Jason Wilson is a world-renowned spirits writer, and this Friday, you’ll have a chance to drink from his cup of knowledge at a cognac tasting class at the Wine School of Philadelphia. The author of the best-selling book Boozehound will lead a session focusing on three French classics: Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados.

“Brandy is so underrated in this country,” says Jason, who is also a columnist for The Washington Post and Philadelphia’s Daily News, “yet whenever I give someone a taste of the real thing, they invariably fall in love with it.” 

This class will run you $55 in advance (tickets here) or $75 at the door, and is only offered twice each year. The “zero endorsements” policy means there are no beverage sponsors, so you’ll get an uncensored look at an expertly curated collection of brandies. There are only a few seats left, so act fast!

Photo via Flickr user abalatnov, from the Cognac Museum in Moscow