Earn your SQA-certified whisky diploma – our highest award – online in your own time or in-person over two days.

However you choose to study, you can be sure to receive the highest quality teaching from our friendly team of industry experts that will prepare you for success in the final two-hour invigilated exam. Whether you’re here to study whisky for the fun of it, are looking to upskill or kickstart a career change, join us for this intensive and industry relevant – but above all enjoyable – journey into the heart of Scotch.

Course Overview

    1. Covers the origins of distillation, key historical and political events, plus commercial and technical developments within the industry.

    1. Covers the legal requirements and definitions of Scotch, ingredients and processes used in different categories, legal boundaries and current developments. Plus financial considerations, global markets and future prospects.

    1. Covers all raw materials used; water requirements, barley characteristics and yeast. Also, the processes involved in milling, mashing and wort recovery. Plus, the role of peat.

    1. Covers the structure and operational processes of stills, importance of copper, mashing technology, fermentation, different phases of distillation, development of esters and fatty acids, reflux, spirit safe. Plus factors that ensure product quality.

    1. Covers different types of oak, structure of wood, cask construction, heat treatments and seasoning. Warehousing systems, chemical reactions, variables and the importance of climate.

    1. Covers common terms used in sensory analysis, how to conduct whisky tastings, compare and contrast spirits, the compounds responsible for key flavours. Plus, how smell, sight, taste and touch can influence the sensory experience.

About this course

  • £985.00
  • 7 modules, World Whiskies includes guided tasting (6x30ml)
  • Invigilated final assessment includes practical Sensory (9x30ml)
  • EWA digital badge, black lapel pin & printed SQA certificate

Upcoming Courses

  • £985.00

    £985.00Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

    Online, self-study. Immediate start. Live Q&A (optional) held every 4 weeks at 11pm BST
    Buy Now

  • £985.00

    £985.00Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (16 & 17 November 2023)

    In-person, Arniston House, Scotland
    Buy Now

  • £985.00

    £985.00DELETE Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (23 & 24 May 2024)

    In-person, Arniston House, Scotland
    Buy Now

  • £985.00

    £985.00DELETE Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (23 & 24 September 2024)

    In-person, Arniston House, Scotland
    Buy Now

  • £985.00

    £985.00DELETE Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (26 & 27 September 2024)

    In-person, Arniston House, Scotland
    Buy Now

Study online & earn the diploma from the comfort of your own home.

  • Self-study

    Anytime access to the seven online modules means you can learn to your own schedule, approaching the interactive material on-demand, at your leisure.

  • Live sessions

    Join regular Q&A calls live (or catch the uploaded recordings) to revise and ask any questions of the teacher. Bring a dram along if you like.

  • Community

    Ask questions as you go (should you wish) and discuss the material with your cohort of likeminded whisky lovers in a private community section.


Can you receive the sample kit?⚠️

If you decide to study the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky online, you will receive 15 x 30ml whisky samples, a black lapel pin, branded notebook and Glencairn glass by post.

Please note, we are currently able to ship the required whisky sample kits to the following countries/territories: UK, EU, USA, Latin America, UAE, Australia, Canada, China, India (Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore only), Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and Turkey.

If you are located in a country that is not listed here, please drop us an email at [email protected] and we can confirm whether online study will be possible. 

Shipping costs
£7: UK
£25: EU & Turkey
£40: China
£50: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa, UAE, USA & Latin America
£79: Japan & Singapore
£80: India (Delhi, Mumbai & Bangalore only)

Study in-person & earn the diploma in a traditional classroom environment.

  • Group Study

    Learn as a group (of no more than 20). Day one includes a private tour of the local distillery, while day two includes a tasting of world whiskies.

  • Food & Drink

    The course is non-residential. Breakfast, a two-course lunch and snacks are provided (all dietary requirements considered).

  • Assessment

    Seven modules are assessed in the afternoon of the second day. (The first two modules are delivered online upon purchase for self-study).


5 star rating

Great school and program. If ...

Joseph Van Name

Great school and program. If you really want to learn about single malt scotch and the industry this is the place to go. Excellent instructor with 25+ years of industry experience in all facets of the process.

Great school and program. If you really want to learn about single malt scotch and the industry this is the place to go. Excellent instructor with 25+ years of industry experience in all facets of the process.

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5 star rating

A great journey into discoveri...

Michael Barbaria

A great journey into discovering the steps from raw materials until the whisky in your glass with a great teacher and a good organisation Amazing content, it is rare to come across a teacher that can transfer his knowledge perfectly

A great journey into discovering the steps from raw materials until the whisky in your glass with a great teacher and a good organisation Amazing content, it is rare to come across a teacher that can transfer his knowledge perfectly

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5 star rating

A thoroughly informative whisk...

Edward Densham

A thoroughly informative whisky education. Entertainingly delivered and full of myth busting information. Detailed, informative but entertaining.

A thoroughly informative whisky education. Entertainingly delivered and full of myth busting information. Detailed, informative but entertaining.

Read Less
5 star rating

The education was solid and in...

Kate van Name

The education was solid and interesting. The instructor was an expert in the field and personable in his delivery of very dense material. The real-life approach, facts and science, was deeply appreciated. Wonderful field trip - and that honed t...

Read More

The education was solid and interesting. The instructor was an expert in the field and personable in his delivery of very dense material. The real-life approach, facts and science, was deeply appreciated. Wonderful field trip - and that honed the classroom learning with the sensory very well. The learning environment and staff service was exceptional. See above. It was well done.

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5 star rating

Well organised and very compre...

Mike Gow

Well organised and very comprehensive course. Well taught by an excellent tutor. Fantastic course. Thank you!

Well organised and very comprehensive course. Well taught by an excellent tutor. Fantastic course. Thank you!

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