It’s 6PM on a Friday night, and you’re craving a great cocktail to let loose after a long week. While NYC has no shortage of great bars to choose from, let’s face it, it can be expensive to buy cocktails out on the town, and sometimes you just can’t be bothered to change out of your sweatpants and leave your apartment.
Lucky for you, we've rounded up the best cocktail-making classes in NYC to shake (not stir!) things up a bit.
Whether you’re sitting on the couch sipping a martini, or making a spicy marg in a secret mixology den, these captivating cocktail-making classes will be sure to quench your thirst for something new.
See also: The 11 Best Spots for Afternoon Tea in NYC
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686 Broadway / 332.910.9880 / Website
There’s no better place to take a mixology class than Great Jones, Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Upon arrival, guests will be taken on a tour of the distillery, followed by a 4-part tasting of the Great Jones Straight Bourbon. After the tasting, you will be invited to indulge in a delicious charcuterie board (prosciutto and house-made sourdough crackers are a must), and a welcome cocktail. Finally, a team of expert mixologists will lead a hands-on demonstration of the establishment’s most famed cocktails: the Saratoga Julep and Great Jones Rye Manhattan.
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Multiple locations / Website
Oftentimes referred to as a pioneer in the field, Liquid Lab has revolutionized the New York City cocktail scene since its inception. Offering group and private classes, Liquid Lab is the mecca of all things mixology. Their wide-ranging class selection includes molecular mixology, artisanal and Prohibition-era cocktails, and even health and wellness-inspired cocktail concepts. While its flagship lies in the heart of Flatiron, Liquid Lab pairs up with world-class bars around the city, such as LouLou and LeGrande Lounge, to host their interactive classes.
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49 W. 27th St. / 862.231.3723 / Website
If you’ve ever been to Patent Pending, you know how fabulous the cocktails are. Guests will learn how to make cocktails from the best in the industry in these private cocktail classes, honing in on the techniques, styles and flavor profiling that go into making a delicious drink. You’ll walk away with three new delicious cocktails under your belt, making you the resident bartender amongst your friends. With classes only offered on Mondays and Tuesdays, start your week off with a bang.
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Multiple locations / Website
With multiple locations across the city, including sister establishment, Dear Irving, Raines Law Room has a little something for everybody. Offering both virtual and in-person classes, guests can indulge in a wide variety of mixology experiences. We love the Speakeasy Vibes class, which teaches you all about history in liquid form through pre-Prohibition and Prohibition-era drinks that prove sometimes older really is better. Or celebrate women’s history month and opt for the Drinking Like Ladies class to celebrate cocktail recipes created by women.
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Multiple locations / Website
Originally Chinatown’s most coveted speakeasy, Apotheke now boasts a NoMad location, making it easier than ever to experience Apotheke Academy. This cocktail class does not mess around and provides participants with the option to choose from four classes: Sugarcane Spirits, Prohibition Era, Whiskey Business or Spirits of Mexico. If you have a sweet tooth, opt for the Sugarcane Spirit class’s exploration of rum and cachaca. Or if you’re a Gatsby fanatic, the Prohibition course experiments with Early American cocktails like the Sazerac, French 75, and Aviation. If you’re more of a whisky type, the Whiskey Business course is focused on cocktails with Scotch, Japanese Whiskey, and Rye. And if you’re a party girl at heart, the Spirits of Mexico course profiles tequila and mezcal.
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Characterized as "Your Mobile Mixology Coach," BarBees brings the cocktail-making experience straight to your home. Or your New York City brownstone, that is. Prior to the event, students will choose two signature cocktails, ranging from Espresso Martinis to Raspberry Lemonade Mules, to Jalapeno Margaritas. And if you’re like us, you’re dying to try the Rosemary Honey Paloma. Perfect for a girls’ night in, a birthday bash or a bachelorette, this cocktail-making class is the gift that keeps on giving.
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With classes offered anywhere within 10 miles of NYC, this innovative mixology concept is truly a no-brainer. Perfect for beginners and experts alike, you will learn to create three classic recipes with a unique twist. Each class will teach you how to select ingredients, pair liquors, and spirits and experiment with unique flavors to create the perfect cocktail. And if you’re driving tonight, Class Bento also offers mocktail-making classes so everybody can join in on the fun!
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111 N. 12th St., Brooklyn/ 718.307.7100 / Website
Head over to one of the buzziest rooftop bars in Brooklyn, the Westlight atop the William Vale, to allow Westlight general manager Frankie Sanchez to share all the tips and tricks of mastering zero-proof cocktails. Beloved no-ABV drinks and mixology shop Boisson is joining in on the fun and providing materials for you to learn to masterfully mix three different classic mocktails, the Paper Plane, Naked & Famous, and Corpse Reviver No. 2. Westlight has a delicious small plates menu, and lucky for you, you’ll have the option to indulge in light bites such as Hamachi sashimi, spiced chicken empanadas and crispy brussels sprouts.
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66 Water St., Brooklyn / 718.663.6550 / Website
Seamore’s is partnering with Bucketlisters in a 14-week series this spring, bringing fabulous cocktail classes starting at the end of the month. Your ticket will include instructions for three different cocktails and your choice of an appetizer such as firecracker cauliflower, buffalo shrimp or guacamole. Each class has a different theme, so feel free to pick your poison. For the tried-and-true lover, opt for the 2 Classics and a Maybe class, which includes a fig Old Fashioned, blood orange margarita and riviera gimlet. Or get adventurous at the Muddle Your Way Through Class, including a tangerine mojito, cucumber elite martini and smash primavera.
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Multiple locations / Website
Okay, technically this isn’t purely cocktail-making class, but you do make a boozy sorbet cocktail, and who doesn’t love boozy ice cream? Tipsy Scoop teaches you how to make one of their most popular boozy ice cream flavors using a commercial-grade batch ice cream machine before moving on to your sorbet cocktail. Plus, classes take place at noon on Saturdays, making this the ideal pre-boozy brunch activity. Perhaps best of all? You get to take home two pints of the ice cream you made in an insulated tote bag, so the party can go on all weekend long.
Next time a drink is in order, head over to a mixology class and learn from the best so you can whip up the perfect cocktail whenever you want.
Photography by: Kike Salazar
