My Personal Views on Whisky Knowledge and Certifications (Part 2)

Regarding whisky knowledge and certifications, I'd like to share my personal thoughts. There's the Whisky Connoisseur Certification Exam administered by the Scottish Whisky Culture Research Institute (among others, there's also now a Whisky Qualification Exam that many people have taken). This exam tests knowledge about the geography, history of whisky-producing regions like Scotland, and distilleries and whisky production. I obtained the Whisky Professional certification in 2007, when the exam was first introduced. The preceding Whisky Expert exam is a written test only, while the Professional level also includes a tasting examination. Although there are costs involved for exams and certifications, I believe this is quite ethical compared to qualifications that mass-produce passers and continue charging renewal fees indefinitely. The textbook for the Connoisseur Certification Exam has been revised and expanded into two volumes now. However, there are likely both supporters and critics of this certification exam. As a qualified individual myself, I often receive various questions, so here I'll share my perspective. As mentioned earlier, I believe that having a certain level of knowledge allows for deeper enjoyment of whisky. But should general enthusiasts also pursue certifications? This depends on the individual's situation. For those who already have substantial knowledge, are deeply immersed in the whisky world, and are satisfied with their whisky lifestyle, obtaining this certification might not provide significant benefits. While it could offer an opportunity to systematically organize knowledge, whether paying examination and certification fees is worthwhile is a nuanced question. For those like myself who are just beginning to immerse themselves in the whisky world, what would be the case? Let me share an example as a drinker. For me, it was a great opportunity to organize fragmented knowledge from various books into a systematic understanding. Although the Connoisseur exam materials are quite challenging, they're well-structured and precisely addressed my needs at the time. The reduction of ambiguity and acquisition of accurate knowledge was significant. Topics like Scottish history, which make up a considerable portion, are related to Scotch whisky and also interesting in their own right. This increased my affection for the regions' landscapes and histories, which naturally extended to a deeper appreciation of whisky as a human-made product. Without this certification, I wouldn't have gone to Scotland for my honeymoon trip (laughs). So, was it worthwhile to pursue certification beyond knowledge? Yes. For me, this certification became a passport. As a young enthusiast entering the deep and niche world of whisky, courage was needed. Having confidence that I had at least basic knowledge and tasting skills became the passport to step into this world. While some may not need such a 'passport,' in a world without clear standards for knowledge and tasting skills, this certification provided a useful benchmark for me. It allowed access to previously intimidating malt bars and understanding conversations with other enthusiasts from the start. Through accumulating experience without fear, I accelerated my growth. Moreover, I believe that having a clear goal like exam success helps maintain motivation to gain knowledge. Additionally, some people use their certification as a basis for activities like organizing whisky events, expanding their reach. However, even if people like me at the time achieved a sense of accomplishment through certification, I don't think they became fully-fledged whisky enthusiasts. I obtained my Professional certification in 2007, around five years after developing a love for whisky. At that time, I was still young, bars felt inaccessible, there were no teachers to guide me, and my purchasing range was limited. My experience was definitely insufficient. Still, with study and some tasting, one could pass the exam. However, knowledge about flavor profiles related to vintage, aging years, casks, and bottlers made up only a small portion of the exam. After passing, I had more knowledge but still limited understanding of these flavor characteristics. When I started visiting bars and entering a broader world, I encountered many people with far more knowledge and tasting expertise than myself at the time or even now. My real growth as a malt enthusiast definitely occurred after the exam period, not during my study for it. To those considering taking the exam in similar situations, I'd say: 'Don't be satisfied or overconfident from passing the exam. It's merely a second starting line as a whisky enthusiast.' It's simply opening one more door to an amazing whisky lifestyle. While whisky is enjoyable and can create wonderful moments even without knowledge, I find the most charm in considering flavor profiles based on knowledge and imagining the origins. To continue enjoying this, I think there's no choice but to keep increasing knowledge and experience, using them as a foundation for thinking while drinking. The more you think about it, the deeper your understanding becomes, but simultaneously, you encounter more unknowns, feeling the depthless complexity. This leads to new interests and never-ending fascination. Ultimately, even knowing that complete understanding is unattainable, continuing brings the feeling of gradually approaching it, which leads to the next wonderful glass. Indeed, whisky is a remarkable lifelong companion and lover. This article was originally written as an extension of my previous piece titled 'Recommended Whiskies for Malt Beginners.' I had kept it aside but decided to revise and publish it now, as I felt it contained strong personal opinions. I'd like to thank several whisky enthusiasts who provided their input.