WSET refreshes spirits qualification to meet global industry demand

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has launched a revised version of its most advanced spirits qualification - the Level 3 Award in Spirits - as it responds to rising global demand for impartial, high-level spirits education.

The updated qualification is now available through WSET’s international network of course providers, with both in-person and online study options, including at WSET School London.

Updated for today’s professionals

The refresh builds on WSET’s commitment to rigorous, brand-neutral education and comes as the organisation surpasses 100,000 global students who have taken a WSET Spirits course since the category’s launch in 2003.

Aimed at experienced professionals such as brand ambassadors, bar managers, spirits educators, distillers and retail buyers, the revised Level 3 programme offers greater depth on production processes, a more structured approach to tasting, and clearer assessment preparation.

Rob McCaughey, Head of Business Development - Spirits at WSET, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how our qualifications can truly change people’s lives and careers. We really are the connective tissue of the industry, working with everybody, yet for nobody. That impartiality, alongside our globally respected Systematic Approach to Tasting, is fundamental to our success.”

The course includes refinements to WSET’s Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), now using simplified language and a clearer structure to evaluate spirits quality. While consistency remains key, educators are encouraged to incorporate regionally relevant descriptors.

Industry-backed and globally relevant

Spirits professionals from around the world have welcomed the updated qualification.

Kyra Elton, Brand Ambassador at Heaven Hill, UK, said: “It almost feels a bit like cheating, having so much knowledge about how spirits are made. In my advocacy role, it’s like having a superpower – being able to answer difficult questions on spirits production with confidence. On top of the theory, when I started working as a distiller, the practicality of Level 3 tasting skills allowed me to trust my palate and communicate tasting in a technical way.”

Gavin Shaw, Head Distiller at Hillmartin Distillery, Australia, praised the format: “The WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits nailed it with a format that includes an extremely detailed study textbook, online support and five days in person. I’m now buying spirits that I would never have considered in the past. I regularly recommend the course to others in the distilling industry.”

Sky Huo, Brand Ambassador at Nikka Whisky, Hong Kong, added: “WSET Level 3 Awards in Spirits offers industry professionals and connoisseurs a global perspective and structural depth on both theory and tasting. It provides a shared international spirits language for everyone to communicate on a non-biased platform regarding spirits style and quality.”

Graduate James Eastmond, recipient of the 2025 WSET Develop Prize presented with The Drinks Trust, said the course had changed the way he approached spirits both professionally and personally: “I found the Level 3 Spirits course captivating, especially learning how production stages like distillation style, fermentation time and base product processing affect the final result.”

Course details

The Level 3 Award in Spirits is intended for learners with prior knowledge, typically those who have completed the Level 2 Award in Spirits. It involves at least 84 hours of study, including 30 hours of guided tuition, 51.5 hours of self-study and a two-and-a-half-hour examination.

The course covers eleven core spirit categories in detail, including Scotch whisky, bourbon, rum, Cognac and tequila, as well as an overview of 23 additional categories.

For more information or to find a local course provider, visit wsetglobal.com.