Cocktail Classes in Marrickville

Getting Cocktail Classes Right in Marrickville

Marrickville's cocktail classes take place inside working gin distilleries, so the lesson starts with the spirit itself. At 12 Cadogan Street, Unexpected Guest Distillery runs a two-hour gin flight and cocktail masterclass in an old mechanic's workshop with a copper still and a terrazzo-tiled bar, and Ester Spirits on Chalder Street teaches an hour-long, fully hands-on Negroni class.

How the classes compare:

Length: close to two hours for Unexpected Guest's class, an hour for Ester's
What you make: three cocktails of your own at each, starting with a long drink and ending on something with smoke or bubbles at Unexpected Guest, and three takes on the Negroni at Ester
Food: pretzels on the house and an open food menu at Unexpected Guest; cheese and charcuterie boards served with Ester's class
Groups: Unexpected Guest takes private groups as large as 30; Ester's private tastings start at ten
Price: from $84 per person at Unexpected Guest, from $109 per person at Ester Spirits

At Unexpected Guest a distiller leads a guided tasting of the gins before everyone heads behind the bar, and the featured gins change regularly, so no two classes run quite the same. Ester's class also lets guests sample its aperitivo and products that haven't reached the shelves.

Private masterclasses at Unexpected Guest cater for birthdays, hens and bucks parties, work socials and team days
Food there can be grazing boards arranged by the distillery or catering you bring in yourself
Flavours of Ester, the distillery's private tasting for ten or more, pours gin, rum, liqueurs and a couple of classic gin cocktails
Salty snacks come with that tasting, and the team can talk distilling or simply keep the glasses moving

Turning the class into a party

Unexpected Guest can be hired in full seven days a week, for anything from an engagement to a 30th
A restored orange 1970s Kombi works as Unexpected Guest's mobile bar at outside events
Ester Spirits packages for a birthday, engagement or farewell range from a simple bar tab with snacks to a grazing-table cocktail party or a feast at long tables
Ester can dress the space with hanging fruit and flowers, white tablecloths and martini and oyster stations

Answers to Common Cocktail Class Questions

Which Marrickville cocktail class suits a hens party?

Unexpected Guest Distillery runs private masterclasses for hens groups of up to 30, where everyone mixes three cocktails behind the bar.

Is there an age limit for the gin masterclass?

Yes, guests must be 18 or over to take part in a masterclass at Unexpected Guest.

Do we take anything home from the class?

At Unexpected Guest, the recipes arrive by email afterwards and each guest leaves with a mystery sample from behind the scenes.

When do the Negroni masterclasses run?

Ester Spirits runs its Negroni class on Saturdays, and groups can email the distillery to ask about another day.

Cocktail Classes in Marrickville

Find the Right Cocktail Class in Marrickville