Cocktail Class – Golden Age Cocktails

The bars, saloons, and taverns of America are bustling places. To keep the throngs of thirsty customers happy, bartenders must study the fine art of cocktail making and keep up with the ever increasing slate of mixed drinks, techniques, and new, imported ingredients making their way to our shores. While this description could be of our own era of consumption, it also fits well a bygone age, an era often described as the Golden Age of Cocktails. In the latter half of the 19th century, cocktails were nothing new – they had been around since at least the founding of the nation – but this era was marked by their increased popularity with people from all rungs of society and a proliferation of classic formulas that survive into the modern era.

In this class, Evan Christie will be mixing up cocktails that originated in the Golden Age. Expect some very familiar names as classics like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Martini all descend from this period of time. Forgotten libations, like the lovely Crusta, may also make an appearance. A large dollop of cocktail history and lore will surely be on the menu as well. Be prepared to learn about a time when America was just as cocktail mad as it is today.