The first Spirits Expert Training by CMB

A few weeks ago, the first “Spirits Expert Training by CMB” was held in Renhuai, Guizhou, organized by the Renhuai, Municipal People’s Government and the CMB Organizing Committee. The event took place on July 15 at Kweichow Moutai College in China.

Here are some of the event highlights:

• Opening ceremony: the event featured speeches from several notable figures, including Zhao Jing, President of CMB China, and Zhao Jiuyi, Deputy Mayor of Renhuai City. Ulric Nijs, Director of the Spirits Selection by CMB, also addressed the participants.
• Goals of the training: the program aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of Chinese Baijiu practitioners in the global spirits field, helping them become international judges. It emphasizes improving participants’ ability to evaluate spirits accurately and enhancing their comprehensive understanding of various spirits.
• Participants: over 80 people attended the event, including representatives from the Renhuai Municipal Government, Chinese spirits students, media journalists, and sommeliers.
• Course details: the training involved 53 experts from the Baijiu industry across 14 cities and regions. Over six days, they have learned professional blind tasting skills, scoring rules, and quality evaluation from three international spirits teachers.
• Instructors: the instructors were Jean-luc Braud and Lydie Bossis from the International Center for Spirits Research (CIDS – Centre International des spiritueux) at the University of Poitiers, France, and Ulric Nijs, Director of the Spirits Selection by CMB.
• Selection of judges: at the end of the training, 30 outstanding students have been chosen as official judges for the 2024 Spirits Selection by CMB. They will join the CMB Grand Prix International Baijiu Judge expert database and have opportunities to participate in CMB events worldwide.
• Training content: participants have been exposed to a diverse range of 132 spirits, including brandy, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and sake. They will learn about the aromas, brewing techniques, and defect analysis of these spirits.

The training was supported by the China Food Industry Association, Moutai Academy, the Taster Academy by CMB, and the University of Poitiers in France.