Have you been considering taking a cocktail course? Whether you’re dreaming of a career behind the bar or just want to become the go-to cocktail expert in your friend group, enrolling in a cocktail course can be a fun, eye-opening, and incredibly useful experience. Exactly what you’ll learn will depend on the cocktail making course you choose to enrol in, but as a general rule, they should give you a solid foundation in bartending fundamentals, creativity in presentation, plus added confidence behind the bar.
Express Online Training has partnered with Streamline Training to provide an Introduction to Cocktails course that’s fun and informative. This fully online cocktail course is perfect for those just starting out, and covers a number of different skills and knowledge areas. Let’s dive into what you can expect to learn in this comprehensive cocktail course.
The history of cocktails
Before you pick up a shaker, you’ll travel back in time. Learning the history of cocktails adds context to what you’re crafting. You’ll discover how classic drinks were born, and different important events in history that shaped the landscape of cocktails. Understanding the roots of cocktail culture both deepens your appreciation of the artform, and gives you more knowledge to pass along to customers while you’re crafting and servicing drinks.
About bartending careers
While some people treat bartending as a job to have while completing further study, others see it as a lifelong career. In this cocktail course online, you’ll learn about the different paths bartenders can take: from working in casual pubs and luxury hotels to high-end cocktail bars. The course will explain the different options you have to choose from in this career path.
Workstation layout
A chaotic bar equals a chaotic bartender, and nobody wants that! One of the core lessons in a cocktail course is how to set up your workstation efficiently. You’ll learn how to organise your tools, bottles, and ingredients for speed and safety. This is essential during busy shifts where seconds count.Knowing your layout helps streamline your workflow and reduces stress, so you can focus on delivering perfect drinks, rather than fumbling around for a muddler or strainer.
Cocktail bar glassware
Have you ever noticed how different cocktails come in different glasses? This cocktail course will teach you all about the different types of glassware to familiarise yourself with when bartending. Each glass is chosen to enhance aroma, temperature, and presentation. Serving a drink in the wrong glass can alter its flavour and perception. You’ll learn to pair drinks with the correct glass to elevate every cocktail you make.
Cocktail equipment
From the shaker to the strainer to the jigger, cocktail-making is a hands-on craft. In bartending, your tools should act as extensions of your hands. This cocktail training course walks you through the gear you’ll use: shakers, muddling sticks, strainers, and more. You’ll learn how to use each piece properly so you won’t be confused about which item is used for which action.
Bar hygiene
A sticky bar is a no-go. Bar hygiene might not be the most glamorous part of the course, but it’s an important part, nonetheless. In this section, you’ll cover elements like how to keep your workspace clean, avoid cross-contamination, and ensure your setup meets health and safety standards. Cleanliness is also part of professionalism. A spotless workstation sends a message that you take pride in what you do.
Methods for making cocktails
Shaken or stirred? Built or muddled? There are several different techniques for making cocktails, and you’ll learn all about them in this course. There’s a reason for these methods too, like how shaking cools and aerates a drink (making it well-suited to citrus-based cocktails), while stirring keeps the texture for spirit-heavy drinks. Mastering these techniques makes you adaptable and ensures you create balanced, consistent drinks every time.
Types of cocktails
A well-rounded bartender knows their families of cocktails. This means the major categories like sours, highballs, flips, martinis, fizzes, tiki drinks, and more. In this course, you’ll study the major categories of cocktails and where the most common cocktails fit in. Recognising patterns between cocktails helps you build new ones and customise drinks based on your guest’s taste.
Mocktails
Not every great drink needs booze. Mocktails (alcohol-free cocktails) are a popular trend in both professional bars and home hosting. They’re great for those that abstain from drinking, are the designated driver, or who are looking to stop their alcohol consumption for the night. This cocktail course also covers the basics of how to craft mocktails. Learning mocktails is important for being an inclusive bartender and creating a memorable experience for every guest, regardless of their drinking preferences.
Garnishes
A garnish completes a drink. In the Streamline Training cocktail course, you’ll be taught about the different popular garnishes and the cocktails they’re paired with. Garnishing is a combination of science and art. It’s about presentation, but it also impacts how someone tastes the drink from their first sip to the last.
Cocktail recipes
Of course, no cocktail course would be complete without recipes! This online cocktail course will teach you recipes for the classics like Martini, Negroni, and Cosmopolitan. And not just memorising them, but truly understanding them. You’ll gain more confidence in balancing sweet, sour, bitter, and strong to bring a recipe to life.
Why take our online cocktail course?
Learning to make cocktails is a life skill, a career pathway, a confidence booster, and a way to connect with people. Whether you’re exploring bartending professionally or just love playing host, there’s something deeply satisfying about being able to shake, stir, and serve with style.
Taking cocktail courses online provides flexibility that otherwise isn’t afforded in person. With the Streamline Training Introduction to Cocktails course, you can gain bartending skills at your own pace, from the comfort of your own home. Stop and resume the course at any time, and fit it around your busy schedule. We provide locally-based support 7 days a week, including until late on weekdays, so you can contact us with any questions you may have.
We hope this article has helped you learn a little more about what you can learn in a cocktail course. The online cocktail course from Streamline Training is practical, fun, and packed with everything you need to kickstart your bartending journey… or just impress at your next gathering.
