Cocktail Class – The Cocktail Renaissance

The cocktail, one of America’s greatest cultural exports, had come to a low point in the 1970s and 80s. A decline in institutional knowledge brought on by prohibition, increasing consumers preference for lighter flavors, and the rise of convenience food all conspired to undermine what makes a mixed drink good. However, all hope was not lost. Beginning in the early 1990s, small groups of dedicated bartenders, home enthusiasts, and curious cocktail historians began the project of restoring the glory that is the cocktail. At first the movement looked to the past, recovering lost knowledge, recipes, and techniques. But eventually it began to produce new recipes, often based on the historic formulae, that defined a new era of cocktails.

In this class, you will taste and learn about drinks created in the late 1990s and early 2000’s, a period often called the cocktail renaissance. Expect drinks that adhere to the classical notions of balance, while often adding new and exciting ingredients available to the modern bartender. Join us to see why this period of cocktail history helped produce the improved state of cocktails we currently live in.

Must be 21+ to attend.