Develop a comprehensive foundation in spirits and cocktail creation through sensory exploration and practical techniques. This combined WSET certification course and hands-on cocktail workshop introduces you to the major spirit categories, their production methods, and distinctive flavor profiles through systematic sight, smell, and taste evaluation. You will master three essential cocktail techniques by crafting classic drinks, including an expertly prepared Old Fashioned, a perfectly stirred Manhattan, and a properly shaken Margarita, while learning the historical context and proper methodology for each preparation method.
Who Should Attend:
This qualification is designed for hospitality professionals, spirits industry workers, and enthusiastic consumers seeking to build foundational product knowledge and practical service skills. It provides essential preparation for careers in bars, restaurants, wine shops, and spirits-related businesses while enriching personal understanding and appreciation of these beverages.
Course Outline:
The curriculum covers the main categories of spirits with a detailed exploration of the four key production steps that define spirit creation. Students will learn the raw materials, production techniques, and distinctive flavor characteristics of brandy, vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey. The course examines different types of production equipment, including pot stills and column stills, explaining how each influences the final spirit's style and qualities. You will master important labeling terminology and understand how various production methods and materials create distinctive characteristics in different spirit types.
The course also addresses techniques for adding flavors to spirits, covers principal types of flavored spirits, and explains correct storage procedures for maintaining spirit quality. Students learn about key cocktail ingredients, common service equipment and glassware, and the four essential factors required to create balanced, flavorful cocktails. The course includes extensive practice with the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), allowing you to develop strong tasting skills and become familiar with major spirit styles and tasting descriptors featured in the syllabus.
Exam Overview:
- 30 multiple-choice questions assessing core knowledge
- 70% or higher score is required to pass and achieve certification
