World of Whiskey Level 4 - Wizard Academy

NOTE: You will need a user account on THIS website prior to signing up. Your old account from the WhiskyMarketing site will not work. It’s easy and free. Just create your account, update your info when you get the confirmation email and you’ll be good to go!

Level Four is going to be a true test of your whisky knowledge followed by a day and a half of business and marketing communications.

This is essentially a two-and-a-half-day class.

You can check into your room as early as Sunday. However, you’ll need to arrive on campus by noon on Monday the latest.

The first tests begin at 12pm on Monday.

– SCHEDULE –

Monday

Monday will be three different service industry tests. They will all be 70% pass/fail determined by instructor / judges. We are still working on the whisky list and the judging criteria. You will know what they are before you arrive on campus.

Test One – this test will take place at the bar in the Wizard’s Tower. You will be working from a list of 36 whiskeys (you will be given the list beforehand). As a bartender at the whisky bar, you will be approached by two judges, a whisky expert and a whisky novice. You will need to successfully guide them through a whisky bar experience.

Test Two – this test will take place at the dining room of the Tower. Your judge will be sitting down to dinner at a restaurant with a small menu. You will know the menu beforehand. Anthony will order from the menu, and you will need to work from a 12 whisky menu to offer pairing suggestions and explanations.

Test Three – this test will take place in the whisky vault. Your judge will choose on the spot from three different possible tours, the Tour of Scotland, Bourbon Run, or World of Whiskey. You will need to have prepared a tour for all three options with whisky you choose beforehand. Be prepared to give the tour based on their selection.

We will finish with dinner and cold rags for everyone’s foreheads.

Tuesday

Tuesday will begin with two tests.

Test Four – a written test comprising questions that were previously on Whisky level one, two, and three. It will be 75% pass/fail.

Test Five – a 12 whisky blind tasting delivered in four trio’s. It will use the categories from Whisky Level One. You will decide primary grain, primary country, or primary style, depending on the category. You will be scored both on your actual tasting notes and your final conclusions. If you conclude wrong, but your tasting notes are all accurate, you may be able to pass even with incorrect conclusions on a few whiskys.

LUNCH

The rest of Tuesday and Wednesday will be entirely focused on marketing, writing, and business communication theory.

Travel Suggestion:

As alumni, don’t forget to use your code at checkout in order to receive the alumni rate, if you want to avail yourself of that.