The Roosevelt Room's Master Class Series - Classic Cocktails
A slightly tipsy trip through cocktail history, where the drinks are strong, the stories are scandalous, and the classics? Still carrying the industry on their backs.
Before every smoked rosemary espresso martini flooding your Instagram feed, there was a cocktail that walked so it could run. In this spirited deep dive into the glamorous, chaotic evolution of drinking culture, guests will uncover the origins, drama, and delicious lore behind some of history’s most iconic cocktails. Because behind every great drink is usually a questionable decision, a socialite, or a bartender with a superiority complex.
Throughout the class, guests will enjoy three classic cocktails paired with hors d’oeuvres while learning the history, techniques, and cultural moments that turned these drinks into legends. Think less dry history lecture, more “if these cocktails could talk, they’d absolutely ruin lives.”
Topics Covered:
The drinks that started it all: Punch, Sling/Toddy, Julep, Old Fashioned, Collins/Fizz, Cobbler, Crusta, Sour/Fix, Daisy, Martini, Manhattan
Cocktail history before 1800
The rise of Punch and its many descendants
The golden age of cocktails: 1800-1885
Prohibition: America’s hottest and messiest era
The cocktail’s tragic downfall: 1934-1990s
The 2000s cocktail renaissance and the rise of bartenders becoming the main character
Details:
Must be 21+ to attend
Class runs from 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM (please arrive on time)
Hors d’oeuvres served at the start
Stay after and enjoy Sunday Happy Hour beginning at 3 PM