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, November 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
Tuesday, December 8, 2026
- Online Exam: 11:00am – 12:00pm PT | 2:00pm – 3:00pm 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 Friday, November 13, 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.
Instructor: Sara Guterbock
Sara holds numerous certifications across sake, wine, spirits, and beer, including:
- Japan Sommelier Association Sake Diploma
- DipWSET, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- Certified Wine Educator, Society of Wine Educators
- Certified Wine Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- Certified Sake Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
- Certified Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers
- Advanced Sake Professional, Sake Education Council
- International Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute
- International Sake Lecturer, Sake Service Institute
- Sake Adviser, Sake Service Institute
- Shochu Adviser, Sake School of America
- Cicerone Certified Beer Server
Sara spent a year living in Japan as a high school student and grew up in a family that placed great emphasis on learning and experiencing the Japanese language and culture. Becoming proficient in Sake has brought together Sara’s passion for the beverage industry with her life-long love of Japan, its people, traditions, and cuisine.
Sara devotes a tremendous amount of energy introducing people to the complexities and beauties of Sake and its unmatched ability to pair with food. She works as National Educator & Key Account Manager for Mutual Trading Company, the finest importer of craft sake into the United States!
Since 2013, Sara has inspired thousands of sake students, enthusiasts, salespeople & servers around the country through dynamic lectures and educational seminars with Sake School of America, The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan’s National Tax Agency (NTA), Johnson & Wales University & numerous distributors, restaurants groups, retailers & more!
