WSET Level 3 Awards in Spirits

Available from 1 August 2019, the WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits is an advanced-level qualification for professionals and enthusiasts wishing to acquire a detailed understanding of the spirits of the world and develop the tasting skills required to accurately describe and evaluate a spirit.

This qualification is intended to build on knowledge and skills gained from the Level 2 Award in Spirits. You’ll acquire a deep theoretical understanding of the techniques used in spirit production, from the processing of raw materials to post-distillation operations. Through a combination of tasting and the application of theoretical knowledge you will learn to explain confidently why spirits look and taste the way they do and how and why they differ from each other.

What you’ll learn

Unit 1

• A detailed understanding of the techniques used in spirit production:
  • Processing of raw materials
  • Alcoholic fermentation
  • Distillation
  • Post-distillation practices
• Factors affecting the style and quality of spirits, studying eleven core spirit categories in detail:
  • Scotch Whisky
  • Bourbon
  • Rye Whiskey
  • Tennessee Whiskey
  • Cognac
  • Armagnac
  • Caribbean rum
  • Tequila
  • Mezcal
  • Vodka
  • Gin
• An overview of 23 additional spirit categories, focusing on:
  • Principal production methods
  • Key styles
  • Key labelling terms

Unit 2

• How to taste and describe spirits using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits®(SAT)