Whiskey University Classes

Whiskey University is a prep, undergraduate and graduate school that teaches a series of "Tasting Classes" on the topics of Bourbon and Whiskey. There are over 120 total classes that are either given publicly at Restaurants, Country Clubs, Liquor Stores, Bars, Distilleries, Casinos, Lodges, Civic Clubs and Assisted Living Facilities throughout the country.

Classes may also be taken via Zoom privately in groups or individually.

In person classes can be booked for Events or Parties anywhere in throughout the Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama areas as well as selected markets around the country.

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and or Earn your Bourbon Certificate or Tennessee Whiskey Certificate, click the Button below:

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There are 4 different Types of Tasting Classes with over 100 classes

1.) 12 “Basic” Tasting Classes

2.) 34 “Bourbon Distillery” Tasting Classes

3.) 50 “Other Whiskey” Tasting Classes

4.) 23 “Types of Bourbon” Tasting Classes

(SEE BELOW FOR INFO ON HOW TO TAKE CLASSES)

12 “Basic Tasting Classes”

There are a total of “12 Basic Classes” while six of them we refer to as foundation classes including our most popular class “Bourbon 201.” These classes serve as the General University Requirements (G.U.R.s) and sit at the beginning of all our Degree programs. Bourbon 201 and the other 5 Foundation Classes are taught every two months on Zoom on Tuesday early evenings in the Eastern half of the U. S. and Canada and on Wednesday late nights in the Western half of the U. S. and Canada. Those six foundation classes are: 1.) ”Whiskey 101” {Course #101}; 2.) ”Bourbon 201” {Course #101}; 3.) Tennessee Whiskey 202; 4.) The Bourbon Capital Region {Course #253}; 5.) The Bluegrass Region {Course #254}; & 6.) The Whiskey Row Region {Course #255}

The other six Classes are taught each semester on Zoom as well on two separate days in both the Eastern and Western half of the U. S. and Canada. Those include: 1.) Rye Whiskey 203 {Course #203}; 2.) Canadian Whisky 204 {Course #204}; 3.) International Whiskys {Course #220}; 4.) "Tenn-tucky" {the 5 Whiskey Making Regions in the Mid-South States} (Course #251); 5.) “The Big Three” {Course #252}; and 6.) Milestones in Bourbon History {Course #260}. .

In addition to the 12 Basic Classes many of our Intermediate classes including one class for each of the 13 Major Bourbon Distilleries are taught on two separate days in both the Eastern and Western half of the U. S. and Canada. Each class on Zoom requires a minimum of 6 students and a maximum of 40 students per class. On Zoom you will be sent a list of samples that we teach about. Class becomes more of an experience and is more enjoyable if you can pick up at least half the samples on the list.

These 12 Basic Tasting Classes are also held in person on Weeknights each month at Venues such as Restaurant, Bars, Country Clubs, Distilleries, Casinos, Civic Clubs and Liquor Stores throughout the U. S. and Canada.

34 “Bourbon Distillery” Tasting Classes

Below you will find the wide range of Intermediate Tasting Classes that are offered by Whiskey University in four Categories.

There are 34 different "Bourbon Distillery Tastings Classes" that focus on:

1.) The 12 Major Bourbon Distilleries: These classes are centered around the world's Largest Bourbon producers with an individual tasting classes solely dedicated to each company. It will be highlighting 12 of their brands while sampling 9 small sample of the 12 brands discussed. You will also learn about four individuals that made that company what it is today. {Note: a Major Distillery is defined as one producing 1.8 million Proof Gallons per year}.

2.) The Medium and Commercial Craft Distilleries: These 8 "Medium & Craft Distillers" Tasting Classes {typically feature 5 to 8 distilleries per class} including the “Bourbon Capital Region” Tasting Class; the “Bluegrass Region” Tasting Class; the "Whiskey Row Region" Tasting Class. {Note: a Medium Distillery is defined as one producing 500,000 Proof Gallons per year}. {Note: a Commercial Craft Distillery is defined as one producing 100,000 Proof Gallons per year}.

There are also three classes that highlight Medium Independent Distilleries in other geographic areas like Eastern U.S. States (those states along the East Coast) and Western U.S. States (those states west of the Mississippi River) and Midwest U.S. States (those states around or close to the Great Lakes).

3.) In addition to the intermediate level Tasting Classes tied to Bourbon Distilleries there are 13 Advanced Classes that are also specifically tied to major Bourbon Distilleries and their hard to find and allocated brands (that are typically pricey);

Three Advanced Classes are tied to the Jim Beam Distillery; three related to the Heaven Hill Distillery and three related to the Buffalo Trace Distillery; there is also one related to the Brown-Forman Distilleries; one related to the Wild Turkey Distillery, one with the Four Roses, Ten Single Barrel Recipes and one tied to the Tennessee Whiskey Distillery of Jack Daniel’s.

50 “Other Whiskey” Tasting Classes

In the "Other Whiskey Tastings" you will find 30 classes that include:

12 Tennessee Whiskey Classes

There are Nine different Tasting classes on Tennessee Whiskey in addition to the most basic Tasting Class called “Tennessee Whiskey 202.”

The eight other intermediate classes are; the Jack Daniel's Basic Tasting Class; the Jack Daniel’s Advanced Tasting Class (focusing on Tennessee Tasters, the Master Distiller Series, and J. D. Unicorns); the George Dickel Brands Tasting Class; a Nelson’s GreenBrier & Prichard's Brands Tasting Class (combined); there are two Craft classes including the Middle Tennessee Craft Distilleries Tasting Class; the East Tennessee Craft Distilleries Tasting Class and a Tennessee Whiskey Trail class taking you West to East in Tennessee. Finally there is a Tennessee Whiskey Founders focusing on 12 people that had a significant impact on the State’s Signature Industry.

12 Rye Whiskey Classes

There are Nine different Tasting classes on Rye Whiskey including the most basic Tasting Class called “Rye Whiskey 203.”

There are seven other intermediate rye classes like; a Maryland Region Rye Whiskeys Class; Rye Whiskey, a Monongahela Rye Whiskeys Class; Rye Whiskey, a Bourbon Capital Region Rye Whiskeys Class; a Bluegrass Region Rye Whiskeys Class; a Whiskey Row Region Rye Whiskeys Class; an M.G.P. {Midwest Grain Products} Rye Whiskey Class and an Other States Rye Whiskey Class. Finally there is a Blended Whiskey Class which explains the difference (between Rye Blended Whiskeys, American Blended Whiskeys, Straight Blended Whiskeys and Light Blended Whiskeys).

9 Canadian Whisky Classes

There are Six different Tasting classes built around Canadian Whisky and its illustrious history in addition to the most basic Tasting Class called “Canadian Whisky 204.”

The other six intermediate Canadian Whisky classes include the Crown Royal Tasting Class; the Canadian Club & Black Velvet Tasting Class; the J. P. Wiser & Hiram Walker Tasting Class; the Sazerac Brand Canadian Whisky Tasting Class; the Canadian Whiskys with Bourbon Cousins Tasting Class; and the Other Canadian Whisky Tasting Class.

13 State or Regional Whiskey Classes

There is basic Virginia Whiskeys Tasting Class; there is a basic Colorado Whiskeys Tasting Class; there is a basic Tennessee Whiskey Tasting Class; a basic New England Whiskeys Tasting Class; a basic Texas Whiskeys Class and a basic California Whiskeys Class.

9 World Whisky Classes

There are Six different Tasting classes based on Internationally recognized Whisky Categories.

There is basic International Whisky Class; a Scotch Whisky Tasting Class; there is a basic Irish Whiskey Tasting Class; there is a basic Japanese Whisky Tasting class and a basic Indian Whisky Tasting Class.

4 Other Whiskey Classes

Finally there are four other Basic Whiskey Classes that include a "Blended Whiskey Tasting Class" (this includes a Flight of American Blended Whiskey, a Flight of Straight Blended Whiskey and a Flight of Light Blended Whiskey);

There is a Dominant Grain Mash Bill Whiskey Tasting Class, and a "Flavored Whiskey Tasting Class."

23 “Types of Whiskey” Tasting Classes

The "Types of Bourbon Tastings" category has 23 different classes that focuses on three different areas including;

The two "Most Basic" classes simply called, "Whiskey 101" and "Bourbon 201."  

Then there are Five Tasting Classes that discuss the specific areas in the Bourbon industry including:

Regional Whiskey Classes

The "Tenn-tucky” {the 5 Whiskey making Regions of the Mid-South States}, The "Big 3" Distillers (Jim Beam, Heaven Hill and Buffalo Trace), and three classes that individually go into detail about the three Bourbon making Regions in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; the "Bourbon Capital Region" (around Bardstown, KY), the "Bluegrass Region" (around Lexington, KY) and the newly re-instituted "Whiskey Row Region" (around Louisville, KY).

The "Three Whiskey Regions" of North America, three classes that individually go into detail about the three different Regions in North America that specialize in a different style of Whiskey; the "Tennessee Whiskey Region" (around Lynchburg/Tullahoma, TN), the "Canadian Whisky Region" (around Central Canada, ON, MB, AB) and the newly re-instituted "Maryland Rye Region" (around Baltimore/Frederick, MD) as well as (Pittsburgh, PA).

“Advanced Whiskey Types” Classes

There are also five Tasting Classes that highlights some Distinct bourbon sub sets like;  "Wheated" bourbons, "Bottled-in-Bond" whiskeys, "Barrel Proof" whiskeys; “High Rye” bourbons; and “Secondary Finish” Bourbons. There are also six tastings classes built around the "Whiskey Founders" (one for Each Region) and once class about Founders from outside Kentucky. These are basically classes about the people whose pictures and/or names are on the bottles.

“Top Rated” Classes

Three of our most talked about class are called our “Top Rated Bourbon” classes. There is one class about the "Extreme Bourbons" (the Top and Bottom of many categories); a “Whiskeys of the-Year” Tasting Class and one Capstone class that only includes the World's Top Rated Bourbons and Most Expensive Bourbons called the “Top Shelf Tasting Class."