Topic: A Sip of Knowledge with Tom Johnson (The Aroma Academy)

Hosts: Liz Rhoades, Lew Bryson, & Martin Duffy

What You’ll Learn: Join a trio of drink industry veterans in weekly conversation on whiskey, spirits, distilling, marketing and the current state of the drink industry. This week, Tom Johnson of the Aroma Academy joins the group.

About Tom Johnson and The Aroma Academy

Tom Johnson is a communications consultant and former bartender based in Louisville, Kentucky. As a trainer for the Aroma Academy, he has taught thousands of people how to properly nose and assess fine
wines and spirits. He holds an advanced certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust in London, is an Executive Bourbon Steward, and was the Plumpjack Fellow for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in Napa Valley.

Based in Scotland, the Aroma Academy trains drinks professionals to separate, identify, and articulate sets of characteristic aromas present in wine, Bourbon, Scotch and Irish whisky, gin and rum. Because the sense of smell is associative and highly subjective, people often describe the same drink with a wide variety of indistinct descriptors. By focusing on a finite set of definite aromas, Aroma Academy graduates speak a common language that enables them to understand and communicate what makes a particular drink distinctive.

About the Hosts: 

• Liz Rhoades, founder of Spirit Safe Consulting, former research scientist for DIAGEO, distilling consultant, spirits writer for The Whiskey Wash & presenter.

• Lew Bryson, former managing editor for Whisky Advocate Magazine for 20 years, whiskey author, beer/whiskey writer and presenter.

• Martin Duffy, former DIAGEO Master of Whisky for the Midwest, DIAGEO Reserve Brand Ambassador for The Republic of Ireland, North American Brand Representative for Glencairn Crystal.