Master America’s Finest Spirit:
Become a CERTIFIED BOURBON PROFESSIONAL.

Curriculum for the Certified Bourbon Professional™ (CBP) Program

Enrollment Requirement & Process

The Certified Bourbon Professional (CBP) program covers a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum. There are no prerequisites or special requirements to enroll in the program, the Council welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Beginners will find the program accessible without prior knowledge, and experienced professionals or hobbyists will find the depth of the curriculum demanding and satisfying.

Enrollment in the CBP study program costs $395, non-refundable. This fee includes all necessary study materials, the online exam, plus diploma and lapel pin upon passing. The exam is challenging, but fair: ~73% of the candidates pass on first attempt. Retake fee is $295.

A parallel Certified Scotch Professional (CSP) track is also available, HERE. Passing either the CBP exam or the CSP exam constitutes Level 1 certification, which is prerequisite for Level 2, the Certified Whiskey Specialist (CWS).

Receiving & Reading the Study Guide

What happens after you enroll? You will get a confirmation email from us swiftly, usually within a few hours of signing up. It will include additional information about the program and confirm that can you can expect to receive your hardcopy study guide within a few days.

Your study guide is a textbook designed to support the study curriculum outlined above; all exam questions will be exactly based on this document. We use a well written and illustrated study guide that many thousands of Bourbon experts and students have rated highly. The expected study and preparation time for this exam is between 60 and 90 hours, depending on the candidate’s prior experience.

Scheduling & Taking the Exam

Once you are ready to take the exam, you may select and self-schedule a time slot on our website. Exams are offered several times each month on Fridays and Saturdays, with convenient time slots available for all global time zones. A calendar invitation with all important details will be emailed to you immediately upon scheduling

Exam results will reach you via email within two days of taking the exam. The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and it takes up to 60 minutes to complete. You must correctly answer at least 75% of the questions to pass the exam.

Exam protocol:

• The exam may be taken online, in a browser window, using a laptop or desktop computer. The exam is entered through a link sent by the Council on exam day.

• Candidates may be located anywhere in the world, but reliable internet and phone connections are required. Anti-cheating methods are in place and are enforced.

• No study materials or other persons are permitted in the room during an exam.

• Candidates receive an email with the exam link a few hours in advance of the scheduled appointment time.

Note that the Council enrollment may expire if a candidate neither takes nor schedules the exam within 2 years of enrolling for that level.

Receiving the Diploma & Pin

Upon passing the exam, you will receive your printed diploma via mail, on high-quality stationery suitable for framing. You will also receive a beautiful copper lapel pin to wear proudly at any occasion.

    Physical copies of the diploma and the lapel pin are shipped globally from our office in Los Angeles, California. Digital versions are sent in advance via email, together with the exam results.

    Many successful candidates take a next step and enroll in one of our other exams, building an impressive portfolio of tasting expertise that can shape their careers and enhance their personal enjoyment. Take your first step toward your Bourbon certification today!

Need advice, have specific questions, or just want to gather info about the landscape of whiskey credentials?

Our dedicated office team of whisk(e)y professionals and industry insiders can help!

Our email address and phone number can be found below.

Representative Sample Questions

Question 1: In Bourbon, corn must account for at least this proportion of the mash bill:

A. 50%
B. 51%
C. The majority of the grain in the bill
D. 80%

Question 2: The water used in Kentucky for Bourbon making is naturally filtered by:

A. Calcareous marl
B. Limestone
C. Sandy soils
D. Clay

Question 3: Distillation is the process of:

A. Evaporating away the alcohols from the mash
B. Concentrating methyl alcohols
C. Reaching the final bottling proof of the Bourbon
D. Separating various chemical compounds based on boiling points

Question 4: Which of the below statements is NOT true about oak used for Bourbon?

A. Oak trees from the Ozark mountains are cut into staves for barrel cooperage
B. Charring and toasting refer to two different processes
C. Charring of barrels is mandatory for Bourbon
D. Bourbon barrels that are previously used must be re-toasted

Question 5: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey must be:

A. Flavored by additives only to the degree that is typical in Bourbon County
B. Colored only with caramel to adjust color for consistency, if needed
C. Aged for at least 2 years, in specific wood containers
D. Blended from a maximum of 2 distilleries