Cocktails 101 at Chew Valley Distillery
What you'll do
Have you ever taken a sip of a drink and thought 'how did they do that?' Have you tried to make cocktails at home, only to be disappointed they didn't taste quite right? Do you still think all cocktails are sickly sweet, bright blue and decorated with umbrellas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then this is the evening for you!
Join your host at Chew Valley Distillery's bar for an evening of dissecting classic cocktails, exploring their exciting ingredients, and mastering the basic techniques used when creating them.
With a special focus on gin, you will begin the evening talking about the hazy history of cocktails, before moving on to some of the different ways we can define and categorise them. Soon enough you'll get hands-on with the shakers and bar spoons, tasting the distillery's ingredients. You'll learn how and why they combine ingredients in the ways they do.
Finally, you'll design your own cocktail and present it to the distillery's resident 'expert' for critique. By the end of the night, you will have picked up a few tricks and will be heading home with the confidence to throw together a round of drinks for your next get together!
You'll be sent home with a miniature version of one of the distillery's gins, a cocktail spec list, and a summary of all the techniques you covered. You'll fancy yourself a right connoisseur by the end! (Your host also understands if some things they talk about slip through the cracks because you're enjoying the cocktails so much...)
Upcoming dates
What you'll do
Have you ever taken a sip of a drink and thought 'how did they do that?' Have you tried to make cocktails at home, only to be disappointed they didn't taste quite right? Do you still think all cocktails are sickly sweet, bright blue and decorated with umbrellas? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then this is the evening for you!
Join your host at Chew Valley Distillery's bar for an evening of dissecting classic cocktails, exploring their exciting ingredients, and mastering the basic techniques used when creating them.
With a special focus on gin, you will begin the evening talking about the hazy history of cocktails, before moving on to some of the different ways we can define and categorise them. Soon enough you'll get hands-on with the shakers and bar spoons, tasting the distillery's ingredients. You'll learn how and why they combine ingredients in the ways they do.
Finally, you'll design your own cocktail and present it to the distillery's resident 'expert' for critique. By the end of the night, you will have picked up a few tricks and will be heading home with the confidence to throw together a round of drinks for your next get together!
You'll be sent home with a miniature version of one of the distillery's gins, a cocktail spec list, and a summary of all the techniques you covered. You'll fancy yourself a right connoisseur by the end! (Your host also understands if some things they talk about slip through the cracks because you're enjoying the cocktails so much...)
Share this experience
Yuup extras
- 10% off everything in the shop!
Facilities
- Refreshments available
- Toilets
COVID-19 guidelines
- The distillery and bar is an intimate venue. Your host will be wearing a mask during the portions of the session when proximity is required
- Your hosts make hand sanitiser from the byproduct of their gin and it smells amazing, be sure to use it when you arrive and throughout the experience
On the day
- Please arrive promptly. Let your hosts know if you're running late
- Your hosts are located in Chew Magna, just outside Bristol. If you're attending, please make arrangements for getting to and from the venue before you leave. You definitely won't be able to drive by the end! If you're booking a taxi (V-Cars or Uber are best) your hosts strongly recommend booking your return journey before. This experience lasts 90 mins, but can occasionally overrun by half an hour after some drinks...
Changes happen, don't worry
About Chew Valley Distillery
Chew Valley Distillery is a tiny microdistillery and bar based in Chew Magna. They distil a range of award-winning gins - using traditional copper pot stills and vapour infusion techniques to extract the maximum flavour from their lovely botanicals. In addition to a classic London Dry gin, they produce a Navy Strength one, a selection of ‘flavoured’ gins, and limited runs of unique Distiller’s Editions, inspired by seasonal flavours.
The best place to enjoy their gins is at their intimate bar, right next to the stills used to make them. Whether you love a G&T, fancy trying one of their expertly-made cocktails, or would just prefer to crack open a local beer, Chew Valley Distillery has something for everyone. If you’re just passing through, you can always grab a bottle to take home. Don't miss out on their tasting sessions to help you narrow down the choice!
View more experiences by Chew Valley DistilleryYour host
Professional Gin Slinger / Beverage Manager Jan has been making cocktails since the questionable age of 10. More recently, he has honed his bar skills over the past seven years. He's refined his knowledge so much he's able to reliably bore his partner senseless whenever they go out for a drink. You can ask him anything about alcohol - by the time he's finished answering your question, you will likely have learned three things you didn't know you needed to. But what cracking knowledge it will be!
During your time at the distillery, Jan will give you a detailed overview of how spirits are made, offer advice on how best to use them, help you taste them, or simply just serve you a great drink and chat for a bit.
How to get there
Any questions?
Ask your question directly to Chew Valley Distillery.