Poor Armagnac knowledge inspires educational academies

The Bureau National Interprofessional de l’Armagnac (BNIA) is to run a series of educational academies after noticing a “great lack” of knowledge about the spirits category in the UK.

The Armagnac Academies will be run as one-day intensive training workshops to educate consumers, bartenders and industry professionals about the AOC brandy.

Led by spirits expert Edward Bates, the academies will consist of a series of lectures, tastings and a written exam, with successful candidates receiving an official BNIA qualification.

Bates said: “As I started in the drinks trade in 1982, I had already studied with the WSET to level three before I specialised in spirits. Having taken – and passed with distinction – my level two, I was rather frustrated that there was no way to progress my spirits education.

“Now that I’m working as a freelance Spirits Educator, I was sure that the frustration I felt about the lack of further education, was shared by colleagues in the industry. As a Mousquetaire d’Armagnac, I thought that the knowledge, or distinct lack of knowledge, within the trade is lamentable and needs remedying as soon as possible. This is why I decided to discuss, with the BNIA, the setting up of the Armagnac Academy.”

The first Armagnac Academy will take place on 14 October at Vinopolis in London, with places – priced at £100 each – limited to just 30.

For further details and to book a place, contact Edward Bates at edwardnbates@gmail.com.