WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits
Food & Beverage
A course by
New Zealand School of Food & Wine
Gain a comprehensive understanding of spirits and liqueurs from around the world, including major brands, production techniques, and cocktail applications. This four-day intensive course is ideal for those pursuing hospitality, bartending, or related careers.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
New Zealand School of Food and Wine, Auckland
It will take a total of 1 week
Core skills this course teaches
Taste and Describe Spirits
How to taste and describe spirits using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT)
Understand Spirits Production
Describe the techniques used during the four stages of spirits production: processing the raw material, alcoholic fermentation, distillation, and post-distillation operations
Analyze Production Methods
Explain how production techniques determine the style of a spirit
What You're Signing Up For
The WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits course provides foundational knowledge about principal spirits and liqueurs and key industry trends. Over four intensive theory and tasting sessions, you will learn how major international spirits and liqueurs are produced, their uses in classic and modern cocktails, and how to offer expert recommendations to clients and employers. Designed for aspiring bartenders, hospitality professionals, and enthusiasts, this qualification builds core product and service competencies and includes classroom learning, self-study, and a multiple choice exam.
Course Content
- How to taste and describe spirits using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT)
- Techniques used in the four stages of spirits production: processing raw material, fermentation, distillation, post-distillation operations
- How production techniques affect the style of a spirit
- How aromatized wines are made
- How to make a balanced cocktail and examples in four cocktail families (spirit-forward, short sour, highball, long sour)
- Local production traditions and laws for spirits including fruit spirits, whisky/whiskey, sugar cane spirits, Tequila and Mezcal, vodka, flavored spirits (spiced rum, flavored vodka, gin, aniseed spirits, bitter spirits/amaro, cocktail bitters, liqueurs)
- New trends and innovations in the spirits industry
- Making informed recommendations for customers/clients to meet taste, quality, and price needs
What you need to know first
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Hospitality
Beverage
Spirits
Future employment opportunities might be
Bartender
Cocktail specialist
Restaurant service roles