Cocktails 101: 7 Things You'll Learn at Mixology School for Beginners

If you're aiming to master the art of mixology, there's no better place to learn than one of our cocktail classes in San Francisco. Held at fun bars from the Mission District down to San Jose, these mixology classes are places to pick up insider tips and tricks only known inside the bartending industry. You'll learn about blending ingredients, flavors, and botanicals in ways you have probably never considered before. And you'll leave with lasting knowledge of how to make an old fashioned, or the perfect margarita - or whatever your favorite drink of choice is. 

Once you’ve taken Bay Area cocktail classes, you’ll be able to bid a ‘last call’ to these seven habits and begin your journey of cocktail making with style, panache, and skill.

Getting confused with online tutorials

Sure, a video from that expert bartender you follow might suggest that learning how to make cocktails is easy, but it can be more complicated than it first seems. There’s nothing worse than buying all the right supplies and putting aside time to make a mojito or perfect a pina colada, only to discover that the guidance on easy cocktails to make is anything but easy to follow.

But with a cocktail masterclass, you’ll have one-on-one advice and guidance from a professional bartender. During mixology classes, your insider instructor will take you through the process of cocktails 101, teaching you a step-by-step process and answering any questions that you may have. There’s no scrolling through comments or fiddling around with sticky screens – you can just ask for help or guidance as you need. 

Plus, if you then decide to take an online mixology school in the future, you’ll have the foundations to develop your cocktail making skills.

Finding flavor combinations difficult

If you want to learn how to make the perfect margarita, there’ll be a classic recipe to follow. But part of the fun of a cocktails 101 class is exploring your creativity and putting your own spin on a classic, or learning how to make totally unique cocktails.

With mixology classes in Alameda, Berkeley, and beyond, you’ll be able to experiment with flavor combinations and develop your palette and knowledge of the art of cocktail making. Learn how to blend sweetness and acidity, or how to use salt in an understated but delicious way. You’ll soon be wowing your friends and family, as well as having to think up a few interesting names for your new drinks.

Even just adding a special ingredient to a classic cocktail recipe can be enough to make it uniquely your own. The next time you're attending a birthday or anniversary party for someone you care about, you can offer to create a signature, one-of-a-kind cocktail for them as an experience gift they'll love to savor. You can even write out the recipe for the cocktail on a cute card and name it after your friend, so they can recreate it whenever they feel like celebrating themselves! 

Relying on pre-made mixers

Anyone can learn how to make cocktails that use basic pre-made mixers, but they definitely won’t taste professional. Beginners will tend to rely on these mixes as they make the process of blending easier, but the art comes from discovering how to make your own cocktail from scratch.

The instructor of a cocktail masterclass will have you blending, mixing, and muddling spirits like gin, rum, and vodka. They’ll also teach you how to create fresh mixers and adapt them for the seasons, using fresh fruit during the summer and aromatics over fall and winter. 

Plus, if you’re still a fan of the pre-bought mixes, you don’t have to abandon them! With a masterclass in mixology, you can learn how to better blend these mixes so that they complement your spirit of choice.

Foregoing proper glassware 

Let’s be honest, just because you like to drink a cocktail, doesn’t necessarily mean you know what glass would work best with the recipe. From a highball to a champagne flute, cocktail making classes will have you discovering the ‘whys’ of each piece of glassware. 

Did you know, for example, that some cocktails are served in a glass with a wide opening so that the drinker can better enjoy the drink’s aroma? Or that certain glassware is used if a cocktail has ice or fruit chunks in it? With Bay Area cocktail classes, you’ll learn the ins and outs of exactly why certain drinks come in certain glasses – and you’ll have some interesting trivia facts to boot!

Having to go to a bar for a decent drink

Between crowds, traffic, and weather, heading to your favorite bar can be something of a chore. And if you’re all the way downtown, there’s nothing worse than traveling north just because you’re craving a sip of your cocktail of choice. 

But at a mixology school, you’ll learn how to make a negroni that rivals the best. Come your next Saturday night, you can save yourself and your friends the hassle of heading out and instead enjoy a drink in the comfort of your own home.

Don’t forget, too, that cocktail masterclasses make great birthday party ideas for a loved one who wants to spend time away from crowded bars.

Letting someone else play bartender

Here’s the thing – after a cocktails 101 class, you’ll be keen to share your newfound knowledge, skills, and experience with your loved ones. Plus, you may even know how to make cocktails that are more delicious than anyone else’s.

Whether you’re at a winter get-together, a beachside meet-up, or an afternoon BBQ, your friends will know that you’re the expert in crafting cocktails for the occasion, and will soon be asking you to make a mojito, whiskey sour, gimlet, old fashioned, and more.

Having nothing to suggest when you’re asked what gifts you want

Now that you’ve established your newfound skill, honed your cocktail crafting, and developed your list of flavor combinations, you’ll have an answer to the old question of what you want for Christmas or your birthday. As with many things, cocktail making is best done with the right kit, and you’ll soon be looking to fill your kitchen with the right equipment for the job. And, of course, you’ll need to stay on top of the best artisan spirits.

Gone are the days of being difficult to buy for – with mixology classes, you’ll perfect your knowledge of cocktails 101 and your loved ones will always know what to get you.

Ready to attend a mixology school?

No matter where you’re based, cocktail making classes are undoubtedly one of the most fun things to do in the Bay Area. Pop a masterclass in mixology onto your list of gift experiences for someone you love, or add it to your own selection of birthday party ideas. Don’t forget that mixology classes also make fun team-building activities, allowing you and your colleagues to bond outside of the office.