Shared production science
Sugar or starch, fermentation, distillation, maturation, proofing, blending, finishing, sweetening, and flavoring.
Level 1
Build a dependable foundation for understanding how spirits are made, classified, and tasted.

Course promise
Students leave with clear category language and a tasting method they can use again.
Level 1 is beginner-friendly, but it is also useful for enthusiasts and hospitality professionals who want a cleaner framework and better language for spirits.
What students learn
Production, categories, and tasting are taught as one connected system.
Sugar or starch, fermentation, distillation, maturation, proofing, blending, finishing, sweetening, and flavoring.
Whiskey as a grain-based class and bourbon as a specific American whiskey shaped by corn and charred new oak.
Fruit-first spirits versus cane-first spirits—and why raw material and fermentation style matter.
Neutrality versus botanical design, including why juniper matters and why vodka is classified differently.
Recognition-level understanding of agave-based spirits and sweetened or flavored spirit products.
Look, smell, sip, evaluate structure, describe finish, use water thoughtfully, and compare categories.
Class flow
Goals, definitions, and why standards matter.
Sugar, fermentation, distillation, oak, and proof.
Whiskey, bourbon, brandy, rum, gin, vodka, and agave.
Glassware, smelling, tasting, comparison, and water.
Reinforce production choices, standards, and sensory cues.
Ask about the next public session, a private group, or training for a hospitality team.
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