About Me

My name is Brian Donnelly, and I’m the founder and principal content writer for The Spirits Educator, which is a digital education platform and trade resource for the distilled spirits industry. I have worked for a major wine and spirits distributor for 8 years, and I quickly realized the importance of educating accounts, customers, and staff members on the history, background, and production process behind their favorite spirit brands. Distilled spirits is indeed a form of art, and I love the idea that culture, geography, and history can be transmitted from one generation to another through the drinks that we all enjoy. I plan to continue telling these stories, explaining what makes these brands unique while also exploring how popularity and price point reflect their differences. It has always been my goal to bring detailed information about some of the most popular brands and spirit categories so that industry members will be able to add value to their customers, clients, and staff. Equally importantly, I believe in sharing the stories of these brands and the people who created and continue to produce them. I could not find the resource I needed in one place, so I decided to create it myself.

Education, Certifications, & Trainings

  • Wine and Spirit Educator Trust (WSET) Diploma D1 - Wine Production (2023)

  • Wine and Spirit Educator Trust (WSET) Sake Level 1 (2023) - Passed with Distinction

  • Wine and Spirit Educator Trust (WSET) Wine Level 3 (2022) - Passed with Merit

  • Argentina Wine Specialist (AWS) - Napa Valley Wine Academy (2022)

  • Wine and Spirit Educator Trust (WSET) Wine Spirits 3 (2020) - Passed with Merit

  • Brown-Forman Tennessee Whiskey Academy with Chris Fletcher in New Orleans, LA (2018)

  • Brown-Forman Bourbon Academy with Chris Morris in Oklahoma City, OK (2018)

  • Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) - Society of Wine Educators (2017)

  • Bachelor of Arts & Science in Economics and Minor in German - University of Oklahoma (2016)

Personal

In my free time, I volunteer as a Board Member on the Advisory Committee for Country Monks Brewing at Subiaco Abbey in Northwest Arkansas, a start-up microbrewery from the Benedictine monks of my high school alma mater, Subiaco Academy. Please check out their website, Facebook, and TripAdvisor. I’m also a dedicated language learner, I’m conversationally fluent in both Spanish and German.

What I’m Doing Now

I am currently preparing for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma D4 Sparkling Wine exam.

August 2024

Support The Spirits Educator

If you would like to support the content here, please click the button below to buy me a cocktail or neat pour through PayPal. You can also use Venmo @thespiritseducator.

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