Cocktail Classes in the Inner West

Getting Cocktail Classes Right in Inner West

Gin is the thread running through cocktail classes in the Inner West, where the teaching happens inside Marrickville distilleries, led by the people who make the spirit.

Unexpected Guest Distillery makes its gin in a converted Marrickville workshop, complete with a copper still, a terrazzo-tiled bar and a restored 1970s Kombi painted orange, and its classes start from $84 per person. Ester Spirits, on Chalder Street, grew out of a hunt for the perfect Negroni, and that drink is the whole lesson, from $109 per person.

Matching the class to the group:

Hens, bucks and birthday crowds: Unexpected Guest's private classes cater to groups as large as 30, and the final drink of the three arrives with smoke, bubbles or similar flair
Negroni devotees: Ester Spirits starts with its signature classic before two more adventurous variations, slipping in tastes of its aperitivo and not-yet-released bottles
A team social: every guest at Unexpected Guest gets free pretzels, emailed recipes after the event and a mystery sample from behind the scenes
A group that would rather taste than shake: the Flavours of Ester session pours gin, rum, gin cocktails and liqueurs for ten people or more, with salty snacks alongside
A 30th that keeps going: all of Unexpected Guest is available for private hire any day of the week, while Ester's function packages stretch from a simple bar tab to a long-table feast

Unexpected Guest's masterclasses are strictly 18-plus, and groups there can arrange grazing boards or bring in their own food. Ester teaches its Negroni class on Saturdays; for a different day, drop the team an email.

A distiller opens the Unexpected Guest class with a guided gin tasting, covering how the spirit is distilled and how to recognise its flavours
The three cocktails escalate: something long and easy first, then a stronger sipper paired with tips on batching drinks for a crowd, then a showpiece
Ester's hour is hands-on from the start, ending with three Negronis each guest has built
Unexpected Guest rotates its featured gins and cocktails, so a return visit won't repeat the same class

Food, flavour and the room

Cheese and charcuterie arrive during Ester's class; at Unexpected Guest the kitchen menu stays open for hungry guests
Ester's gins lean heavily on botanicals, a good sign for a group that likes bold flavour
Seating at Unexpected Guest is themed around its four core gins, and the orange Kombi doubles as a mobile bar at outside events
For a function, Ester can style the room with hanging fruit, flowers, martini and oyster stations, and an open-fire feast cooked out front

Answers to Common Cocktail Class Questions

How long does a gin cocktail masterclass run in Marrickville?

Allow two hours or so at Unexpected Guest Distillery for the gin tasting plus three cocktails. Ester Spirits' Negroni masterclass wraps up in an hour.

Can a hens or bucks group book a private cocktail class?

Yes. Unexpected Guest takes private masterclass bookings for hens, bucks, birthdays and teams of up to 30. At Ester Spirits, private tastings start at ten guests, and the distillery also hosts birthdays, engagements and farewells.

Is there a minimum age for these classes?

Everyone taking a masterclass at Unexpected Guest has to be 18 or older. Ester's Negroni sessions are held on Saturdays, so check with the team if your group needs another day.

What do the Inner West cocktail classes cost?

Unexpected Guest Distillery starts from $84 per person, and Ester Spirits from $109 per person, with cheese and charcuterie boards served during the Negroni class.

Cocktail Classes in Inner West

Find the Right Cocktail Class in Inner West