Cognac, Brandy & Armagnac | WSET & BNIA

Cognac, Brandy & Armagnac — WSET Spirits & BNIA

Learn Cognac, brandy and Armagnac with the Irish Whiskey & Spirits Institute. Classes are live Zoom; tasting samples are posted to you. At Level 2 we go deeper into Irish whiskey and Irish spirits than the standard WSET syllabus.

Within the WSET Award in Spirits

Fruit spirits: Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, Grappa, Pisco and other fruit brandies
Production methods and styles
How brandies are assessed in WSET Level 1 and Level 2
Posted tasting samples for live Zoom classes

Book WSET Level 1 (€250) · Book WSET Level 2 (€550 / £475)

BNIA Certified Armagnac Enthusiast™

Want a dedicated Armagnac course? Our Certified Armagnac Enthusiast™ programme is endorsed by BNIA (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac). Live Zoom tuition covers Gascony’s region and culture, tasting technique, terroirs, grapes, distillation, ageing classifications (Blanche, VS, VSOP, XO, Hors d’Âge & Vintage), and how Armagnac compares with Cognac and other spirits. Seven curated Armagnac samples are posted (Ireland & UK). Assessment: 30-question multiple-choice exam, pass mark 70%, 45 minutes. Course fee €150.

Book Certified Armagnac Enthusiast™ (€150)

Also see: Irish whiskey courses · Spirits courses hub · Team training · All courses

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Cognac and brandy-only course?

No. Cognac and brandy are taught within the full WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Spirits syllabus. For a dedicated Armagnac qualification, see the BNIA Certified Armagnac Enthusiast™ course.