Welcome to your introduction to the art of mixing drinks. This course covers the fundamentals every aspiring bartender needs: understanding spirits, mastering essential tools, learning when to shake versus stir, and making your first classic cocktail. By the end, you will have the skills and confidence to craft balanced, beautiful drinks at home.
Intro to Mixology: Bartending Fundamentals
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Eight lessons covering spirits, tools, techniques, and your first cocktail. Includes knowledge checks.
Course Lessons
Intro to Mixology — Lessons
Eight lessons covering cocktail fundamentals: spirits, tools, techniques, and your first recipe.
1
What is a Cocktail?
15 min
A cocktail is a mixed drink combining a base spirit with other ingredients — sweeteners, citrus, bitters, or modifiers — to create a balanced, flavorful drink. The word dates to 1806, when it was defined as "a stimulating liquor composed of any kind of sugar, water, and bitters." Modern cocktails fall into families: sours (spirit + citrus + sweet), highballs (spirit + mixer), stirred (spirit-forward), and tiki (complex, tropical).
Mark as done
2
The Five Base Spirits
20 min
Every cocktail starts with a base spirit. The five major categories are: Gin — juniper-forward, botanical; Vodka — neutral, clean; Rum — sugarcane-derived, ranges from light to dark; Whiskey — grain-based, aged in barrels (bourbon, rye, Scotch); Tequila — agave-based, ranges from blanco to añejo. Understanding each spirit's flavor profile is the foundation of cocktail creation.
Mark as done
3
Knowledge Check: Base Spirits
multiple choice
Which base spirit is made from juniper berries?
Gin is the only base spirit where juniper is the primary botanical. London Dry Gin must have juniper as the dominant flavor.
4
Essential Bar Tools
15 min
A well-equipped bar needs: a jigger for precise measuring (1 oz / 2 oz), a shaker (Boston or cobbler style) for mixing, a bar spoon for stirring, a strainer (Hawthorne for shaken, julep for stirred), a muddler for crushing herbs and fruit, and a cutting board with knife for garnishes. Start with these six tools and you can make 90%% of classic cocktails.
Mark as done
5
Quiz: Measuring Spirits
multiple choice
What tool is used to measure precise amounts of spirits?
A jigger is a double-sided measuring tool used by bartenders. The standard sizes are 1 oz and 2 oz, though 0.75 oz / 1.5 oz jiggers are also common.
6
The Art of the Shake
20 min
Shaking is for cocktails with citrus, dairy, or egg. Fill the shaker about two-thirds with ice. Add your ingredients, seal firmly, and shake hard for 10-15 seconds. You should feel the tin get frosty cold. Strain immediately into your glass — the longer you wait, the more the ice melts and dilutes the drink.
Shake with large, cold ice cubes. Small or warm ice melts faster, leading to over-dilution.
Mark as done
7
Stirring vs. Shaking
true / false
A Manhattan should be shaken, not stirred.
Spirit-forward cocktails like the Manhattan, Martini, and Negroni are stirred, not shaken. Stirring gently chills and dilutes without introducing air bubbles, keeping the drink silky and clear. Shaking adds aeration and is reserved for drinks with citrus or other opaque ingredients.
8
Make Your First Cocktail
30 min
Your first cocktail: the Gin Sour. Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel. This recipe teaches the fundamental sour ratio (2:1:0.75) that applies to hundreds of cocktails — Whiskey Sour, Daiquiri, Margarita, and more.
The 2:1:0.75 ratio (spirit : citrus : sweet) is the foundation of the entire sour family. Master it and you can improvise endlessly.
Mark as done
9
Visual Identification
multiple choice
Look at the image. What type of scoring pattern is shown?
The single curved score at 30 degrees creates the classic ear — the most common artisan scoring technique.
Required Tools
Essential Bar Tools
The six tools every home bartender needs to make 90% of classic cocktails.
1
Jigger (Course)
tool
double-sided 1 oz / 2 oz — the most important tool behind the bar
1
Boston Shaker
tool
18 oz tin + 28 oz tin (or tin + pint glass)
1
Hawthorne Strainer
tool
spring-loaded, fits inside shaker tin
1
Bar Spoon
tool
long-handled, twisted shaft — doubles as a measuring tool (1 barspoon = 5ml)
1
Muddler
tool
wooden or stainless steel, flat base for crushing herbs and citrus
1 set
set
Cutting Board & Knife
tool
small board + paring knife, dedicated to garnish prep
Your First Recipe
instruction
30 min
Make Your First Cocktail
Your first cocktail: the Gin Sour. Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel. This recipe teaches the fundamental sour ratio (2:1:0.75) that applies to hundreds of cocktails — Whiskey Sour, Daiquiri, Margarita, and more.
The 2:1:0.75 ratio (spirit : citrus : sweet) is the foundation of the entire sour family. Master it and you can improvise endlessly.
Intro to Mixology
course
beginner
120 min
Foundational mixology skills and the ability to make 5 classic cocktails
About This Course
Learn the fundamentals of cocktail-making: base spirits, essential tools, measuring techniques, and your first classic recipes. Includes knowledge checks after each module.
What you'll learn
Foundational mixology skills and the ability to make 5 classic cocktails
Required Materials
1
Jigger (Course)
double-sided 1 oz / 2 oz — the most important tool behind the bar
1
Boston Shaker
18 oz tin + 28 oz tin (or tin + pint glass)
1
Hawthorne Strainer
spring-loaded, fits inside shaker tin
1
Bar Spoon
long-handled, twisted shaft — doubles as a measuring tool (1 barspoon = 5ml)
1
Muddler
wooden or stainless steel, flat base for crushing herbs and citrus
1 set
set
Cutting Board & Knife
small board + paring knife, dedicated to garnish prep
9 lessons
Scroll down for materials & Start Course
Lesson 1 of 9
instruction
15 min
What is a Cocktail?
A cocktail is a mixed drink combining a base spirit with other ingredients — sweeteners, citrus, bitters, or modifiers — to create a balanced, flavorful drink. The word dates to 1806, when it was defined as "a stimulating liquor composed of any kind of sugar, water, and bitters." Modern cocktails fall into families: sours (spirit + citrus + sweet), highballs (spirit + mixer), stirred (spirit-forward), and tiki (complex, tropical).
Lesson 2 of 9
instruction
20 min
The Five Base Spirits
Every cocktail starts with a base spirit. The five major categories are: Gin — juniper-forward, botanical; Vodka — neutral, clean; Rum — sugarcane-derived, ranges from light to dark; Whiskey — grain-based, aged in barrels (bourbon, rye, Scotch); Tequila — agave-based, ranges from blanco to añejo. Understanding each spirit's flavor profile is the foundation of cocktail creation.
Lesson 3 of 9
question
multiple choice
Knowledge Check: Base Spirits
Which base spirit is made from juniper berries?
Gin is the only base spirit where juniper is the primary botanical. London Dry Gin must have juniper as the dominant flavor.
Lesson 4 of 9
instruction
15 min
Essential Bar Tools
A well-equipped bar needs: a jigger for precise measuring (1 oz / 2 oz), a shaker (Boston or cobbler style) for mixing, a bar spoon for stirring, a strainer (Hawthorne for shaken, julep for stirred), a muddler for crushing herbs and fruit, and a cutting board with knife for garnishes. Start with these six tools and you can make 90%% of classic cocktails.
Lesson 5 of 9
question
multiple choice
Quiz: Measuring Spirits
What tool is used to measure precise amounts of spirits?
A jigger is a double-sided measuring tool used by bartenders. The standard sizes are 1 oz and 2 oz, though 0.75 oz / 1.5 oz jiggers are also common.
Lesson 6 of 9
instruction
20 min
The Art of the Shake
Shaking is for cocktails with citrus, dairy, or egg. Fill the shaker about two-thirds with ice. Add your ingredients, seal firmly, and shake hard for 10-15 seconds. You should feel the tin get frosty cold. Strain immediately into your glass — the longer you wait, the more the ice melts and dilutes the drink.
Shake with large, cold ice cubes. Small or warm ice melts faster, leading to over-dilution.
Lesson 7 of 9
question
true / false
Stirring vs. Shaking
A Manhattan should be shaken, not stirred.
Spirit-forward cocktails like the Manhattan, Martini, and Negroni are stirred, not shaken. Stirring gently chills and dilutes without introducing air bubbles, keeping the drink silky and clear. Shaking adds aeration and is reserved for drinks with citrus or other opaque ingredients.
Lesson 8 of 9
instruction
30 min
Make Your First Cocktail
Your first cocktail: the Gin Sour. Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel. This recipe teaches the fundamental sour ratio (2:1:0.75) that applies to hundreds of cocktails — Whiskey Sour, Daiquiri, Margarita, and more.
The 2:1:0.75 ratio (spirit : citrus : sweet) is the foundation of the entire sour family. Master it and you can improvise endlessly.
Lesson 9 of 9
question
multiple choice
Visual Identification
Look at the image. What type of scoring pattern is shown?
The single curved score at 30 degrees creates the classic ear — the most common artisan scoring technique.
Course Complete!
1
What is a Cocktail?
A cocktail is a mixed drink combining a base spirit with other ingredients — sweeteners, citrus, bitters, or modifiers — to create a balanced, flavorful drink. The word dates to 1806, when it was defined as "a stimulating liquor composed of any kind of sugar, water, and bitters." Modern cocktails fall into families: sours (spirit + citrus + sweet), highballs (spirit + mixer), stirred (spirit-forward), and tiki (complex, tropical).
2
The Five Base Spirits
Every cocktail starts with a base spirit. The five major categories are: Gin — juniper-forward, botanical; Vodka — neutral, clean; Rum — sugarcane-derived, ranges from light to dark; Whiskey — grain-based, aged in barrels (bourbon, rye, Scotch); Tequila — agave-based, ranges from blanco to añejo. Understanding each spirit's flavor profile is the foundation of cocktail creation.
3
Knowledge Check: Base Spirits
Which base spirit is made from juniper berries?
4
Essential Bar Tools
A well-equipped bar needs: a jigger for precise measuring (1 oz / 2 oz), a shaker (Boston or cobbler style) for mixing, a bar spoon for stirring, a strainer (Hawthorne for shaken, julep for stirred), a muddler for crushing herbs and fruit, and a cutting board with knife for garnishes. Start with these six tools and you can make 90%% of classic cocktails.
5
Quiz: Measuring Spirits
What tool is used to measure precise amounts of spirits?
6
The Art of the Shake
Shaking is for cocktails with citrus, dairy, or egg. Fill the shaker about two-thirds with ice. Add your ingredients, seal firmly, and shake hard for 10-15 seconds. You should feel the tin get frosty cold. Strain immediately into your glass — the longer you wait, the more the ice melts and dilutes the drink.
7
Stirring vs. Shaking
A Manhattan should be shaken, not stirred.
8
Make Your First Cocktail
Your first cocktail: the Gin Sour. Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel. This recipe teaches the fundamental sour ratio (2:1:0.75) that applies to hundreds of cocktails — Whiskey Sour, Daiquiri, Margarita, and more.
9
Visual Identification
Look at the image. What type of scoring pattern is shown?