Mixology Class: Ode to Kentucky Whiskey & American Cocktails

Kentucky is the spiritual home of American whiskey. May is the Month of the Kentucky Derby. The Mint Julep is the official drink of the Derby. The Julep itself is considered the first “American mixed drink,” and it cannot be overstated how the intersection of good whiskey and the availability of ice 200 years ago was the starting point not only for the golden age of the Cocktail but also for the birth of mixology.

For our May class, we will focus on American whiskey and the cocktails that go with it. From Juleps and Bittered Slings to Fixes, we will make three cocktails that celebrate whiskey and demonstrate the genesis of how we drink centuries later. We will also touch on the history of the whiskey industry in America, from its humble beginnings in pre-revolutionary era Pennsylvania, its hibernation during Prohibition and the mid-century, to its rebirth in the 1990s with the single-barrel Bourbon boom and the Pappy Van Winkle/allocated whiskey crash of the 2010s.

Lastly, we will discuss the terms of the trade, what makes a whiskey Bourbon, what designations like “Straight Whiskey”, “Bottled in Bond,” and “Mashbill” mean, and how to use that information when you are perusing your local ABC store. As always, Chef Katie will supply the savory snacks!

This month's skill-building class will take place at Little Gem on Tuesday, May 19, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Spaces will be limited to 16 seats total, so be sure to reserve yours today! Standard tickets are available at $75 (includes plated snacks from Beau Catering, three cocktails, and recipe cards for each cocktail so you can make them at home). Premium tickets are $100 each and also include a themed Little Gem/Beau Catering gift bag full of holiday-inspired goodies. Hope to see you there!

Can't make it? Save the dates for our upcoming classes:

Tuesday, 6/16: The Martini: Evolution, Myth, and Mystique

Tuesday, 7/21: Agava & Tequila Time!

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