Gin fans go back to school in world-first accredited diploma

One-day course on the spirit’s history, style and distillation

The world’s first “diploma in gin” is being offered in Scotland for fans of “Mother’s Ruin”.

Edinburgh Whisky Academy is offering the SQA-accredited diploma to cater for the growing demand of gin lovers everywhere.

The one-day course will allow lovers of the spirit to learn about the history, styles and making of gin – interspersed with tasting opportunities.

The course, held once each month, costs £480, including a £60 SQA fee and VAT, and comes with an optional botanicals workshop the following morning for an extra £199.

The course also includes lunch and assessment, ending with a cocktail session.

But gin gurus will have to book fast as each monthly course has a cap of 15 students.

Earlier this month it was revealed that a record-breaking 51 million bottles of gin – worth £1.4bn – were bought in the UK last year.

Ian McKerrow, head of business development at the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, said: “It’s very exciting. We already had our whisky course and now we’re the world’s first accredited gin education course.

“It’s great for Edinburgh, Scotland and the tourists visiting and we welcome everyone whether it be people working in hospitality to people who just have a genuine interest in gin.

“In April we had our first open course which went really well – we had eight or nine people there.

“We have already had quite a few requests for our next course in June.

“It’s a one-day SQA accredited diploma which is held at the Vaults building in Leith and run by Geraldine Coates who has written many books on gin. There’s essentially six modules which cover the history of gin, styles of gin and distillation.

“We have a guest distiller who comes on each course and then we have a taster session of four different gins.

“Then there is an assessment followed by a cocktail session to end the day on a lighter note.

“We encourage people to also attend the botanical workshop the following day with the expert Hamish Martin who takes you on a trip around the herb garden.”

We welcome everyone whether it be people working in hospitality to people who just havea genuine interest in gin. IAN MCKERROW

Geraldine Coates, a leading authority on gin, teaches the course in Leith.