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WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
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WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits

Do you want to know all the categories of spirits and liqueurs? Their origin and method of production? How to present them and highlight them in a linear? How do you tell your customers about it?

Delivered by WiSP CAMPUS, the WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits qualification is designed for professionals and amateurs wishing to perfect their knowledge through the necessary theoretical background and proven spirits tasting method. The WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits is the only internationally-recognised certification that leads you to various career paths in the wine and spirits sector. Successful WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits certification course provides a comprehensive level of focused product knowledge high-valued for bar service, retail and wholesale careers. After completing this course, you will be able to describe the characteristics of the main spirits and flavoured wines and their production methods. Successful candidates will be able to make informed recommendations to customers, serve them professionally and expertly, and guide their choice according to their tastes and budget. WiSP delivers the WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits certification course, in English or French, at its Bordeaux or Paris campuses.

Accessibility of training to people with disabilities. Contact our disability advisor on 05 57 71 75 61 or by email contact@wisp-campus.com in order to study together the necessary arrangements.

HOW WILL MY COURSE BE CONDUCTED ?

Here are the different stages of the WSET® level 2 training in spirits from your registration to the reception of your results.

I validate my registration with the support of the WiSP team.

Seven days after my registration validation, I receive the textbooks necessary for my pre-course preparation and access codes to the WiSP e-learning platform (FR version only). Self-study time recommended: 15 hours.

Fifteen days before the course start date, an e-mail will provide me with all the necessary information and required study materials for Day 1.

On Day 1, I join fellow learners in my group training session. The in-class mode alternates between theory, consolidation and tasting practice.

The examination occurs on the last day and last hour of training. The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions (60 minutes).

Six weeks after the exam, I will receive my results by e-mail. If I successfully pass my exam, I will receive my WSET® certificate and lapel pin by post.

Who can benefit from the WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits?

WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits holders looking to build on their acquired knowledge.

Sommeliers

Those involved in wine tourism.

Entrepreneurs, wine merchants and professionals of the international spirits trade who wish to obtain highly-valued skills and a recognised qualification.

Spirits enthusiasts who wish to know everything there is to know.

Individuals in professional transition and pursuing a spirits career skills and looking for a recognised qualification.

WSET® Level 1 Award in Spirits holders looking to build on their acquired knowledge.

How to taste and assess spirits.

An overview of the beverage alcohol industry.

How to display spirits on the shelf.

How to serve spirits and liqueurs in a bar or cocktail bar professionally and expertly.

The flavouring and colouring techniques for spirits and liqueurs.

The various world's spirit types: fruit spirits, whiskey, rum and cachaça, tequila and mezcal, and vodka.

How to describe spirits using the WSET® Systematic Approach to Tasting® (SAT).

WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits: Course Syllabus

WSET issue 2, 2022

  • Describe the key stages of spirits production.
  • Describe the raw materials used and what they provide for the distiller.
  • Outline the process involved in alcoholic fermentation.
  • Outline the process involved in alcoholic fermentation.
  • Describe the parts of a pot still, a typical double pot still distillation and the styles of spirit produced.
  • Describe the parts of a column still, a typical continuous column still distillation and the styles of spirit produced.
  • Describe the principal post-distillation operations.

  • Identify the raw materials used to produce the principal types of spirits.
  • Identify the legal controls applicable to the production of the principal types of spirits.
  • Identify the production processes used for the principal types of spirits.
  • Know the meaning of the important labelling terms used with the principal types of spirits.
  • Describe the key characteristics of the principal types of spirits.

  • Identify the principal types of flavoured spirits and describe their key characteristics.
  • Describe the production processes used to make the principal types of aromatised spirits and liqueurs.
  • Know the meaning of the most important gin labelling terms.

  • Know the equipment and glassware used for serving spirits, and explain their purpose.
  • Name the major ingredients used in the preparation of cocktails
  • Know how to make a balanced cocktail.
  • Name the principal cocktail families and give some examples for each family.

Your Educators

Equipment provided

Upon registration to the WSET® Level 2 Award in Spirits, you will receive the essential study materials to optimise your learning experience.

Next sessions

WSET Level 2 Award in spirits / FRENCH

03

June 2024

+ details
  • Language

    French
  • Session Type

    Physical
  • City

    Paris
  • Period

    03 Jun 2024 at 09H 00
    04 Jun 2024 at 17H 30

WSET Level 2 Award in spirits / FRENCH

10

June 2024

+ details
  • Language

    French
  • Session Type

    Physical
  • City

    Bordeaux
  • Period

    10 Jun 2024 at 09H 00
    11 Jun 2024 at 17H 30

FAQ WSET Level 2 in Spirits Course
All the answers to your questions

To enroll in the WSET Level 2 Spirits course, it’s preferable to have completed Level 1. If you already have a strong professional background, you can directly access Level 2. Please contact the WiSP team for more information.

The WSET Level 2 Spirits course is designed for enthusiasts or individuals in career transitions looking to acquire solid theoretical knowledge of spirits and master the systematic WSET approach to tasting.

It is also suitable for professionals working in the fields of hospitality, hotels, wine tourism, sommeliers, and those involved in the production and distribution of spirits.

Our courses are not focused on specific careers but rather on in-depth knowledge of spirit products and the development of specific skills. This can enhance your career opportunities in areas such as sommelier roles, cellar management, wine tourism, international spirits sales, bartending, or expertise in mixology and cocktails.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has over 50 years of experience in designing and delivering training programs and certifications in the wine and spirits industry. WSET is recognized as the global leader in this field, and the WSET Level 2 in Spirits is a globally recognized certification.

This certified course primarily focuses on tasting the world’s great spirits. The WSET Level 2 in Spirits program covers key production methods, raw materials, major categories of spirits and liqueurs, as well as spirits service practices and their use in cocktails.

The course spans 2 days, whether in Paris at the Maison du Whisky premises or on our Bordeaux campus. In addition to the 2 days of in-person training, plan for 10 hours of personal study to ensure success in the exam.

Online, the WSET Level 2 in Spirits course is spread over five weeks and includes six modules. We recommend dedicating six hours per week to cover online activities and reading the provided books. You will have unlimited access to the online learning platform at any time, which offers various e-learning modules, including text, video, and interactive activities. Our WiSP online learning platform also offers engaging content to enhance your learning experience. We also provide a tablet and smartphone application for flexibility.

We deliberately limit our in-person groups to 20 learners to maintain a friendly environment and quality interactions.

All our courses can be funded depending on your status at the time of application. WSET courses are recognized by the industry and eligible for funding through the Personal Training Account (CPF) or Pôle Emploi (AIF). Please consult our dedicated page for more details on available financing options

The program includes in-depth study of the main categories of whisky, tequila, mezcal, vodka, as well as

You will have the opportunity to taste more than 25 different spirits during the course.

You will be guided by Gaspard Dutheil, https://wisp-campus.com/formateur/gaspard-dutheil/?lang=en an expert in spirits from Maison du Whisky,

or by Hugo Plault, https://wisp-campus.com/formateur/hugo-plault/?lang=en, our Bordeaux-based spirits specialist with extensive knowledge.

Once enrolled, you will receive an educational package by mail, including the book “Spirits: Beyond the Label,” the student workbook with diagrams, maps, and illustrations, as well as the “Systematic Approach to Tasting WSET” tasting sheet. It is important to read the book “Spirits: Beyond the Label” and become familiar with the topics covered before the first day of training.

The examination consists of a 50-question multiple-choice questionnaire (MCQ). To pass, you must answer correctly to at least 55% of the questions within a maximum of 1 hour.

The examination takes place during the last hour of the course, and you will receive your results by email 6 weeks after the course.

The pass rate for the WSET Level 2 in Spirits examination at WiSP is exceptional, with 100% of learners passing in 2022/2023.

All our courses offer retake sessions in case of failure, and there is no limit to the number of attempts. If you wish to know the dates of the upcoming retake sessions, please leave us a message

At WiSP, we take pride in receiving a 100% recommendation rating. You will receive individual support throughout your journey and beyond. Our pedagogical approach is innovative and inclusive, and our trainers are certified experts in spirits. Choose excellence with WiSP for your WSET Level 2 in Spirits course.

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