Seco Cocktail Classes

If you’ve read my blog for a while (or if you follow me on Instagram) then you know I’ve been learning to make cocktails during the pandemic. I’ve loved cocktails for a while but I only really knew how to make the very basics, and even then I didn’t really know why my at-home drinks didn’t taste as good as the drinks at a bar. Enter Seco Cocktail classes by Carlie Steiner.

Earlier in the pandemic we got some wine and cocktail packages delivered from Seco. The cocktail recipe cards were so helpful and fun, so when I saw that Carlie was starting to teach cocktail classes on Zoom I was immediately sold! I don’t know how to describe these classes without sounding corny or like I’m exaggerating so you’re going to have to bear with me for a bit.

First, you don’t really feel like you’re doing a Zoom class during these cocktail classes. Carlie has somehow managed to capture the same energy as hanging out in your favorite bar with your friends…while you’re on the internet with (mostly) strangers. I credit most of this to Carlie’s contagious energy and to the fact that she asks everyone to leave their sound on so you can hear others mixing or shaking their drinks and cheers-ing and laughing. Plus if you’re like me and you’ve attended almost every single public class that’s been offered, you start to recognize other people in the class and feel like you’ve made some new friends–a true feat during this pandemic!

Every class is centered on a theme–think Sours, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, egg white cocktails, sparkling wine cocktails–and you get a super cute flier with the necessary ingredients and tools ahead of time. And if for some reason you can’t find an ingredient that you need Carlie always has suggestions on what easier-to-find ingredient you can sub in.

I’ve learned so so much during these classes. They’re the perfect balance of fun and information. Carlie teaches you how to make the specific drinks listed for the class, but also goes out of her way to talk about cocktail history and theory. So not only do you walk away knowing how to make a margarita, but you walk away knowing how to tweak the recipe to your taste, and how to use that information to make any other type of sour you could want!

I could seriously go on and on about how much I love these classes, but honestly I think you shouldn’t take my word for it. You should sign up for a class with me! Public classes are only $30 (which is a freaking steal) and they’re usually at about 8pm EST which feels accessible for my west coasters as well (since you don’t have to actually go anywhere).

I’m going to stop now since this is starting to sound like an ad (it’s not, I swear), but seriously if you want to sign up for a class please tell me and we can take one together! Even if you know a lot about bartending/cocktail making I promise you’ll still learn something and have a great time!