What you'll learn

✓ Production in depth: raw materials, fermentation, still design and cut points, maturation, finishing and blending ✓ Spirits law, GIs and labels in the EU and US ✓ Structured tasting and quality assessment, faults, comparative and blind tasting ✓ Rum, cane spirits, tequila, mezcal and other agave spirits by origin and style ✓ Scotch, Irish, American, Japanese and world whiskies; Cognac, Armagnac and other brandies ✓ The back bar, pricing and pour cost, cocktails and flights as sales tools, and responsible service

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.

Who it's for

Serious enthusiasts and hospitality and trade professionals: bartenders, bar managers, sommeliers, distributors and retail staff. AWS Level 1 in Spirits is recommended but not required. You must be of legal drinking age (18+ or the legal age where you live) to take part in the tastings.

Curriculum

14 Chapters · 48 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to Certified Spirits Specialist™

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      About your educator

    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

Academy of Wine & Spirits logo

Your certificate: Certified Spirits Specialist™

Pass the final exam and you receive your Certified Spirits Specialist™ certificate, signed by Christian Esser, Director of Education, Academy of Wine & Spirits. Add it to your CV and LinkedIn profile and show guests and employers what you know.

Christian Esser, Director of Education, Academy of Wine & Spirits

Meet your educator: Christian Esser

Christian Esser is the founder and Director of Education of the Academy of Wine & Spirits, winner of two LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026 (Caribbean & USA): Best Luxury Beverage Education Provider and Hospitality Training Excellence Award. A Wine, Spirits & Sake Educator with formal training in viticulture and winemaking, he brings 20+ years of experience across 43 countries. He founded The Rum Ambassador, the first international rum certification, with WIRSPA, and led wine programmes at Grand Old House, Ortanique and Cayman Spirits Co. Liquid Lively Fun

Award-winning education

LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026 · Caribbean & USA ★ Best Luxury Beverage Education Provider 2026 ★ Hospitality Training Excellence Award 2026

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have access? Twelve months (365 days) from the day you enroll. Can I start anytime? Yes. The course is 100% online and self-paced: start the moment you enroll and study on any device, whenever it suits you. Study in short lessons, one at a time, and pick up where you left off. What language is it in? The course is taught online in English. What do I need? Any device with internet. To taste along: the spirits on the tasting list (24 in twelve pairs; small samples are fine), tulip-shaped glasses and the AWS tasting grid. How does the exam work? Practice knowledge checks, then a 50-question final exam. Score 70% or more to pass; you have two attempts. Questions? Email [email protected] or call +1 (345) 938 0458. We are happy to help, including group bookings for teams.

Liquid Lively Fun

From production to the back bar. Study at your own pace for twelve months. Questions? [email protected] · +1 (345) 938 0458

$495.00

Enroll now – US$495