Council of Whiskey Masters names new members

American education body the Council of Whiskey Masters has named its five masters of Scotch following the inaugural global Master of Scotch exam.

The five masters of Scotch are: Daniel Crowell, Glenmorangie US brand ambassador; Jerad Justesen, analyst and advanced student of single malt Scotch; Guy Sporbert, Scotch ambassador at Westin Kierland Resort’s Scotch Library in Scottsdale, Arizona; John Wabeck, beverage director for the Richard Deshantz Restaurant Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Samuel Wright, an engineer who has studied the production, history and profiles of Scotch for years.

Each individual is now part of the Council of Whiskey Masters.

In September, five candidates and judges underwent three days of masterclasses, tastings and exams at Rothes Glen Castle in Speyside, Scotland.

The exams included a blind-tasting of single malt Scotch whiskies, an oral theory exam, and a six-question essay test.

Each candidate was examined on all parts of the Scotch whisky category, spanning history, production, regions, trade, tasting, presentation, and more.

The majority of judges have been named either keepers of masters of the Quaich.

This year’s judges were: Tobias Gorn, Charles MacLean, Arthur Nägele, Hans Offringa, Bernhard Schäfer, and Rebecca Offringa, who was made an advisory board member.

The Council of Whiskey Masters consists of 36 full members.

For further examples of spirits education courses, take a look at this compilation of eight online courses.