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Graduate Degrees

The Masters of Science Degree - 60 Courses

Complete Two Advanced Courses including TWO of “The Big Three” or Bluegrass Region

The Masters of Arts Degree - 72 Courses

Complete Three Advanced Courses including TWO of “The Big Three” or Bluegrass Region and also Teach or Co-host Two Courses -AND- recruit a new student that goes on to earn their Whiskey Diploma

The Tuition for the Master’s Degree Tier is:

$466.00 for all 24 Courses in this Master’s Tier

The Master’s Degree Tier includes both the Master of Science Degree and the Master of Arts Degree, which requires 24 tasting courses.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree is a prerequisite for this program.

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The Master's of Science Degree Program

Whiskey Glass Notepad Glasses - Graduate Degrees.jpg

“Chartered Master Bourbon Taster" with 3 Majors Earned

The Masters of Science Degree Program requires that the student must complete a total of SIXTY (60) Tasting Courses and quizzes including having already earned their Bachelor’s in Arts Degree. Each Tasting Course has a Quiz assigned to it by subject. A record of taking and passing that quiz with a Score of 75% or 80% (depending on the level) is required. Each Quiz has 25 Multiple Choice questions with a choice of 5 answers to pick from, there is a 50 minute time limit on each quiz assigned. The student must also have attended Two of the Three Advanced Courses in TWO of the Big Three Distilleries (Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace or the other 3 Advanced Bluegrass courses).

In addition, the student must declare and obtain a Third Major from the ten Majors; Bourbon Capital Region, the Bluegrass Region, the Whiskey Row Region, the Tennessee Whiskey Region, the Maryland Rye Whiskey Region, the World Whisky Region, the Craft Whiskey Major, the Canadian Whisky Region, or the Scotch & Irish Whiskey Major (each has its own requirements).

The total coursework must also include a total of 14 of the 18 Major Distillery courses. offered (click on Link to left to see list to choose from). This does include the 11 taken for your Bachelor of Arts Degree.

The student must also complete Two Advanced Courses (Level #400 courses) in TWO of “The Big Three” or Bluegrass Region.

Upon Graduation, you will receive your parchment Master of Science Degree, the title of “Chartered Master Bourbon Taster” and the commensurate Senior Officer Rank of Major in the “Bourbon Brigade.”

A whiskey university certificate with decorative border, featuring text, medals, and signatures, awarded for completing sixty courses in whiskey regions.

“Chartered Master Bourbon Taster"

Major in the Bourbon Brigade

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Major

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Illustration of a maple leaf with a shield in the center that contains the letters W and U, along with images of a barrel and a stack of books.

Major

A framed certificate from Whiskey University recognizing the successful completion of a course of study, with a placeholder for a name, emphasizing a Master of Science Degree and a specialization as a Chartered Master Bourbon Taster, featuring decorative borders, flags, and official seals.

If you are interested in purchasing the lesser expensive frame for the Master of Science Degree you may buy it from Amazon for $29.99. Click this link to Order the less expensive version: Master of Science Degree Frame.

For those looking to really show off the memorable accomplishment click here to purchase the more extravagant Master of Science Degree Frame from Amazon for $59.99. This Frame will accommodate the Physical Ribbons awarded at later Degrees which are embedded in the exterior of the wood Frame.

Certificate for a Master of Science Degree with decorative maple leaf emblems, text detailing the degree, course credits, majors, title, and honorary rank in a Bourbon Brigade, featuring a colorful ribbon design.

Master of Science Degree earned at 60 Credits & 3 Majors obtained

Distilled-Leadership-Logo-for-Whiskey-U

The Master's of Arts Degree Program

Whiskey Glass Stack of Books - Graduate Degrees

“Chartered Master Whiskey Taster" with 4 Majors Earned

The Masters of Arts Degree Program requires that the student must complete a total of SEVENTY TWO (72) Tasting Courses and Quizzes including having already earned their Masters of Science Degree. Each Tasting Course has a Quiz assigned to it by subject. A record of taking and passing that quiz with a Score of 75% or 80% (depending on the level) is required. Each Quiz has 25 Multiple Choice questions with a choice of 5 answers to pick from, there is a 50 minute time limit on each quiz assigned.

In addition, the student must declare and obtain a Fourth Major from the ten Majors; Bourbon Capital Region, the Bluegrass Region, the Whiskey Row Region, the Tennessee Whiskey Region, the Maryland Rye Whiskey Region, the World Whisky Region, the Craft Whiskey Major, the Canadian Whisky Region, or the Scotch & Irish Whiskey Major (each has its own requirements).

The Graduate must also have completed Three Advanced Courses in TWO of the Big Three Distilleries (Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Buffalo Trace or the other 3 Advanced Bluegrass courses). The Graduate must also have taught or Co-Hosted two courses (In-person or on Zoom) -AND-recruited a student that went on to have earn a Bourbon Diploma.

The total course work must also include a total of 17 of the 18 Major Distillery courses. offered (click on Link to left to see list to choose from). This does include the 14 taken for your Master of Science Degree.

Also, the student must complete 3 of 3 Advanced Courses (#400 Level courses) in TWO of “The Big Three” (or Bluegrass Region) and Teach or Co-Host one Class.

Upon Graduation, you will receive your parchment Master of Arts Degree (the highest Degree awarded by Whiskey University), earn the title of “Chartered Master Whiskey Taster” and the Commensurate Senior Officer Rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the “Bourbon Brigade.”

A humorous parody whiskey university diploma with a gold seal, two flags, and decorative borders.

If you are interested in purchasing the lesser expensive frame for the Master of Science Degree you may buy it from Amazon for $29.99. Click this link to Order the less expensive version: Master of Arts Degree Frame.

For those looking to really show off the memorable accomplishment click here to purchase the more extravagant Master of Arts Degree Frame from Amazon for $59.99. This Frame will accommodate the Physical Ribbons awarded at later Degrees which are embedded in the exterior of the wood Frame.

A framed certificate from Whiskey University recognizing the completion of courses and awarding a Master of Arts Degree in the Canadian Whiskey Regions and Mid-Atlantic Rye Region, with decorative medals and signatures.

Ranks above the Master’s Degree Tier:

Whiskey Colonel

Master of Arts Degree earned at 72 Credits & 4 Majors obtained

Certificate displaying a Master of Arts degree earned for 90 courses and 7 majors, titled 'Chartered Master Whiskey Taster,' awarded to Whiskey Colonel with a 7th-degree honor, featuring two eagle emblems, a colorful ribbon, and five bar-shaped medals.

Master of Arts Degree+ earned at 90 Courses (not Credits) & 7 Majors obtained

Collection of patches and emblems representing The Colonel's Club, including state and organizational insignias, decorative elements, and a central patch with the Tennessee flag.

When you are Promoted to the Rank of Whiskey Colonel you are No Longer Limited to attending only your Regional Conference and the Whiskey University National Conference, you will now be invited to attend any or all of the other Regional Conferences around the World. You will also get invited to all other Regional Semester Break events on Zoom in addition to your own Region’s event. Semester Break events are held in all Regions during the three week break in between Semester.

Diploma certificate for Master of Arts Degree awarded to Lt. Colonel for Major in the Bourbon Brigade, titled 'Chartered Master Whiskey Taster,' from Worcester University, with school emblems, decorative leaves, and medals.

Master of Arts Degree+ earned at 90 Courses & 7 Majors obtained

Please Note: To become a Whiskey Colonel at Whiskey University you must take a Total of 90 COURSES. Unlike all other Degrees prior which were based on Credits and most likely included 90% Courses and 10% Distillery Tour Credits. Those Distillery Credits do NOT help you with the Requirements to become a Whiskey Colonel.

Certificate from Whiskey University recognizing the completion of whiskey courses, awarded to an individual for earning a Master of Arts Degree with a double major in the Canadian Whisky Region and the Mid-Atlantic Rye Region. The certificate features various flags, medals, and decorative elements, with a maroon frame and a gold seal at the bottom.

“Chartered Master Whiskey Taster"

Lt. Colonel in the Bourbon Brigade

Advertisement for a Master of Arts Degree offering a 3D antique gold plated lapel pin with shield emblems in gold, silver, and bronze colors.

3D Gold Plated Whiskey University Lapel Pin

A stylized crest with the letters W and U, a barrel, a stack of books, and a leaf inside a shield, surrounded by larger leaves.
A black and white shield-shaped logo for Whiskey University, divided into four sections with a letter 'W' in the top left, a barrel in the top right, a stack of books in the bottom left, and a letter 'U' in the bottom right.
A logo featuring a shield with four sections, surrounded by leaves. The sections contain a 'W', a barrel, a stack of books, and a 'U'.

Lt. Col.

Lt. Col.

If you earn all 10 Majors Your Name will be permanently Inscribed into the

“Chartered Master Whiskey Tasters” Hall of Fame

‍ ‍by State of Residence, by Semester Graduated and Alphabetically

Hall of Fame logo with gold laurel wreath, star, and text, surrounded by the quote "Chartered Master Whiskey Tasters" in yellow font on a black background.

Downloadable .pdf of all current Degree Requirements

Click on the link below

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Whiskey University

Latest Degree And Certificate Programs Of Study Requirements