The World Masterclass

It sounds good to me, but there's not a lot of info about the course on the site. I emailed them asking for some more information about the course this morning, and got this (excerpted from a 'global whisky magazine') back from them:

The world of whisky education is taking a huge step forward with the international launch of The World Masterclass, an on-line/DVD course created by global hospitality training firm Lobster Ink and author Dave Broom.

Year 1 of the whisky course consists of a series of approximately 50 lessons, 150 video clips of distillers and distilleries and over 100 tasting clips which take students through the history of whisky, production techniques and methods of tasting. Subtitling into a range of languages makes this the first truly global whisky training course.

Each of the lessons includes a ‘classroom’ session, with Dave Broom explaining in depth the principles behind each aspect of whisky production, which is then followed by a lesson featuring distillers talking of their own specific techniques. This means that students can learn about malting from Bowmore’s Eddie MacAffer, miling from Lagavulin’s Georgie Crawford, mashing from Cardhu’s Andy Cant, fermentation from Ardmore Alistair Longwell, distillation from Ardbeg’s Mickey Heads, maturation from Glenmorangie’s Andy MacDonald and finishing from Bruichladdich’s Jim McEwan... and many more.

Students then take a multiple choice test on each lesson which then ‘unlocks’ the next level. The back-end assessment system used has been developed by Lobster Ink and is used by the firm in its existing global training business.

“It has always been hard for whisky lovers to get proper education on the drink which they love,” says Dave Broom. “I believe that this approach is a hugely exciting way in which to build a global, educated, whisky commmunity.” Members of the World Masterclass club will receive special whisky offers, events and access to one-off filmed specials.

The filming for Year 1 took place in studio (for the 'classroom material') and over an intense three week period in Scotland where the team filmed at over 40 distilleries. “It’s all very well having the theory laid out,” says Dave Broom, “but the only way in which you can understand whisky is by seeing the places in which it is made: the landscape, the weather - and it was pretty wild when we were there! - and most importantly the phenomenal people who make the spirit.”

“We have constructed the course in such a way as to take students through the ‘decision points’ which each distiller faces and how that decision impacts on the flavour of the whisky they create,” Broom adds. “Each of these flavours is also shown: flowers, fruits, seashore aromas, even a hamster to show maltiness! Students can then understand that the aromas in whisky are real and related to everyday aromas which are around them.”

The same principle is extended to the 100, 3 -5 minute tasting clips of major whisky brands with each having its own ‘flavour board’ and positioning in one of four flavour camps.

With Year 1 complete, the team is working on Year 2 which will launch in spring 2012, featuring in-depth focuses on specific distilleries as well as Irish whisky and Scotch blends. Frther whisky categories are then planned as well as extending TheWorldMasterclass into all other spirits categories. “We have so many great ideas for this platform,” says Broom. “The possibilities with its application are endless.”