So, you’re thinking of taking a virtual mixology class.
Maybe you’re a career professional looking to double your tips in no time by honing your skills. Or maybe you’re just a hobbyist wanting to knock your friends’ socks off with killer cocktails.
Either way, you’re going to need a cracker of a cocktail course to get the blood pumping and the alcoholic juices flowing, and here at MixologyU, we’ve got the best pick of the bunch.
With so much of the world going online these days, mixology courses are following the trends.
Gone are the days of shelling out for overpriced courses in your hometown because they’re the only ones available. Now you’ve got the chance to learn from the comfort of your own kitchen!
If that sounds like the best way to get you making the best cocktails in town, then let’s jump right into it:
The Three Best Online Mixology Classes in 2023
Best Overall: BarSmarts
This isn’t just some virtual mixology course hastily created by a few individuals. No, BarSmarts is much more.
This industry standard course is brought to you by none other than Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest spirits distiller.
Never heard of them? They’re the producers of Absolut Vodka, Jameson’s Whiskey, and Havana Club rum, along with many more brands. So you know you’re in safe hands.
They actually sell two courses: ‘Spirits and Wine Knowledge for Beginners’ and ‘Comprehensive Bartenders Spirits Training’.
If you’re looking to take your mixology game to the next level, the latter is going to be your course of choice.
What’s so great about it? I’m glad you asked. It covers everything you could ever need to know about bartending and making cocktails, whether you’re an enthusiastic hobbyist or a seasoned professional, including the history of spirits, different profiles and pairings, and how to make a vast array of cocktails.
Students only have 2 attempts to pass the exam, and 60 days to complete the overall course, which may seem daunting at first, but it shouldn’t be too much of a task, as the course is great at going into all the detail you’ll need to ace it the first time around.
Priced at only $29 (less than the cost of a good bottle of liquor), the BarSmarts course has to be considered the best online mixology class out there. You can check it out here.
Best Online Cocktail-Making Class: A Bar Above
So, forget the overall winner, with all those other pesky considerations like price. What’s the best, no holds barred, money no object course out there? You’re not happy with just making the drinks as they’re supposed to be made.
For you, mixology is an art form, and you’re going to be the Caravaggio of cocktails! Then A Bar Above’s ‘Mixology Certification Program’ is your creme de la creme.
Created by career Bartender Chris Tunstall, with years of experience in the industry, the Mixology Certification Program will not only teach you how to nail the classics but create your own, new, never before tasted cocktails without the lengthy trial and error you’d otherwise have to endure.
The course is split nicely into two parts, one for understanding your ingredients, and the other for balancing their flavors.
The whole course is mobile optimized and comes with handy cheat sheets to help you out on the go so you’re never left in a tight spot.
The final cherry on the cake? You get access to a community of like-minded, passionate bartenders with A Bar Above’s Facebook group, meaning you can ask questions, float ideas, and get inspiration at the touch of your fingers.
So what’s the catch? Chris’ course isn’t cheap at $147, but it’s worth every cent.
Not only do you have access to the most in-depth, expert course on the Internet, but an entire community of people with the same goals as you. And there’s no expiry date, that price includes lifetime access.
If the Mixology Certification Program sounds like your thing, then don’t waste any time checking it out.
Best Virtual Cocktail Class with Kit: TT Liquor
Let’s say you’re a complete beginner. Or maybe you’ve been working as a bartender for a few months, but all your kit is at work, making a home cocktail masterclass a tricky task.
That’s where TT Liquor steps in.
Once you’re booked up onto one of their courses, they’ll send all the equipment (and importantly drinks) to your door so you’re perfectly prepared.
The only thing you need to provide is yourself, and the ice. If you really don’t want to (or can’t) go out and get the ice, TT Liquor has a handy guide to making bar-grade ice at home on their website.
With your choice of either public or private classes, the TT Liquor program is designed to cater to everybody, and allow you to get the most out of your experience.
Classes conclude with a fun competition to see who can make the best cocktail out of the ingredients in their box.
This course is tailored a little more towards hobbyists and isn’t as serious as some of the other courses on the internet, with no formal exams to take, but don’t let that fool you if you’re a professional, there’s something here for everyone.
So how much will this bundle of mixolo-joy set you back? TT Liquor price their course at £60, so it fluctuates slightly with exchange rates, but it’s about $52.
Don’t be put off by the British price tag though, TT Liquor ships worldwide so you can enjoy their cocktail-making classes from the comfort of wherever you happen to call home.
If this online mixology course sounds like it’s for you, or maybe you want to gift a friend or a loved one a redeemable voucher to one of their courses, check out TT Liquor here.
5 Other Great Online Mixology Courses to Consider
Bartending Mastery – Cocktail and Bartending Masterclass
If you know anything about online mixology courses, you’ve probably heard of this one.
This 6-module, 80-lesson course is hosted by online course specialists Udemy, and covers everything from what equipment to use, how to make great cocktails, and even how to write a great CV. You’ll even get a certificate at the end!
This course is definitely tailored towards those bartending professionally, rather than the at-home hobbyists, but the information in there is suited to people from all walks of life, as long as you have a passion for cocktails.
Priced at just over $20, it’s cheap for the amount of content jam-packed into there, and you’ll be sure to come away pleased.
The drawbacks? The music is a bit loud in places and that can make it hard to fully take in everything being taught, but it’s hardly a deal breaker and the course is perfectly understandable.
There’s also a lot of content (such as writing a bartending CV and acing an interview) that isn’t relevant to those just wanting to host some killer parties, which stops it from making our top 3.
If the Udemy course sounds like the sort of thing you’re interested in, check it out here.
Branding Bartenders: The Mobile Bartender Business Bundle
Another one here for the professional bartenders looking to get their career off to a jump start.
This one is a bit too niche to make it into our top 3, but it’s definitely worth a mention because it can provide insane value if you’re looking to set up as your own mobile bartender.
Events happen all the time, and most of them need bartenders.
Whether you want to replace the 9-5 monotonous office job with your own bartending business, start a little side hustle to top up your income on weekends, or you’re already in the hospitality industry and you want to be your own boss and choose your own hours, this course has got it all so you can build from the ground up.
With over 84 lessons and 5.5 hours of video content, the Mobile Bartender Business Bundle is one of the most extensive courses on the market, and won’t leave you scratching your head for more answers. And with plenty of 5-star testimonials, it’s got the social proof to back up the results.
It’s not the cheapest course, at $197, but if you’re looking to scale up a mobile bartending business, that sort of investment is a drop in the ocean compared to what you could make. You can find out more here.
Jamie Oliver’s Drinks Tube
Is this *technically* an online mixology course? I suppose not. Is it an absolute goldmine of brilliant cocktail recipes blended seamlessly with entertaining content? Absolutely!
Jamie and his buddies get together to give you a wealth of cocktail recipes, tips, and tricks (such as how to twirl tonic water down a bar spoon) that are bound to knock your friends’ socks off when you have them over for the evening.
I’m sure industry professionals could easily look down their noses at these short, 3-minute, online cocktail-making classes, but I for one have never found a better Aviation recipe than the one Simone gives here.
Will you get the same depth, detail, and understanding of the history and flavors of a cocktail that you would with a professional, paid course? No, of course not. But if you just want some quick fun recipes that taste great, and look impressive then you can do a lot worse than Drinks Tube.
And the best part? It’s a YouTube channel, so it costs absolutely nothing to access!
