WSET Level 2 in SPIRITS Course
If you’re ready to take your spirits and cocktail education beyond the basics, WSET Level 2 in Spirits is for you. In this intermediate-level course, you will unpack the factors that shape a spirit’s character, from raw ingredients and regional style to distillation and maturation through deep investigative learning and evaluative spirits tasting.
WSET Level 2 in SPIRITS Course IN-person
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If you learn best in an interactive, in-person environment with an expert educator, engaging classmates, and guided tasting of classic spirits categories, the WSET Level 2 in Spirits in-person Course is the ideal fit. Build a strong foundation in spirits knowledge within a supportive and fun classroom.
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For more than 20 years, Wine and Drinks Academy has been refining WSET teaching into something both rigorous and enjoyable, where expert instruction, guided tastings, and lively discussion make learning fun. Gain more than a certification – gain lasting knowledge through thoughtful, engaging instruction.
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Your course tuition includes the WSET Level 2 in Spirits Course Pack (Looking Behind the Label textbook, study guide, and Systematic Approach to Tasting Card), which is shipped to you at registration. Also included are your WSET Level 2 in Spirits certification exam, certificate and badge, and guided tasting of over 30 classic spirits.
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WSET Level 2 in Spirits is organized by major spirits categories, allowing for deep investigation of the defining factors that define each spirit, including raw materials, fermentation, distillation method, and maturation choices. As you build knowledge of each category, you’ll also begin to draw comparisons and contrasts across styles for a more complex understanding.
All learning is supported with instructor-guided tasting of key spirits categories as you build your evaluative tasting skills using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting.
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Our WSET Level 2 in Spirits instructors are leaders in the PNW spirits and cocktail industry. As bartenders, distillers, and journalists, they bring their expertise in spirits and their experience as educators to the classroom.
Although everything you need to know for the exam is in your WSET Level 2 textbook, it’s the learning strategies, conceptual connections, and stories that our educators bring to the classroom that guide our students to real understanding.
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The WSET Level 2 in Spirits certification exam is a closed-book, one-hour exam comprised of 50 multiple-choice questions. A score of 55% or higher is required to achieve a Pass, a score of 70% to 84% to achieve a Pass with Merit, and and a score of 85% or higher to achieve a Pass with Distinction.
For best exam results, it is recommended that you allocate at least 11 hours of private study time.
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SEATTLE, WA
Dates: May 17/18, 2026; 9:30am to 5:30pm
Location: El Gaucho, Seattle, WAPORTLAND, OR
Dates: Coming soon!
Location: The Wine & Spirit Archive, Portland, OR
WSET Level 2 in SPIRITS Course ONLINE
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Register early! Registration closes 9 days before the course start date.
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Studying WSET Level 2 in Spirits online offers the flexibility to study at your own pace while still building a deep and comprehensive understanding of spirits and cocktails. Deepen your passion, grow your knowledge, and earn an industry-recognized credential on your own schedule.
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The WSET Level 2 in Spirits Course is a 5-week course organized into 6 learning modules that include:
Introducing spirits
Fruit spirits and whisky
Sugar cane spirits
Vodka, flavored spirits, and aromatized wines
Mixing with spirits
Exam preparation and review
Learning is interactive and self-paced, which means you can login anytime and work through the content on your own schedule. During the 5-week course, your learning is supported by your WSET Tutor who guides you through your course activities, knowledge checks, and tastings. At the conclusion of the 5-week course, you will still have access to course content for one year.
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Your course tuition includes the WSET Level 2 in Spirits Study Pack (Looking Behind the Label course book, study guide, and Systematic Approach to Tasting Card) which is shipped to you at registration. Your registration also includes the WSET Level 2 in Spirits certification exam, certificate and badge.
Spirit samples are not included. At the beginning of your course, your instructor will provide you with a list of recommended spirits to taste alongside your studies.
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In WSET Level 2 in Spirits, you’ll break down how choices in raw materials, distillation, and maturation actually show up in the glass. Through guided tasting, you’ll train your palate to describe aromas and structure with precision, and learn to compare styles with more than just guesswork.
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The closed-book exam, one-hour exam is taken online and is comprised of 50 multiple-choice questions. Exams are offered on the 1st Sunday of every month (or by appointment) and must be ordered at least 2 weeks in advance. A link for exam sign-up is provided at registration.
Students who score 55% or higher achieve a Pass, 70% to 84% a Pass with Merit, and 85% or higher a Pass with Distinction.