Reviewed by Mathew Benoit, COO of Learn Brands · October 2026
Gin: Botanicals & Backbone is a free online gin certification course: finish the six modules and you earn a Learn Brands certificate of completion. It is built for bartenders, retail staff, sales representatives, and anyone who wants to talk about gin with real authority. The course covers gin's full story: from its origins as a Dutch medicinal spirit through the London Gin Craze, the column still revolution, and the British Empire's role in spreading the gin and tonic around the world. From there it moves into production, breaking down how neutral base spirits, botanical selection, and distillation methods (pot still, vapor infusion, and vacuum distillation) shape everything in the glass. Learners will gain a working command of gin's major styles and legal classifications, including London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, genever, New Western, and Navy Strength. The course closes with professional tasting technique, essential cocktail builds, and a module on reading labels and navigating today's gin market.
Who This Course Is For
This course is built for retail staff, bartenders, distributor reps, and sales professionals who need more than a surface-level understanding of gin. You will learn why London Dry is a production standard and not a geographic designation, what separates vapor infusion from pot distillation, and how botanical selection drives the flavor differences between a classic London Dry and a contemporary craft gin. You will also walk away with cocktail application knowledge and practical selling strategies you can use the same day.
Build Real Gin Knowledge
By the end of Gin: Botanicals & Backbone, your team will have the practical gin education they need to guide customers to the right bottle, speak accurately about botanicals and production, recommend the right serve for each style, and approach every gin conversation with confidence.
Gin course FAQ
Is this course free?
Yes. Gin: Botanicals & Backbone is part of the free Core Education Suite, free to take and free to assign to your team. No cost, no subscription, no card required.
Which gin styles does it cover?
London Dry, Plymouth, Old Tom, genever, New Western, and Navy Strength, including why London Dry is a production standard rather than a geographic designation.
Do I need prior spirits knowledge?
No. Spirits 101 gives useful context, but this course starts from the beginning of gin's story.
Do I get a gin certificate?
Yes. Complete all six modules and you earn a Gin: Botanicals & Backbone certificate of completion from Learn Brands, free. It shows product knowledge to an employer or a buyer.
Is this the same as a bartending license or server permit?
No. A state-required alcohol server permit is a separate credential. Programs like TIPS, RBS, BASSET and state responsible vendor training sit in the compliance training catalog.
Can I enroll my whole team?
Yes. Create a free company account, assign the course, and track who has started and finished from the Learn Brands dashboard.
Get certified
Browse the on-demand certifications, from state-approved seller-server training to category credentials like AFNA and Hemp Bev Certified. Buying for a team? Register your business free and assign seats across your whole staff.
Gin anchors the Martini, Negroni, Gin and Tonic, Tom Collins and French 75. Get the specs in our guide to the 25 classic cocktails every bartender should know.
Related courses
Pair this with Vodka for the neutral-base contrast and Spirits 101 for the wider map. The written companion is our guide to selling gin. To mix it, Mixology 101 teaches the Martini, Negroni, Tom Collins, and French 75. Browse the free Core Education Suite.
About the reviewer
Mathew Benoit is COO of Learn Brands. He has a family liquor store background, spent more than eight years as Marketing Director at the distributor Vinocopia, and has represented brands nationally. Read Mathew's full bio.
