The 5 Best NYC Spots To Learn Home Bartending Tricks
Astor Center
399 Lafayette St.
New York, NY
(212) 674-7501
astorcenternyc.com/
Known for its professional-grade kitchen and classroom space, Astor Center offers a continuous schedule of culinary, wine and cocktail courses. From beginner mixology (try the Cocktail Lab on Oct. 24) to more specialized sessions (such as Tequila and Mezcal for the Wine Lover on Oct. 12), Astor's classes are hands-on and led by some of the top bartending professionals in NYC. Plus, if you are feeling inspired, you can pick up ingredients for your home bar at Astor Wines & Spirits downstairs.
Brooklyn Winery
213 N. 8th St.
Brooklyn, NY
(347) 763-1506
bkwinery.com/
You can make your own wine at Brooklyn Winery, for a substantial fee, or you can dabble in their series of wine classes at a much more affordable rate. On Oct. 10, check out The $25 Wine Class: Sauvignon Blanc, a beginner's course explaining the grape and a tasting tour of three different varieties, each with a unique terroir.
Idle Hands
25 Ave. B
New York, NY
(917) 338-7090
idlehandsbar.com/
On Wednesday nights, this East Village bar offers Learning to Beer and Bourbon tastings for just $10. On Oct. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m., learn about the history of Breckenridge Brewery and Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey from each brand's representatives. Your ticket gets you up to two tastes of the featured bourbon, three tastes of the featured beer, two full pours from the featured beer plus some yummy tater tots.
The Brooklyn Kitchen
100 Frost St.
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 389-2982
thebrooklynkitchen.com
The Brooklyn Kitchen offers a variety of classes for the home cook, and boozy sessions have covered everything from brewing your own beer to making your own bitters. On Oct. 7, learn how to make your own cocktail mixers such as grenadine, ginger syrup and citrus syrups with master bartender John DeBary of Momofuku Ssam Bar and PDT.
The Institute of Culinary Education
50 W. 23rd St.
New York, NY
(800) 522-4610
iceculinary.com
ICE's classes on wine, beer and spirits range from beginner level to expert, and tend to focus on the classics. On Nov. 4, check out the Martini Master Class led by Anthony Caporale, a professional bar instructor and bar chef as well as host of Art of the Drink TV and beverage manager for Bobby Flay's flagship Mesa Grill. Learn what goes into a classic martini as well as variations including the Gibson, Manhattan, Cosmopolitan and Espresso Martini.
