By the Southern Section

CIBD Member only event

Join the CIBD Southern Section for a members-only technical visit exploring the journey from raw material to spirit character.

This two-part event will begin at Warminster Maltings, one of England’s oldest traditional floor maltings, before continuing to Witchmark Distillery for a closer look at farm-to-bottle operations.

You’ll gain practical insight into how raw materials, malting and fermentation decisions influence spirit character.

Note

Safety shoes/PPE may be required for distillery and malting floor access. Please notify the organiser of any mobility or dietary requirements for the post-tour discussion.

Schedule

• 13:30 – 15:00 | Warminster Maltings: Cereal Science and Floor Malting
  • A technical deep dive into one of England’s oldest traditional floor maltings. This session focuses on the biochemistry of the malting process, cereal quality parameters, and the rigorous technical specifications required for barley intake.

• 15:00 – 15:30 | Transit
  • Optional bus service available (limited to 15 attendees). 

• 15:30 – 17:45 | Witchmark Distillery: Farm-to-Bottle Operations
  • A "field-to-bottle" technical session beginning in the barley fields to analyze agricultural supply chain risks. The group will move into the distillery for a granular look at milling, mashing protocols, and fermentation control strategies used to engineer specific spirit profiles.

Speakers

• Robin Appel: Director (Warminster Maltings) and founder of Robin Appel Ltd. A specialist in the preservation of heritage grains and the steward of Maris Otter barley.
• Namratha Gorur: Head Distiller (Witchmark Distillery). A Biotechnology Engineer with an MSc in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University.
• Eddie Large: Operations Director (Witchmark Distillery). An industry veteran with 17 years of experience in artisan beverage production and brewing operations.

Why you should attend:

• See how key concepts from malting and fermentation are applied in practice.
• Get a closer look at how raw barley is transformed into malt.
• Understand how raw materials and process decisions shape the final spirit.

Tickets: FREE. Registration is open to CIBD members only.

Please indicate during registration if you would like a seat. If there is sufficient interest, a bus will be arranged at a cost of £12 per person.