Description

Shochu Adviser

Prepare yourself for a career in the restaurant, beverage, or food industry with our Certified Shochu Adviser course. This course provides the fundamental background knowledge on shochu ingredients, history, and production. Students will gain the ability to speak about varieties of shochu. This interactive course features shochu tasting and discussion, so you can develop your knowledge about shochu with first-hand experience.

Course Schedule

Monday, March 30, 2026

• Online Lecture: 9:00am – 4:00pm PT | 12:00pm – 7:00pm ET

Please adjust the schedule to your local time zone.

Exam Schedule & Details

Monday, April 6, 2026

• Online Exam: 10:00am – 11:00am PT |  1:00pm – 2:00pm ET

Please adjust the schedule to your local time zone.

The one-hour exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions based on the textbook and lecture material. A blind tasting exam is not included at the Shochu Adviser level.
Note: A minimum score of 75% is required to pass.

Main Concepts Covered

• • The history of shochu in Japan
  • Shochu ingredients and production methods
  • Shochu terminology and reading shochu labels
  • The principles behind the storage, selection, and service of shochu
  • Overview of shochu tasting and analysis

Study Support

• All students will receive a review guide for course preparation support. We encourage students to contact us in advance of the course if they have questions about their course materials.

Prerequisites

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Important Notice

• Participants must be 21 years of age or older to enroll and take the exam.
• Registration will close when the course reaches capacity or after the enrollment deadline Monday, March 16, 2026. Late registrations may be subject to additional textbook rush-shipping fees.
• Zoom access details will be provided after registration is complete.
• If a student cancels before tasting samples are shipped, a full refund will be issued. Cancellations made after samples have shipped are non-refundable; however, the course fee may be applied to a future class.
• Please register using your legal name as it appears on your government-issued ID. This name will be printed on your certificate.

Atsuko holds numerous certifications across sake, wine, and spirits, including:

• Master Sake Sommelier, Sake Service Institute
• Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute
• Shochu Sommelier (Shochu Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute
• Certified WSET L1 and L3 Award in Sake Educator, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
• Certified WSET L1 Award in Spirits, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
• Certified WSET L2 Award in Wine, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
• International Sake Lecturer, Sake Service Institute International
• International Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute International
• Sake Adviser, Sake School of America
• Shochu Adviser, Sake School of America
• Certified Sake Professional, Sake Education Council
• Beverage Specialist Certificate, Society of Wine Educators

Atsuko Glick is a Japanese native who found herself in California teaching others how to bake bread and brew kombucha. Her love for fermentation led her to the world of alcohol. She enjoys every single step of the fermentation process. Being able to see one thing transform into another is a truly magical thing to Atsuko. Having worked in the travel industry, Atsuko learned to make the impossible possible just like the magic of fermentation.