[single_post_meta]

Share this

[monarch_inline_shortcode]

Send via Email

[share_mailto]

International Spirits Academy officially launches its program

International Spirits Academy officially launches its program

by Andy Young August 20, 2025

The International Spirits Academy (ISA), the new independent certification program aimed at raising global standards in spirits education, has held its official opening in Sydney.

The ISA has been created by the team behind the Australian Gin Distillers Association and Australian Gin Awards, and will offer a structured, four-level certification pathway for hospitality professionals, culminating in the title of ‘Master of Eau de Vie’.

Positioned as a comprehensive counterpart to programs such as Master Sommelier and Master Cicerone, the ISA aims to become a global benchmark in distilled spirits education. The program will feature a combination of lectures, guided tastings, and formal examinations designed to assess and elevate the expertise of spirits professionals across service, sales, sensory analysis, production methods, and global regulatory frameworks.

The program is designed to give Hospitality professionals a 100 per cent spirits focused certification, and the first stage of the program will be running over 13 and 14 October this year. You can find out more about how to register through the ISA website.

Judith Kennedy AM, Founder and Chair of the ISA, said: “As the global spirits industry matures, the demand for true spirits professionals will only grow.

“Our vision with the International Spirits Academy is to provide a rigorous, independent path to mastery — giving students the knowledge, tasting expertise, and service excellence needed to lead the next generation of hospitality experiences.

“This Academy is the culmination of everything we’ve worked towards over decades in wine, spirits, and hospitality – and we’re excited to share it with the world.”

Targeted primarily at those working in cocktail bars, fine dining, hotels, retail, and spirits production, the ISA is also open to those seeking advanced spirits knowledge. Each level of the certification must be completed sequentially, with students receiving a detailed ISA handbook to support their studies.

What sets the ISA apart is its independent, category-spanning approach to spirits education. Unlike programs sponsored by individual brands or focused on single categories, the ISA is designed “for professionals, by professionals,” according to its founders.

The Academy is backed by an impressive team of industry figures, including Australian spirits pioneer Bill Lark (serving as Patron), Charles Casben (Education Chair), and curriculum lead Dr Sarah Fletcher. They are joined by respected voices such as Master of Wine Ned Goodwin, wine critic Huon Hooke, and renowned bar operator Mikey Enright. Former Publican of the Year and respected operator Steve McDermott has also joined joined the Academy as ISA Executive.

With a focus on industry-wide credibility and a mission to elevate global spirits literacy, the ISA is expected to appeal to a broad spectrum of hospitality professionals looking to deepen their technical knowledge and advance their careers.

Andy Young

Andy Young is an experienced journalist and editor having made a start as a sports journalist with The Sun newspaper in the UK. Since then he’s worked in major newspaper and television...

More Posts

Leave a comment

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join the thousands of bar professionals who stay in-the-know with the Bars & Cocktails newsletter

What's Hot

Built to Scale with You

Outrayjus understands the distinct demands of the sectors it serves. Whether you’re moving ambient or chilled products, boutique, or bulk orders, the Outrayjus model is engineered for flexibility and growth. It’s a logistics...

You may also like