Local Mixology Class Teaches Classic Cocktails

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — When you order a cocktail, have you ever been unsure of the ingredients in your drink?

A local class is one way to enhance your recipe repertoire.

The Gallery Bar at the Ballantyne Hotel hosted a Mixology class Saturday to teach participants the perfect way to make a cocktail.

Participants watched as Bartender Mark Childers prepared four different cocktails including the classic Martini, the Margarita, the Manhattan and the Mojito.

To view a video of the cocktail class, CLICK HERE.

Childers explained that although most bartenders do a three count when pouring alcohol into cocktails, he does a two count to give customers more alcohol.

The margarita was the first drink of the evening, and Childers recommended that people use Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice as the mixer.

The key to making cocktails does not only involve the correct ingredients, but also lies in the correct presentation. Small touches such as garnishes and glass type often determine the type of cocktail.

"It's always interesting to me that a drink can change just by the garnish," Childers said.

Garnishes should always be on the edge of a glass unless a customer orders a martini.

There are four different types of cocktail glasses: the rocks glass, the highball glass, the champagne glass and the martini glass.

A simple phrase determines the glass that a bartender will use for the cocktail.

If ordered ‘straight up', bartenders will serve a Manhattan cocktail in a traditional martini glass. In contrast, bartenders use rocks glasses if customers order a ‘neat' Manhattan.

The class was small with only six participants, but the size allowed Jeff Walters to request a Bloody Mary demonstration.

Colleen Adams travels from Cary to Charlotte for events and has attended several food and beverage classes at the Ballantyne Hotel.

Adams insists that her favorite cocktail is the Bloody Mary. "Everybody makes variations but I've never seen it made [in front of me] before," she said.

The Mixology class at the Gallery Bar was $25 per person and $40 per couple. The Ballantyne Hotel holds monthly food and beverage classes.

WSOC