Canadian Craft Distilling Institute

07/13/2023

Non-alcoholic booze. If this sounds like an oxymoron, it is. But make no mistake, zero alcohol beverages are a hot commodity these days. In the coming September workshop, I will take the time to discuss solvent chemistry and I will explore with the class how a craft operator can go about making zero alcohol beverages to capitalize on this growing market.

04/12/2023

Learn to Distill.

10/15/2021

Hey all.... just a heads up that for 2022 my plans at this point are to shift the Workshops back to B.C. In the coming weeks I will be posting more details on social media and on my Prohibition University website. I am hoping that as soon as February, 2022 I can host a Workshop. I will likely conduct 4 Workshops during 2022. All dates will be listed so that people can forward plan.... And remember, you do not have to be thinking about starting a craft distillery to take a Workshop. These Workshops are designed to raise your technical understanding of booze while giving you some hands-on experience to show you how booze is manufactured. A Workshop will make you a much more informed consumer of alcoholic beverage. This will raise your enjoyment of alcohol beverage consumption. This will alter your buying habits. All good..... My contact info is on my Prohibition University website. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.....See you in early 2022 !!

06/30/2021

I just completed a small 3 Liter batch of Gin where the only difference to the recipe was the addition of 6 grams of Loomi Lime. Amazing citrus note throughout the Gin. If anyone out there knows of a business that imports various varietals of dried lime or dried citrus from placed like SE Asia, let me know. I am now on a mission to explore unique citrus varietals in Gin....

06/22/2021

If you are contemplating taking the next Gin Master Class in September at Two Rivers Distillery, give some thought to going to your local Chapter/Indigo bookstore and getting the recent copy of Gin magazine (issue 13). Loads of info in this issue about craft Gins from around the globe. You will be inspired. When you take the Gin Master Class, you will have a solid idea of some recipes to try making...

06/15/2021

Another Workshop done. This one was very intense for the participants who showed up with an idea of what craft distilling is, but left with a totally overhauled reality. They also left with the knowledge and science needed to start engaging in some at-home recipe development. The next Workshop will be held in mid-September. Interested? Let's talk.....

06/02/2021

The 4-day Master Distiller workshop scheduled for June 7-10th is a GO!! If you are intrigued with taking up home distilling as a hobby that might one day lead to launching a craft distilling business, this upcoming workshop will point you in the right direction. For details see my website at www.ProhibitionUniversity.com

Welcome to Prohibition University The world of beverage alcohol is a complex one. For many decades now the beverage alcohol playing field has been dominated by a handful of big, multi-national players like Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi to name a few. When governments in North America decided to ope...

05/18/2021

FYI....Calgary continues to be a Covid "s**t show" that one person recently described as a "martial law scenario". But, I am confident that in the coming days, the political drama will subside. I still plan to conduct the 4 day Master Distiller workshop and also a Gin Master Class. If you are interested, please visit my website and register.

2021 Events Two Rivers Distillery, Calgary, Alberta Prohibition University – in conjunction with Two Rivers Distillery in Calgary – will be offering Distillery Workshops and Master Classes in 2021. Since 2014, Prohibition University has put over 520 people through its various Distilling Workshop...

05/18/2021

Do you seek out "high end" beverage alcohol products? Why is "high end" deemed to be "high end". What makes that so? Read my opinion at:

Know The Market Posted on May 17, 2021 by [email protected] My sage advice to craft distillers is – know the market. I am seeing too much evidence of late that craft distillers fancy themselves to be part of the “high end” of the market spectrum. The concept of “high end” onl...

04/16/2021

Mix matters! Last evening we completed the task of evaluating a craft Gin recipe being developed by a Quebec-based craft start-up. Yep...its a tough life. People send me Gin to evaluate..... and I have to taste it and drink numerous samples with various mix additives.

It is astounding how the mix you add to the Gin will bring forth (or not!) different tastes and aromas. For example, on last evening's Gin, we found that a splash of water released some delightful cucumber notes on the palate. On the other hand, a splash of artisanal tonic made with bitter orange, lime, and sweet orange totally killed the Gin to the point I had trouble finishing my sample. A splash of Club Soda released sweet notes on the palate. The Perrier lemon flavor water was a failure.
The next time you are tempted to reach for the tonic to make yourself a Gin cocktail, maybe consider doing something different. Try a wee sample of the Gin with water. Next try a wee sample with Club Soda. Every Gin will have the ultimate mixing partner to dance with it. Find that ultimate mix and your Gin drinking experience will be elevated to new heights.