Two nosing glasses and a water jug with the production steps: raw material, ferment, distil, mature and finish

Production in depth

Raw material, fermentation, still design and cut points, maturation, finishing, blending, reduction and filtration: every choice, and how it shapes the style in your glass.

Christian Esser with a nosing glass and the twelve AWS tasting comparisons

24 spirits, twelve comparisons

Taste in pairs, from Jamaica v Barbados to Cognac v Armagnac, link what you taste to how it was made, and judge quality with BLIC, typicity, faults and blind tasting.

Law and labels, the back bar, profit and responsible service

From the glass to the business

Spirits law and labels, building the back bar, pour cost and cash margin, cocktails as a sales tool, and responsible service.

What you'll learn

✓ Production in depth: raw materials and conversion, fermentation, reflux, still design and cut points, maturation variables, finishing, blending, reduction and filtration ✓ Spirits law, GIs and labels: the EU and US frameworks, age statements, age categories and legal v marketing terms ✓ Structured tasting and quality assessment: the AWS systematic approach at Specialist level, BLIC, typicity, faults, comparative and blind tasting ✓ Vodka, gin and flavoured spirits: raw materials, gin categories and botanicals, genever, aquavit and anise spirits ✓ Rum and cane spirits by origin and style: Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, Spanish-heritage rum, rhum agricole AOC Martinique and cachaça ✓ Tequila, mezcal and other agave spirits: the NOMs, categories and classes, raicilla, bacanora and sotol ✓ Scotch, Irish, American, Japanese, Canadian and world whiskies: laws, categories, cask types, regions and producers ✓ Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, pisco and other brandies; liqueurs, bitters and vermouth ✓ The back bar, pricing and pour cost, cocktails and flights as sales tools, and responsible service

Who it's for

Serious spirits enthusiasts and hospitality and trade professionals (bartenders and bar managers, sommeliers, F&B teams, retail buyers and brand ambassadors) who want real depth, and anyone preparing for AWS Level 3 in Spirits – Certified Spirits Educator™. AWS Level 1 in Spirits – Certified Spirits Enthusiast™ is recommended but not required. No snobbery: just Liquid Lively Fun – One Glass at a Time™. You must be of legal drinking age (18+ or the legal age where you live) to take part in the tastings.

The 24-sample shopping list, AWS Spirits Specialist Tasting Note Card and the Certified Spirits Specialist badge

What's included

11 modules and 33 reading lessons

In-depth lesson notes with Key points and a "Try it" activity in every lesson. About 24 hours in total including your tastings and the exam, at your own pace. 12 months' access.

Printable tasting guides

A 24-sample shopping list with alternatives and budget options, and the AWS Spirits Specialist Tasting Note Card with a page for every comparison.

Final exam and AWS certificate

Eleven practice knowledge checks, then a 50-question final exam (70% to pass, two attempts). Pass it to receive your AWS Level 2 in Spirits – Certified Spirits Specialist™ certificate. Accredited by the UK CPD Certification Service.

Your instructor: Christian Esser

Christian Esser, Director of Education, Academy of Wine & Spirits, is a Wine & Spirits Educator with more than 20 years of teaching across the Caribbean, North and South America. He founded the Academy in the Cayman Islands, launched The Rum Ambassador programme with WIRSPA, holds a viticulture degree from Lincoln University in New Zealand and was Wine Director at the Grand Old House in Grand Cayman. In 2026 the Academy won two LUXlife Hospitality Awards: Best Luxury Beverage Education Provider and the Hospitality Training Excellence Award (Caribbean & USA). His goal is simple: to make wine and spirits clear, practical and fun.

Curriculum

14 Chapters · 47 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to Certified Spirits Specialist™

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Raw materials, conversion and fermentation

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Distillation: still design and cut points

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Maturation: wood, climate and time

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      After the still: finishing, blending, reduction and filtration

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Spirits law, GIs and labels

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      The AWS systematic approach at Specialist level

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Judging quality: BLIC, typicity and faults

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Comparative and blind tasting

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Vodka in depth

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Gin: categories, botanicals and production

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Genever, aquavit, anise and other flavoured spirits

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Rum production and the language of style

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Caribbean rum by origin: Jamaica, Barbados and beyond

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Rhum agricole, cachaça and the wider cane world

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Tequila: the plant, the place and the process

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Tequila categories, labels and producers

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Mezcal and other agave spirits

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Scotch whisky law and categories

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Making Scotch: malt, grain and cask types

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      The regions of Scotch and their producers

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Irish whiskey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Rye and other American whiskeys

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Japanese whisky

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Canadian and world whiskies

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 8 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Cognac in depth

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Armagnac in depth

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Calvados, pisco and the world of brandy

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 9 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Liqueurs: production, categories and classics

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Bitters, vermouth and aromatised wines

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 10 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Serving spirits and building the back bar

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Pricing, profit and cocktails as sales

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Responsible service

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 11 knowledge check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Final exam

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Congratulations and next steps

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take? About 24 hours in total, including your tastings and the final exam. Study at your own pace, on any device; you have 12 months' access. Do I need to buy spirits? The tastings work best with 24 small samples tasted in twelve pairs (two vodkas, two gins, four rums, a tequila and a mezcal, eight whiskies, a Cognac and an Armagnac, a Calvados and a pisco, a herbal liqueur and a sweet vermouth). Miniatures are perfect, and the shopping list gives alternatives and budget options. You can still complete the course without them. Do I need any experience? AWS Level 1 in Spirits – Certified Spirits Enthusiast™ is recommended but not required. If you're new to spirits, start there. Is there an age requirement? Yes. You must be 18 or older, or of legal drinking age where you live, to take part in the tastings. We taste small amounts and spit. Please drink responsibly. Do I get a certificate? Yes. Score 70% or more on the 50-question final exam to receive your certificate. You have two attempts. Can I train my whole team? Yes. Groups of 5 or more save 10%. Contact us at academyofwineandspirits.org or +1 (345) 938 0458. What's next? Continue with AWS Level 3 in Spirits – Certified Spirits Educator™.

Become a Certified Spirits Specialist™

24 hours, 24 spirits in twelve comparisons, every major category in depth and your AWS certificate. Spirits made clear, practical and fun.

$495.00

Enrol now – US$595