Heriot-Watt opens major global distilled spirits conference in Edinburgh

More than 700 delegates from across the global distilled spirits sector gathered in Edinburgh this week for the 9th Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference, with Heriot-Watt University opening the programme and contributing expertise across the agenda.

Organised by the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers and held in Scotland’s capital from 4- 7 May, the conference brought together technical specialists, scientific leaders, global brands, supply chain partners, academics and policymakers for three days of discussion on the issues shaping distilled spirits today and tomorrow. Topics ranged from sensory science and big data to sustainability, workforce capability and emerging technologies.

Heriot-Watt played a prominent role throughout the event, opening the programme with a keynote from Professor Chris Turney, Deputy Principal for Research and Impact, and contributing research and expertise from across the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), led by Professor Dawn Maskell.

In his opening address, Professor Turney set a forward-looking tone for the week, arguing that the future of the sector will be shaped by how seriously it treats science, research and innovation as part of day-to-day operations rather than as a function at the margins. He reflected on the pressures now reshaping the global spirits industry, including climate, regulation, workforce change and the pace of technological development, and highlighted the need for closer, more practical partnerships between industry and academia across the world.

Heriot-Watt’s prominence at the conference reflects a deep and long-standing connection to the sector. With more than 120 years of brewing and distilling education behind it, and a globally recognised International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at its core, the university continues to combine heritage with a forward view, supporting the science, talent and innovation that will shape the future of distilled spirits.

That contribution was visible across the programme. Beyond Professor Turney’s keynote, colleagues from the ICBD presented research on some of the sector’s most pressing and future-facing priorities, from sustainable Scotch whisky fermentation and the resilience of malting barley to flavour development, authenticity testing and circular approaches to spirit production. Presenters included Alan Philp, Dr Calum Holmes, Matthew Pauley, Madeline Dysart, Seulbi Lee, Michael Bryan, Ross Sanders, Shanine Smith, Takehiko Hiura and Professor Annie Hill, highlighting the breadth of ICBD’s contribution across both established production challenges and new areas of scientific innovation.

For Heriot-Watt, the conference also provided a timely backdrop to its wider vision for the future of brewing and distilling. The university is actively fundraising for a new Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling, a globally connected hub designed to bring together industry collaboration, talent development and the research needed to help the sector stay resilient, competitive and future-ready. The ambition builds on more than a century of heritage while responding to the environmental, economic and workforce challenges now reshaping brewing and distilling, from carbon and resource pressures to operational resilience and the long-term sustainability of skills and expertise.

As the conference closes, one message resonates throughout the programme. The future of distilled spirits will be shaped not by tradition or innovation alone, but by how effectively the sector brings them together, pairing heritage and craft with the science, experimentation and partnerships needed to stay resilient, competitive and relevant in a changing world.

Find out more about how we're Proofing the future through Heriot-Watt’s vision for the proposed Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling.