Your Wine and Spirits Guides
Our team is united by a common passion: to share the love of wine and spirits with humor, heart, and a hint of rebellion.
We're not just here to educate; we're here to inspire, to challenge, and to entertain. Join us for an experience where learning feels like a party, and every glass is a toast to the joy of discovery.
The Aroma Academy Method Is Trusted By
Bourbon Aroma Masterclass Kit
Train your nose to find everything bourbon has to say.
A fine bourbon layers dozens of aromas built by grain, yeast and years in new charred oak. Most drinkers taste only the edges of that. This kit trains you on the 24 aromas that define America's native spirit, one at a time, until you can pick each one out of a crowded glass.
Who it's for
- Bourbon enthusiasts who want to say more than "I like it"
- Bartenders and retail staff who have to sell the difference between two bottles
- Distillers, blenders and competition judges building a shared vocabulary
What a session actually looks like
Work in a well-ventilated room with no competing smells. Label an aroma strip, bend one end, dip it no more than a centimetre into the first bottle and set it down. Bring the strip to your nose with short, sharp breaths. If the first impression is overpowering, set the strip down and come back to it — the aroma lifts off gradually and settles to a level you can work with. Name it yourself before you read anything. Then open the guide, compare your description with the reference, and write your own words next to it.
A first pass through all 24 takes an evening. The method is built to be repeated over weeks, because recognition is memory, not talent. The last stage is to have someone blind-test you.
What's in the box
- 24 Aroma Standard solutions in individually labelled bottles, each one a single aroma held at a calibrated strength
- A pack of professional aroma strips for clean, repeatable nosing
- A 42-page training guide written for this category and no other
The 24 aromas you will learn
Apple · Brown Spices · Butterscotch · Buttery · Caramel · Charred Oak · Cherry · Cocoa · Corn · Earthy · Floral · Lactone · Leather · Malt · Maple Syrup · Nut · Oak · Orange Peel · Pecan · Raisins · Rye · Tobacco · Vanilla · Wheat
What's in the 42-page guide
- An introduction to aroma recognition and why a precise vocabulary matters
- Background on bourbon and how it is made
- Step-by-step instructions for using the kit
- A reference page for every one of the 24 aromas: what it smells like, where it comes from, and what it tells you
- The Bourbons Aroma Chart, mapping the standards against real styles and brands
- Record sheets for logging your own descriptions and tracking them over time
- An advanced section on aroma profiling: combining strips to build a full profile
- A quiz, with answers, so you can test yourself
Questions people ask
Does it contain alcohol? No. Every aroma standard is propylene glycol based, not alcohol based, so there is no ethanol in the kit at all. Nothing in it is for drinking, and it is a safe gift for someone who doesn't drink.
Do I need any experience? None. The guide starts from zero and the whole method is built around meeting each aroma on its own, which is the easiest way to learn one.
Is this the real Aroma Academy kit? Yes. This is the professional Aroma Academy training system used by distillers, brand ambassadors and competition judges worldwide. School of Wine and Spirits is its exclusive US distributor.
How is it shipped? Free US shipping on every order, with 30-day returns. Questions before you buy: call 502.694.8350 or email info@schoolofwineandspirits.com.
FAQs
What is School of Wine and Spirits?
School of Wine and Spirits is the exclusive US home of Aroma Academy sensory training — professional aroma recognition kits that teach enthusiasts and drinks-industry professionals to identify the aromas in fine spirits and wine.
What types of products does School of Wine and Spirits offer?
We offer aroma recognition training kits for bourbon, Scotch and Irish whiskey, wine, gin, rum, and tequila/mezcal, plus specialist kits for wine faults and distillers' congeners — and a growing library of books on the world's great spirits and wines.
Who can benefit from School of Wine and Spirits’s products and services?
Both professionals in the drinks industry and enthusiasts can benefit from our offerings.
What are sensory training kits?
Sensory training kits are self-learning tools designed to develop and enhance sensory skills related to aromas and flavors.
How long does it take to train my nose?
Most people reliably identify 8–10 aromas blind within their first few sessions. The training guide builds the full aroma vocabulary over a few weeks of short, enjoyable sessions — and tasting with friends counts as practice.
Do you work with drinks-industry professionals and teams?
Yes. Our kits are used by distilleries, wineries, retailers, and hospitality teams to train staff. For team orders or trade pricing, contact us — we're happy to help.
Are School of Wine and Spirits’s products suitable for individual use?
Yes, the self-learn sensory training kits are designed for individual use by enthusiasts — at your own pace, on your own bar.
Does School of Wine and Spirits offer global services?
Yes, we partner with the Aroma Academy, the Global Leader in Developing Aroma Recognition Training Skills. We are the Exclusive, Approved distributor of Aroma Academy products and services in the United States and North America. We serve the Global Drinks Industry with our partners across the Globe.
