Edinburgh Whisky Academy

🥃 One year later, this article feels just as relevant.

Published in June 2025, Richard Woodard's deep dive into the last five years of change in Scotch whisky explored everything from COVID disruption and trade tensions to new distilleries and emerging global markets.

Now, with another year behind us, it's worth asking:

➡️ What's changed?
➡️ What challenges remain?
➡️ Where is Scotch whisky heading next?

Read the article:
https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/feature/five-years-in-scotch-whisky-a-report-by-richard-woodard

Today we're celebrating Jorge Marquez & Miguel Santiago, who have both successfully taught their first Edinburgh Whisky Academy courses in Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Jorge recently delivered his first EWA Certificate in Irish Whiskey to a class of 9, receiving a perfect 10/10 instructor score from participants. The highlights of the course feedback included:
• Hands-on whisky tasting
• Interaction with the instructor
• Group discussions
• Networking with fellow enthusiasts

Miguel taught his first EWA Certificate in Scotch Whisky last month to a class of 11, marking another exciting milestone for whisky education in the region.

This is exactly what we love about the Approved Course Provider programme. By working with passionate, certified educators around the world, we're able to extend the reach of whisky education while creating engaging, memorable learning experiences for students wherever they are.

Academia de Whisky Founder Joe Cabassa said:
"Jorge and Miguel have gone above and beyond in their growth as educators, sharpening their skills and expanding their knowledge. We're excited and proud to welcome them to the Official Educators Team at Academia De Whisky."

A special mention also goes to Edgardo, Felipe and Jaime, who demonstrated real commitment by attending both courses. 🥃🥃

What happens when tradition meets technology in the stillhouse? In Part 2 of his exploration into the evolution of the pot still, whisky historian Iain Russell reveals the innovations that shaped modern Scotch whisky, from steam heating and purifiers to worm tubs and spirit safes. Plus, a bit of soap! 🧼

https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/feature/the-evolution-of-the-pot-still-in-scotland-by-iain-russell-part-2

BIG NEWS! 🥃 🥃 🥃 This Autumn, we’re taking our flagship Diploma in Single Malt Whisky qualification on the road with in-person courses in:

📍 New York (26 & 27 October 2026), with Moët Hennessy USA
📍 Kentucky (29 & 30 October 2026), with Moonshine University
📍 London (3 & 4 November 2026), with WSET School London

Hosted alongside these incredible partners, this feels like a genuinely exciting moment for EWA and the global whisky education community we’ve been building over the last 10 years.

Taught by the inimitable Vic Cameron, the Diploma is designed to deepen your understanding of single malt whisky through immersive learning, hearty discussion and guided tastings. Whether you’re a whisky enthusiast or industry professional, we'd love to see you at one of these classes!

🎟 Early Bird booking is open NOW with a guaranteed £200 saving until 19 June 2026. Read the announcement in full here:
https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/news/autumn-diploma-roadshow-across-new-york-kentucky-and-london

Congratulations to our latest Diploma in Single Malt Whisky graduates who joined us for the course at Arniston House this week. Another great group taught by 🥃

And thanks to for capturing the shot 📸

It’s English Whisky Week! With around 50 distilleries now operating, English whisky is a rapidly evolving category.

From heritage grains to farm-to-bottle production, there’s a wide range of exciting ideas in motion. If you’re curious to explore further, our new blog post – with insights from Dave Broom and his World Whiskies material from our online Diploma – is a good place to start.

Huge thanks to the distilleries who shared images and information for the blog and to Morag Garden for her input. All super helpful and generous.

🔗 https://www.edinburghwhiskyacademy.com/blogs/feature/english-whisky-week-2026-a-category-coming-of-age

The English Distillery White Peak Distillery The Lakes Distillery Cotswolds Distillery Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery Cooper King Distillery

We’re hugely proud to celebrate two of our Gold/Level 2 Approved Course Providers who have each welcomed former students into their teaching team. 🥃🥃

In Türkiye, Yiğit Akdemir has invited Sertuğ Yıldız to join his EWA Certificate-level delivery team. And for Joe Cabassa in Puerto Rico, two former students are setup to teach EWA Certificate courses for - Miguel Santiago and Jorge Márquez.

Kirsty McKerrow, EWA Founder & Managing Director, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our students come full circle and step into teaching roles within our Approved Course Provider network. This is exactly what we hoped to achieve, creating not just learners but future educators who carry forward the same passion and high standard of knowledge. Seeing both Yiğit and Joe invest in their students in this way shows how strong and collaborative our global community has become. I couldn’t be prouder of what it’s evolving into.”

Read more at the link in our bio 😍

EWA 🤝 NVWA: A New Transatlantic Whisky Education Partnership 🥃

At Edinburgh Whisky Academy, we've always believed that whisky education should be as enjoyable as it is rigorous. So, when Napa Valley Wine Academy CEO Christian Oggenfuss reached out to Kirsty McKerrow to explore a partnership, we were intrigued. And, as it turns out, completely aligned.

On paper, we’re separated by thousands of miles. In practice, the two academies share plenty of common ground. Both of us believe that drinks education can be serious without being stifling, detailed without being dull and personal even when the audience spans the globe. NVWA say, “Wine can be complex. Wine education shouldn’t be.” We feel exactly the same about whisky. And Christian noticed something we’ve seen too: more learners than ever want to dig into a category properly, not just dip a toe in. That’s where our Qualifications Scotland (QS)-Approved courses come in.

Kirsty McKerrow said of the partnership: “I’ve long admired what Christian has built with Napa Valley Wine Academy, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer their large, engaged community the chance to join our Certificate in Scotch Whisky as returning NVWA customers. America is an important market for us and California tops the list of where most of our US candidates are based, so the potential for growth here is significant.”

Partnerships like this are about shared purpose. And together, we’re making whisky education more accessible and more engaging, wherever learners happen to be. And that, we think, is worth raising a glass to.

➡️ https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0tjwSL0

April marks another busy month for Approved Course Providers 🥃

Across Europe, courses include:

🇹🇷 Istanbul, Türkiye: Certificate in Sensory Appreciation (Apr 4–5) Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (Apr 10–12). Stalwart teacher Yiğit Akdemir was one of the first educators we recruited and has helped develop the ACP programme over the last five years.

🇮🇹 Piedmont, Italy: Certificate in Scotch Whisky (Apr 21, 28 & 5 May). Eugenio Levo .whisky is brand new on our books but looks set to make a success of teaching courses out of his restaurant, La Farinata, over 3 consecutive weeks.

🇫🇷 Saint-Jean-en-Royans, France: Certificate in Scotch Whisky (Apr 27–28). Guillaume Reynaud is another long-standing educator, who consistently attracts strong attendance at his spectacular location.

April is also a landmark month for American whiskey education. Three Certificate in American Single Malt Whiskey courses will take place across the United States, reflecting the growing excitement around this category for enthusiasts and in the trade:

💜 In Brooklyn, Lia Niskanen continues to build a vibrant whisky education hub in New York. She has some great guest speakers lined up.

💜 In Colorado, Devin Ershow brings his expertise to another course hosted at Whiskey Distillery.

💜 In Seattle, delivers the course across two days to the engaged drinks community attending .

Together, these courses highlight not only the rise of American Single Malt, but also the strength of our dedicated educators on the ground who are helping define its future 🙌