In New Orleans, locals love gathering for cocktails, whether it’s a fancy-dress moment in Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, or something spicy-but-casual at Galaxie Tacos.
Distillation education is fascinating, and this fall, it’s fun to consider ‘tending on the homefront. With these easy tips, we suggest hosting a drink with a lesson, by throwing a cocktail class. It’s easier than you might think, if you set it up properly. We sought the counsel of Kimberly Patton-Bragg. She’s been behind some of the city’s finest establishments, from Latitude 29 to Palm & Pine, and these days, she holds court as the bar director at Pulcinella — a Sicilian restaurant in the South Seventh Ward, with an impressive array of wines, spirits and inventive cocktails.
How do we begin planning a cocktail class gathering?
“Know your own strengths,” Patton-Bragg advises. “If you are a skilled drink maker, you could host the class yourself. But, you also want to enjoy the party. I’d reach out to a favorite bartender in town. Think of the people with the most personality, and ask that person to teach it. Even if your favorite bartender isn’t up to it, they will be able to suggest someone fun.”
The cocktails won’t be very complicated, so any adept bartender can make them. Personality should be top priority, she advises. You want someone who is going to entertain guests, while everyone learns.
Avoid these pitfalls
Get two buckets to serve as large, beautiful vessels. The first is for dumping out fruit or liquid from shakers and mixing tins, and the second is filled with water for rinsing. “Juice is sticky, so you will also want some wet wipes,” she says. “I’d put out a charcuterie board for snacking and then also make recipe cards. People can look down at them in the class and then take them home. Oh, and ice. Anytime you have a party, you need ice — and then more ice, because there never seems to be enough.”
What should we learn?
“I’d suggest three drinks,” she continues. “A stirred drink. A shaken drink. A muddled drink. Each drink should be three to four ingredients maximum. This way, people are learning three techniques and from those, at home you can continue to build and experiment, but nothing is too complicated.”
Also consider your guest list. If someone is not a drinker, make sure there are non-alcoholic spirits to experiment with or recipes that can remain spirit-free. For this, Patton-Bragg loves the brands Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic and Ritual
Zero Proof.
Shop for supplies
Every party demands a shopping list, but this is more specific. “Making cocktails demands bar tools,” says Patton-Bragg. “You’ll need to buy them, but this means you can create a really cool takeaway, gift-basket moment! Send your guests home with a shaker, a mixing tin, a bar spoon and cute mini bottles or even a small bottle of homemade simple syrup. Keep the guest list five to eight people max. If you have a grand dining room or a large patio, you could do more, but I’d keep it intimate. Cocktails are an intimate thing. Caire Hotel and Restaurant Supply is a local restaurant supply shop that’s open to the public. It’s great for purchasing the tools.”
