Tools of the Trade: A Practical History of Modern Mixology 

Good Work Austin (GWA) is excited to offer this hands-on training with GWA Member business DrinkWell and owner Jessica Sanders!

Tools of the Trade is a hands-on learning series where GWA member businesses and industry pros help F&B workers build new skills and explore different career paths. In this session, get behind the bar to learn the building blocks of cocktails, practice bartending skills, and explore careers in the beverage world. No bartending experience required!

This session will give students a practical introduction on the history of mixology and the six core cocktail ‘families’ that all food and beverage professionals should know. The class will cover a brief history of spirits and cocktails and show how only six core recipe templates can be used to create hundreds of new drinks. In addition, students will get a peek behind the curtain of a modern cocktail bar to learn about the importance of mise en place when executing a bar menu. Finally, students will learn about the many career opportunities that exist in the beverage world and how to progress from porter/barback up through beverage management.

Following the classroom portion of the session, students will have the opportunity to rotate in small groups in a hands workshop to learn how to use modern bar tools to prepare a basic sour/citrus-forward style cocktail and a basic spirit-forward cocktails using non-alcoholic spirits.