The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has partnered with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to offer WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Sake courses as an approved program provider.
The courses expand DISCUS’ existing WSET professional education portfolio, which includes Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in spirits.
“The Distilled Spirits Council’s partnership with WSET has helped advance spirits professionals and inspire cocktail enthusiasts through world-class education and qualifications programs,” said DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger. “We are expanding our WSET offerings to include sake, reflecting growing interest in this traditional Japanese beverage and our commitment to delivering high-quality education that supports professional development across the beverage alcohol industry.”
The courses target beverage alcohol professionals, aspiring industry professionals and sake enthusiasts. Students will study sake production, styles, tasting, quality assessment, storage and service. DISCUS will deliver the courses online, with each course concluding with a virtual examination.
The WSET Level 1 Award in Sake covers sake production, key sake styles, service principles and tasting using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake. The course targets students who are new to sake.
The WSET Level 2 Award in Sake provides additional instruction on ingredients, brewing methods, labeling terminology and production decisions that affect different sake styles. Participants also learn to assess and describe sake quality using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake.
DISCUS has scheduled three upcoming sessions for each course.
- The WSET Level 1 Award in Sake costs $325 and will run from October 19 through November 15, 2026, March 8 through April 4, 2027, and June 28 through July 25, 2027.
- The WSET Level 2 Award in Sake costs $575 and will run from October 12 through November 15, 2026, March 8 through April 11, 2027, and June 14 through July 18, 2027.
WSET provides wine and spirits education and qualifications programs for students entering the beverage alcohol industry and established professionals.
Feature photo by Zaji Kanamajina on Unsplash.
