Among the many online courses to learn from or give as gifts, you’ll find everything from class series to virtual events hosted by accomplished bartenders. Instructional videos, worksheets, bar basics brochures, and even quizzes are on offer, but it’s the window onto the world of even casual mixology that you’re really getting. Register for one of these courses and start dreaming up your next cocktail party.
Best Online Cocktail Making Classes of 2022
Best Overall: MasterClass - Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana Teach Mixology Best Splurge: Death & Co. Virtual Experiences Best Private Class: J.Bespoke Custom Virtual Cocktail Classes Best for Groups: Hey Bartender Best for Working Bartenders: BarSmarts
Pros:17 lessonsVideos are well-producedWell-rounded course list Cons:No information given on tools needed This 17-part mixology series sets a pretty high bar. Led by Lynnette Marrero, one of the creators of the all-female bar competition Speed Rack, and Ryan Chetiyawardana, the visionary behind “World’s Best Bar” and “Best Cocktail Menu” winner Dandelyan, this set of courses covers nearly every aspect of cocktail developing and making, from setting up a back bar and using eggs to flavor pairing and layering. You could hardly have more creative and comprehensive guides. Most of the 17 videos fall between 15 and 30 minutes, a perfect length of time for exploring, explaining, and picking apart a topic without tedium. MasterClass’s $180 annual subscription also makes this an incredible value, already less expensive than most cocktail courses. Pros:Best conceived and planned classes availableGets into truly advanced techniquesFull kits are available for local pickup Cons:ExpensiveSupplies only offered to those at three locations When we say that Death & Co. wrote the book on modern mixology, we really mean that it wrote two books, each of them indispensable. This was already one of the more innovative young bars in New York City when it published the first book, but it was the second book, “Cocktail Codex,” that was the true sensation. It’s a combination glossary, development guide, and recipe collection that covers nearly every aspect of bar building and drink mixing. You might expect a market or even a series of classes simply trading on that name, but the bar’s virtual experiences, while undeniably expensive, are the most detailed and reliable in the business. They are as much about the details as about a greater understanding, whether 101-level demos or Advanced Techniques:
Cocktail Making 101 ($750 for a one-hour demo and a 30-minute Q&A)Cocktail Development ($500 for one hour)Advanced Techniques ($500 for one hour)Spirits Focused Experience ($500 for one hour)
Pros:Truly inspired and educational core drink menuAbility to invite any number of your friendsWide-ranging ingredient choices Cons:Price not listed on the websiteNo provision for deeper dives on methodology The bartenders behind cocktail lounge J. Bespoke offer fully customizable, well-organized classes focused on cocktails from their own menu. Their team sends you all the ingredients and bar tools necessary to make the drinks and allows you to invite any and all friends you want. The instructors are based in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood. Pricing does vary depending on both the drink and day of the week you’ve selected, but you’re rewarded for being more ambitious, learning your way around nitro cold brew martinis, spicy and botanical watermelon slings, and coconut washed Campari cocktails. You need only look over the menu and email the host directly to set up your first class. Pros:Degree of customizationEase of including larger groupsSupplies can be shipped to all participants Cons:So many variables result in unclear pricingNot enough information on the format Hey Bartender specializes in creating customized corporate and social events. Guests for its cocktail classes can precisely define or characterize their ideal drinking experiences using forms on the website, and Hey Bartender will either ship supplies to each guest or draw up shopping lists for them. Prices vary based on all of the different configurations and class sizes, but the classes are all professional, personable, and unquestionably fun for a group event. Pros:In-depth instruction on tastingExtensive lessons in productionExplores history and developmentAffordable Cons:Video production quality is middlingNo “take-home” resources BarSmarts is quite possibly second-to-none when it comes to preparing for a career in bartending or just having that level of knowledge. Developed for Pernod Ricard USA by Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR), this Comprehensive Bartenders Spirits Training is more than a masterclass in distillation, tasting, production, and history—it literally certifies and flash-qualifies you to take a stand behind the bar. Each of the four modules—Spirits Basics, Spirits & Liqueurs, Cocktail History & Bar Essentials, and Service Management & Cocktail Recipes—has anywhere from eight to 13 different chapters, diving deep into everything from tools and equipment to ice selection and improvisation, and ends with a quiz and final exam.
How Do Online Cocktail Making Classes Work?
Memberships typically offer either access to a collection of pre-recorded classes or to a single, more crafted video that may be more of a customized experience. Classes can range in price from $15 per month (MasterClass subscriptions) to $500 and up for a single class (Death & Co.), some of which even come with a certification.
What Do You Learn in an Online Cocktail Making Class?
The best classes will walk you through a cocktail while giving you a good sense of its components and how they come together, how to achieve balance between the ingredients and their proportions, and how to master the preparation. At their best, they’ll also explore the drink’s history, “relatives” in the cocktail world, its core template, and how you can improvise.
What Do You Need to Take an Online Cocktail Making Class?
The supplies needed will vary depending on the class. Some, like J. Bespoke, will even ship the supplies to you in advance. Most classes will provide lists of the tools and equipment you’ll need to have on hand, often before you sign up, so you’ll have the opportunity to prepare.
Are Online Cocktail Classes Worth It for Mixologists?
Any mixologist worth their bitters knows that there is still so much more to learn, from mastering dilution to more advanced aspects of the trade. While many classes are geared toward the beginner and may be a bit redundant for the enthusiast, there surely are courses for the more experienced. Death & Co., for example, gets into pressure infusions, clarification, and complex syrups.
Methodology
Did we look at every last class? It certainly feels like it, but we were invested in analyzing courses for a range of experience and price levels (from introduction prices to splurges for enthusiasts), and that take both micro and macro looks at cocktail history, methodology, and mastering. Ultimately, we’ve highlighted classes from established platforms like MasterClass to those from legendary establishments like Death & Co.
