CSS Exam
Just a couple of more days to study before I take the CSS exam. I’m going to guess that 99% of people in the world have no clue what this is, but it stands for Certified Spirits Specialist and is offered by the Society of Wine Educators (the same group that does sommelier testing). If you don’t know what a sommelier is, it is a person that has been extensively trained in wine with knowledge of the world’s wine-growing regions, harvesting, barreling, storage, presentation, and food pairing. There are different levels of sommelier with the highest being Master Sommelier, of which there less than 200 Master Sommeliers in the world.
As wine has never interested me as much as spirits, I am quite excited to take this test and relieved that there is a beginning to spirit certification, as the wine world has been evolving in this trend for years – but the liquor world seemed to stop with the knowledge that Jack Daniels isn’t Grey Goose.
Anyhow, I’ve studied intensely for the past four weeks, re-learning much that I already knew but I’ve versed myself in a thousand little trivial notes that truly rounded out my liquor knowledge. I feel that right now, there is nothing you could ask me about booze that I couldn’t answer.
As for the most surprising thing I read, it was how much caramel coloring is used in the bottling of spirits. I always thought that the brown color came from barrel aging (for example clear rum hadn’t been aged or aged in stainless, where brown rum had been aged in a barrel and the barrel imparted the color). And caramel coloring was only used in very cheap spirits such as Early Times. But in fact – caramel coloring is used all the time to change the color of even high-end whiskies, rums, and tequilas. I was also surprised to learn that gold tequila and silver tequila are exactly the same (I guess I never really thought that much about it) and that the only difference is a little caramel coloring (which can slightly change the flavor as it is burnt sugar).
Anyhow, wish me luck! I take the exam on Tuesday.
Link to FAQ about the CSS exam.
- Columbine Quillen I am a bartender and this is my blog.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You don’t need luck. You’ve got heart, smarts and determination. A winning combination for sure. All the best to you Q, I know you are going to kill it; or die trying!
So I stumbled across your site doing a search for your topic up there. First, I have to say, great site…an amazing read especially during a boring day. Second, I have to ask…any tips for someone soon to take the CSS test?
Hey Elfa, I put a post up about the CSS exam. Thanks for your kudos! Here’s the link.
http://qmixalot.com/certified-spirits-specialist-css-exam-faq