The 5 Best Cocktail Making Classes in Calgary That’ll Introduce You to a Whole New World of Exciting Flavors
My friends and I usually try to meet up for dinner at least once a month. We catch up, play board games, and bond over a delicious potluck.
We usually just bring appetizers or mains. So one day, I thought, why not wow them by making cocktails on the spot? The only problem was that I didn’t know where to start.
I proceeded to do some research and luckily found some great classes for this in the city. Whether you want to impress your friends like me or just want to gain a new skill, these are the cocktail-making classes in Calgary you should join.
1. Two Rivers Distillery
– Media credit: two rivers distillery
Address: 453 42 Avenue Southeast Calgary, AB T2G 1Y3
Contact details: (403)-455-9759
Operating Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday/Wednesday: 3pm-9pm
- Thursday: 3pm-10pm
- Friday: 12pm-11pm (unless live music)
- Saturday: 12pm-11pm (unless live music)
- Sunday: 2pm-7pm
Two Rivers Distillery offers an immersive experience with their Cocktail Making Classes, allowing participants to learn the art of crafting premium cocktails using high-quality spirits. Their focus on local ingredients ensures that each cocktail is built on a solid foundation of Alberta barley and water.
The classes emphasize hands-on learning, teaching both basic and advanced cocktail techniques. Participants gain a better understanding of flavors, balance, and the importance of fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Sustainability is a core part of the distillery’s operations, and their classes reflect this commitment. From reusing water in production to providing spent grain to local ranchers, students also learn about environmentally conscious practices in spirits production.
Two Rivers Distillery has a rich historical legacy that adds depth to their classes. Honoring the sacrifices of the Freeland family and Canadian soldiers, the distillery instills respect for tradition and excellence in every aspect of their instruction.
The distillery uses Canadian-made, handcrafted equipment to produce spirits of the highest quality. Students benefit from learning in an environment that prioritizes precision, craftsmanship, and consistency.
While some ingredients, like citrus for gin, must be sourced internationally, the distillery remains committed to maintaining a predominantly local supply chain. This approach teaches participants the importance of ingredient sourcing in cocktail creation.
Overall, the Cocktail Making Classes at Two Rivers Distillery combine education, hands-on experience, and respect for tradition. The result is an enjoyable and informative session that leaves participants with practical skills and a deeper appreciation for craft spirits.
| Pro tip: Come prepared with curiosity and a taste for experimentation. The more questions you ask and the more you try different combinations, the more you’ll get out of the class—both in learning cocktail techniques and understanding how local ingredients shape flavor. |
2. Metropolitan School of Bartending
– Media credit: metrobartendingyyc
Address: Calgary Place Apartments, 608 9 St SW
Contact details: +1 403 401 0499
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 to 10:00 PM
- Saturday- 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday, Sunday – Closed
The Metropolitan School of Bartending is where most of Calgary’s best mixologists hail from. This is the place to go to if you want to become a master at serving alcohol.
They offer courses on bartending, flair bartending, and mixology. And all it takes is at least 20 hours to get certified.
But if you’re looking for something more like a workshop, they also host sessions that only last for 2 hours. You can do this as a fun activity for a party, a ladies’ night, or a corporate event.
What’s especially great is that each class has a limit of 10 students. This allows everyone to be more comfortable with each other and really soak in what the instructors are saying.
And speaking of instructors, we think the ones here are fantastic. Whether you have experience or are a total newbie, they’ll help you gain a ton of confidence in mixing by the end of the class.
| Pro tip: If your schedule requires some flexibility, the Metropolitan School of Bartending offers both daytime and evening bartending courses for its students. You’re welcome to attend whichever one works for you. |
3. Shelter Cocktail Bar
– Media credit: shelter.yyc
Address: 1210 1 St SE
Contact details: +1 403 233 7730
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Friday to Saturday – 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday – 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM
You may have heard of Shelter Cocktail Bar for its unique post-apocalyptic theme and Mad Max-esque architecture. Or you may have seen it in lists like North America’s 50 Best Bars or Canada’s 100 Best Bars.
But with delicious cocktails like their Banana Bread, Mezcaltini, and Nightmare on 1st Street, it’s impossible not to be noticed. Fortunately for us, we can learn from the greats who regularly make these iconic drinks.
This bar offers public and private classes that’ll take you on a journey into the exciting world of cocktails. You’ll be diving into its history, the glassware, bar tools, lingo, and more. As for me, this is how I learned what the terms ‘Muddle’ and ‘Float’ meant.
By the end of the class, you’ll know how to make 3 outstanding cocktails that’ll be the highlight of your next dinner party.
| Pro tip: Shelter Cocktail Bar also offers special non-alcoholic and low ABV (alcohol by volume) classes that focus on how to make mocktails and session/aperitif cocktails. |
4. Burwood Distillery
– Media credit: burwooddistillery
Address: 2566 Flanders Ave SW Suite 100
Contact details: +1 403 276 8410
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Burwood Distillery is for those who love the classics. This award-winning establishment uses traditional distillation techniques to create some of the best liqueurs and spirits available in Calgary.
There are multiple ways to sample their products, such as through their restaurant Veranda at The Stables or by joining a Distillery Tour & Tasting. For us, though, we think the best way is by signing up for one of their classes.
Some of their most popular offerings include cask blending classes, gin-making classes, and, of course, distillation & mixology classes.
But what makes the last one so special is that you don’t just ‘mix’, you get to make the cocktail components from scratch, too. Where else would you be able to craft alcohols and ingredients like falernum and orgeat?
After the class, you get to leave with the custom bottle you crafted and make your own cocktails at home.
| Pro tip: If you have a larger group, you can book a private class with Burwood Distillery. Just send them an email instead of filling out the form on their website. |
5. Confluence Distilling
– Media credit: confluence_distilling
Address: 507 36 Ave SE
Contact details: +1 403 521 4738
Operating Hours:
- Thursday – 5:00 to 10:00 PM
- Friday – 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- Saturday – 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday – 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Monday to Wednesday – Closed
Confluence Distilling is a micro-distillery with big flavors. This place essentially knows everything there is to know about cocktails, and people travel from all over just for a taste.
But that’s not the only reason they’re so popular. Their classes are also some of the most fun cocktail workshops in the city.
They host a bunch of themed sessions, usually depending on the season. In the past, they’ve had classes centered on Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and even Canada Day (which naturally incorporated a lot of maple syrup).
However, my favorites are always the ones where they focus on a certain drink, like prosecco or whisky. I’ve gotten so many ideas on what to make at home from these workshops.
Plus, I think it’s very nice that these classes are inclusive, too. Just let them know if you have any dietary preferences, and they’ll be happy to swap out certain ingredients.
| Pro tip: Confluence Distilling occasionally posts the recipes for some of their most delicious drinks online. Just check their socials or website to find out how to make these amazing cocktails yourself. |