STAVE & THIEF SOCIETY
the BOURBON SOMMELIER WRITTEN BY CHRIS LOZIER
E
ven the most adventurous consumer can appreciate the
in development, with a planned summer release, but the CBS
advice of a credible professional in the wide world of
and EBS programs are already educating and certifying students.
alcoholic beverages. Wine lovers depend on certified sommeliers for expert evaluations of their favorite varietals, and beer buffs can find the same assurance in certified cicerones. For bourbon devotees, however, there has previously been no clear standard certification program. While some expert reviewers are competent and trustworthy, your bartender may not be. To better educate the food and hospitality industry, in particular managers, bartenders and frontline service staff, the Distilled Spirits Epicenter in Louisville, Kentucky recently debuted the Stave & Thief Bourbon Certification Program. Facilitated through the Epicenter’s educational division, Moonshine University, the Stave & Thief Society offers a standardized bourbon education with several levels of certification. “Picture a sommelier program, but it’s specifically for bourbon,” says Colleen Thomas, Marketing Director for Moonshine University. “It’s the first program of its kind developed and recognized by the bourbon industry.” Moonshine University already offers distilling and spirits classes at their campus in the heart of bourbon country, taught by master distillers and production staff from some of the most respected heritage and craft distilleries in Kentucky, and therefore the world. Working together, those same experts designed the Stave & Thief program to provide an exclusive bourbon education to students. The Stave & Thief Society offers three levels of certification: Certified Bourbon Steward, CBS, Executive Bourbon Steward, EBS, and Master Bourbon Steward, MBS. The MBS level is still
HOW DOES IT WORK? The EBS level is designed for managers and owners of food and hospitality establishments, like restaurants, bars and hotels. EBS students attend an intensive one-day course at Moonshine University where they participate in hands-on distilling, nosing and tasting, supported by lectures and explanations from the professionals, who work with students directly to answer their questions. After the course they complete two exams.
One exam is
a paper test based on the coursework, the other is a sensory evaluation administered by the faculty. They must score 80 percent or higher on both exams in order to pass and receive their certification. Once certified, EBSs leave with 10 CBS course packets and online exam codes which they administer to their frontline employees, like bartenders and waiters. Once a CBS candidate completes their workbook they take an online exam along with a controlled sensory evaluation, both of which are scored and validated by Moonshine University. Again, they must score 80 percent or better to receive their CBS certification. Course material includes bourbon history, distillation science, production techniques, bourbon chemistry, barrel aging and more. Terms like “straight” and “Bottled in Bond” are explained, and the manual also defines other whiskey categories, like Tennessee and Scotch. Certified Bourbon Stewards will be able to competently tell
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