The Art of the Cocktail
The Art of the Cocktail
request your date
1hr
from alex valencia
led by alex valencia (founder)
online ⬝ hands-on
In this interactive experience, Alex Valencia (co-founder, la contenta), is on a mission to spread knowledge of Mexican Mixology, and by the the end of class, will make you a cocktail pro on foundations, history, technique, and real-world applications.
No matter the skill level, guests will learn to make 6 distinct cocktails from scratch.
Training others upcoming bartenders professionally, Alex offers a complete guide to mixology that covers all the foundational components in this jam-packed hour.
When making the drinks, this experience is flexible, and guests are encouraged to make-along with Alex, or sit back, relax & learn.
Guests are encouraged to ask as many questions as they have during the drink-making process, and Alex will also make himself available after class for any additional questions.
What You’ll Learn
Components of a Cocktail | ingredients, measurements, and the magic behind it all
Shaking vs Stirring | how & why to shake/stir a cocktail
Flavors and Culture | uncovering ancestral beverages and flavors unknown today in classic cocktails
Making Expert-Level Cocktails | passion for the craft, balancing ingredients, free pour
What You’ll Make
Piña Colada
Gimlet
Margarita
Martini
Manhattan
Sangria
Your Booking Includes
1 hour of interactive cocktail-making & learning
Class recording
Shopping list of required tools + ingredients
Accompanying recipe cards for each drink
Good to Know
2-150 guests per group
Please enter your approved date at checkout
Advanced notice of at least 48 hours is required
Cocktail substitutions available on request (enter in “guest notes” at checkout)
About Your Guide
Alex Valencia
Co-founder, La Contenta
Alex Valencia has been following his passion for mixology since 2003. Climbing his way up, 2008 became a breakout year working alongside some of New York City’s top-rated cocktail bars such as PDT, Little Branch, and Apotheke. It was also a pivotal year in mastering his craft- from mixing, studying and introducing new mixing techniques, and ultimately recipes that have become the foundation for his modern signature drinks.
Since then, he’d go on lead and head cocktail programs for other great names like Yerba Buena (gaining praise for his cocktail program from The New York Times, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and many more), Flatiron Room (Head Bartender of an iconic whiskey bar with 1000+ whiskies), and even seeing his recipes published in Heather Greene’s “Whiskey Distilled: A Populist Guide to the Water of Life”
He’s always been grateful to pay it forward in many ways, whether as a guest bartender for bars such as Bathtub Gin and Botanic Lab or in leading his own mixology classes to mentor up and coming bartenders.