 4: Steeping

    • Step 5: Germination

    • Step 6: Kilning

    • Steps 7 to 8: Storage, Analysis & Despatch

    • Step 9: Milling

    • Activity: Fractions of Grist

    • Step 10: Mashing

    • Steps 11 to 12: Fermentation & Wash

    • Activity: Yeast & the Fermentation Process

    • Quiz
  6. 6

    • Overview

    • Batch Distillation Theory

    • Pot Stills & Copper

    • What is Reflux?

    • Activity: Reflux Illustrated

    • Activity: Size & Shape of the Stills

    • Activity: Pot Still Features

    • Wash & Spirit Still Operation

    • Activity: Wash Stills

    • Activity: Wash to NMS - guess the volume

    • Activity: Lyne Arm

    • Activity: Volume in the Still

    • Spirit Quality

    • Activity: Create your own Pot Still

    • Activity: Spirit Quality

    • Quiz
  7. 7

    • Overview

    • What is Grain Distillation?

    • The Grain Distillation Process.

    • Scotland's Grain Distilleries

    • Quiz
  8. 8

    • Overview

    • Introduction to Oak

    • Cask Types, Treatments & Rejuvenation

    • Flavour Compounds & Chemical Reactions

    • Four Ways the Cask can Influence the Flavour of Whisky

    • Warehousing Systems

    • The Angels' Share

    • Climate & Maturation

    • Quiz
  9. 9

    • Overview

    • The Art of Blending Whisky

    • A Day in the Life of a Master Blender

    • Quiz
  10. 10

    • Overview

    • The Bottling Process

    • Activity: From Cask to Bottle

    • Arete

    • ABV Reduction

    • Chill Filtration

    • Quiz
  11. 11

    • Assessment: Certificate in Scotch Whisky