Bar Basics and How to Make Great Cocktails at Home

The ultimate online video course to teach you everything you need to know about ingredients, flavors, and how to get started making your own cocktails at home!

Bar Basics Course

Price: $45

Delivery Method:

Frequently Bought Together

Description

You've found the ultimate beginner course to get you started making craft cocktails at home! If you love ordering craft cocktails in bars and wish you could make the same delicious drinks at home, this self-paced online course will get you there.

Self-Paced: Get lifetime access, and watch the lessons at your own pace.
Shopping List Included: We'll send you a list of everything you need to make each cocktail in the course.
Learn From a Pro: Chris is a 15-year veteran of some of the industry's best bars. He knows a thing or two about craft drinks!
Access to Our Team: Got questions? Just ask! You'll have access to our team for any questions that come up along the way.

Interested in placing a bulk order? Chat with our team here.

Self paced

Show off your original cocktail creations on the drink menu, to your friends and family, and on social media!

Learn from the best

Our team of experts includes industry leaders who deeply understand the science of mixology.

So much more than recipes

Learn the formula and structure for your favorite cocktails so you can begin making your own drinks.

Access to the pros

Our team is available for any questions that come up along the way.

The Ultimate Introduction to Home Bartending Training

Learn the basics and put them to practice

Make delicious cocktails at home for family and friends, using the same barware as the world's best bars.

Get comfortable and stay knowledgeable

Order drinks confidently at the bar, and know how to talk with the bartender to be sure you'll like them.

Create tasty and balanced cocktails

Follow nearly any cocktail recipe, knowing you're making the drink exactly as the recipe intended.

What You'll Learn in This Home Bar Course:

This is a comprehensive, foundational course where we won’t just teach you how to make a few cocktails but will also go over why ingredients work together (or don’t) and how to put everything together.

Here’s what we’ll cover In this course:

What is a cocktail? And what goes into it?
What are all the different components? And what are the ones most commonly used?
How to take all the components and put them together into great craft drinks!
How to build your own craft cocktail bar at home.
Making eight basic cocktail recipes with detailed ingredients and instructions.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Chris Tunstall

“I started bartending because I fell in love with the craft of the cocktail and got so much satisfaction from making a great drink. But when I started trying to design my own cocktails, I struggled to find great resources to help me learn all the info I needed to make great drinks.

It took years to teach myself – but it was worth it. I’ve had opportunities to design cocktail menus, work with brands, and consult for bars and restaurants all over the world.

Now I’ve built this program to share what I’ve learned so you can get all the info in one place and enter the world of craft cocktails. Whether you have some experience already or not, you'll learn how to build your skills and gain confidence in making your own amazing drinks.” - Chris

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of taking a bar course?

You'll learn so much, all in one place! No more scouring the internet for answers. A bar course gives you a comprehensive overview of mixology topics.

Who can enroll in a bar course? Is prior experience required?

It depends on the course, but this Bar Basics course is designed for people who are just beginning their mixology journey and requires no previous experience.

What skills and knowledge can I expect to gain from a bar course?

Each course focuses on a different topic & skill set. In this Bar Basics course, we'll dive into the foundations of home mixology, different spirits on the market, cocktail families, ingredients, flavor profiles, and more.

Are there different levels or types of bar courses available?

We offer several different courses, including this Bar Basics course for people just starting out. We also have more advanced courses for pros or people looking to go pro. And then there are other courses with specific topics where it helps to have some prior knowledge but is open to all levels.

Can a bar course help me start a career in bartending?

It can! Courses can build your foundational knowledge and take your abilities to a new level. This Bar Basics course will give you the foundation, and then we have advanced courses that can hone your skills and get you certified, which will help launch your new career.

Do bar courses provide hands-on training or practical experience?

In-person classes will have hands-on training while some online classes will not. Our convenient online courses are designed in a way where we show you step-by-step how to achieve something, and you are able to follow along at home in a hands-on way.

Are bar courses accredited or recognized by the industry?

There is no formal accreditation system for bartenders, but a course from a company with a good reputation and which offers you certification (likes ours!) is definitely more respected in the industry than others.

Can a bar course help me learn about mixology and cocktail creation?

Definitely! We have several courses for all levels. This Bar Basics course will introduce you to mixology and an understanding flavors. More advanced courses will then walk you through creating your own cocktails.

European Influence

Traveled to Vienna Austria this summer to find that my regular indigestion was resolvable by adding an Apertivo prior to a meal and a Amaro afterwards. I came home interested in Mixology. After some research, I found that most mixologists advised to stay away from any online course EXCEPT for ABarAbove. Glad I followed their advice, because I found the course clear, helpful, and easy to schedule into my life. Here is my attempt at a Pisco Sopur after watching Chris' video today. I had to drop in a skull ice cube just for fun.

Thank you Monique! That cocktail looks delicious! Loved the ice cube

Excelsior!!

Great course! I was looking to reinvent myself and taking this course reaffirmed my decision.

A Fun Foundation

I've been wanting to learn more about cocktails and feel confident knowing what to order and how to describe my likes and dislikes to bartenders. This course was perfect for getting started with that. I'm already excited to continue learning! I caught myself wishing that the videos had been a tad bit longer/more in depth at first, but all in all there's no need to drag on too much with just a basics course. Chris is an excellent instructor and shows you exactly what you need to know without it being overwhelming. I think I just need to get the next level course from A Bar Above and dive deeper! Definitely recommend this course for anyone wanting to explore the world of cocktails from a home bartender perspective who does not have much prior knowledge (because that was me!).

Hey Jasmine! We’re very happy to hear you enjoyed the Bar Basics Course. We definitely recommend checking out our Mixology Certification if you want to go deeper into this rabbit hole. Cheers!

Great Course!

I had no prior knowledge of cocktail making before taking this course. We have a bar cabinet at home full of liquor and add ins, but I would just put stuff together and hoped it tasted good haha. With this course, I feel like I learned so much and now can make simple cocktails without the guessing game. I also had a lot of questions answered in the course that I had always pondered, such as the different between bourbon and whiskey as well as why are certain glasses used for certain drinks. I hope to continue learning and practice making cocktails at home. Looking forward to taking the batched cocktails course next!

Fantastic Basics Course!

As someone who is relatively new to cocktails and loves mixology, this was such a great course! I learned a ton, not only about what ingredients go into each cocktail but also a bit of a deeper dive into the specifics of each spirit and other. ingredients. I look forward to reviewing the content regularly and adding to my home bar and cocktail repertoir!

Hi Jeremy!

I am so happy you enjoyed the course and most importantly that you learned a ton. Please keep us posted of your adventures in these Mixology world.

Cheers!

Good class!

Well thought out and well presented! Learned a lot of very useful information. Two thumbs up!

Batched Cocktails Masterclass

This is a very informative glass. Chris takes you through step by step and explains the what and whys of batching cocktails I especially appreciate the steps to ratios in batching so that it makes it easy to batch most anything.. When you finish this class you can batch a cocktail with confidence.

Thank you Janet!

Great Mixology Class with loads of support

Haven't worked behind a bar in ages. This course was just the thing for me to learn the behind the scenes art of actually developing and serving drinks. Chris was informative, and entertaining. Grading wasn't exactly a breeze on some occasions, but Rob was wonderfully prepared to offer insight and encouragement when it was needed.
I've taken a few classes so far and am looking forward to more of them.
Keep up the great work. I've learned so much and am having fun developing new and deliciously balanced drinks going forward.
Thanks to the team at ABA

Thank you so much Carole!