cocktail mixing class

i dont drink. well, one reason is that i'm not a bar or pub-goer so there's very few times that i get the chance to go out and drink. second reason is that since i seldom drink, i have a tendency to get red and itchy when i drink anything with alcohol content, especially if i haven't had food to eat. my "allergy" tends to show up more often when i drink wine (esp white wine) and vodka. i feel envious whenever we go out with my foreigner colleagues who all love to drink and feel pathetic that i can't. so when i saw a deal from cashcash pinoy offering cocktail mixing class at a bargain, i immediately bought the deal. first reason is i want to learn what makes up the different cocktails and taste them so that next time i go to a bar i know which drink to choose (i normally go for mojito, pina colada or margarita). second reason is i want to learn how to make a drink. third reason is i want to do or learn something different and fourth reason is to meet new people.

i was the first to arrive at 8.15 am on a bright saturday morning. i took the chance to take a pic while there's no one around. just seeing all the drinks and different glasses got me anticipating for the class ahead!

finally everyone started arriving.. there was a huge hyper group of 7, then 2 girls and 3 girls. i was alone because my friend A booked the later class. nevertheless, the group was pretty awesome and friendly. funny how when you say drink we normally think of guys but in this class, there were only 2 guys and 1 didn't even drink!

first the trainer (who was really good!) talked about the different equipment needed (eg. hawthorne strainer, mixer, jigger), the different kinds of glasses, the components of the bar, the components of a drink (special agent, modifier, spirits), the types of drinks (aperitif, dinner, long drinks) and kinds of mixing (stir, shake, build, blend, muddling).

by 10 am, everyone was raring to start the mixing session! first up was my fave, mojito. the way it went was the trainer will make the first one and then someone from the class will go in front and do the same drink. the drinks will then be distributed around so that everyone will have the chance to taste the drink. and so it goes... green apple daiquiri, watermelon margarita (i was the one who prepared this and they called it the Marjorita), whiskey sour, screwdriver, long island iced tea, tequila sunrise, cosmopolitan... by this time, everyone had their share of drinks and were starting to get rowdy. i was personally feeling a little woozy but enjoying every single drink! i love the drinks because they were well mixed.. i didn't really taste the spirit much but knew it was there. an hour and a half later, the trainer was making the B52 (is it the same as blow job).. and some were egging each other to drink it the way it should be (without using the hands). the trainer also started accepting requests so he made his personal brain hemorrhage.

by 12 noon, the class was mellowing down (maybe from all the drinks we had) and the trainer made his personally concocted mocktails like virgin blush, green pine..and a holiday dessert drink using cheesecake syrup and was super delish!!

PBCA then each handed us a certificate of completion and we took a class picture.

overall, it was a very fun saturday class!! i really hope i can put my new knowledge to good use and whip some cool drinks for myself or for my friends!