Cocktail Making
Make balanced, bar-quality cocktails at home from a handful of techniques
About this course
This course teaches the working logic professional bartenders use rather than memorising hundreds of recipes. You will learn the sweet-sour-strong-weak balance that underpins nearly every drink and the families (Old Fashioned, Sour, Highball, Martini-style, Negroni-style, and the swizzle/tropical build) that the classics fall into; chill and dilute correctly by shaking citrus drinks and stirring spirit-only drinks; make simple syrup, rich syrup, and a flavoured syrup or infusion to exact ratios; muddle, build, and layer by density; and match garnish, ice, and glassware to the drink. By the end you can taste a drink, name what it is missing, fix it, and reproduce it the same way every time, and serve a small repertoire of classics with confidence.
Curriculum
Module 1: Foundations: Kit, Glassware, and the Balance Behind Every Drink
- The starter bar kit and base spiritsPreview
- Glassware, ice, and why they matter🔒
- The balance template: sweet, sour, strong, weak🔒
Module 2: The Two Core Techniques: Shaking and Stirring
- Shaking: citrus, juice, and texture🔒
- Stirring: clarity and silk for spirit-forward drinks🔒
- Building drinks in the glass and the Highball🔒
Module 3: The Pantry: Syrups, Infusions, Muddling, and Bitters
- Simple syrup, rich syrup, and getting sweetness right🔒
- Flavoured syrups and simple infusions🔒
- Muddling, bitters, and fresh juice🔒
Module 4: Garnish, Presentation, Layering, and Your Repertoire
- Garnish that earns its place: twists, wedges, and aroma🔒
- Layering by density and the float🔒
- Building a repertoire and serving like a host🔒