social studies
“You have asked me how I feel about whiskey.
All right,
here is how I feel about whiskey...”
BRIAN, AKA THE BITTER GINGER, CREATED “SOCIAL STUDIES” WITH THE HELP OF HIS STUDIOUS WIFE. THIS HOUR AND A HALF CLASS IS A HANDS ON COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE THAT SATIATES THEIR LOVE OF STORYTELLING AND SHARING THEIR CRAFT.
BEYOND THE TECHNIQUES REQUIRED TO BUILD THE COCKTAILS THEMSELVES, THE BITTER GINGER GIVES LIFE TO THE LORE BEHIND THE DRINKS, THE HISTORY BEHIND THE TOOLS, AND ALL THE TALL TALES IN BETWEEN. The wife, aka the saucy maiden, adds tasty bites with a nod to the theme of the class.
IF YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT HOSTING A SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS AT HOME - SEND THE BITTER GINGER A NOTE - WE DO PRIVATE EVENTS!
THESE CLASSES WERE PREVIOUSLY HELD AT THE BEAUTIFULLY CURATED SOCIAL HOUR SHOP IN CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA AND ALONGSIDE THE BIG SUR FOOD & WINE FOUNDATION WITH A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS DONATED TO CAUSES IN THE BIG SUR COMMUNITY. THE CLASSES ENDED WITH THE SALE OF THE BUSINESS IN 2023.
Previous class themes and recipes below
Pre Prohibition
Three ingredient drinks are the back bone of mixology. Understanding the history and technique behind this style of drink is a great way to get a feel for the basics of making delicious cocktails. In this class we work our way through the technique behind a “French 75” and the “Old Fashioned” cocktail.ra, per inceptos himenaeos.
Holiday Class
We all love to enjoy food and drink around the holidays, and this class focuses on drinks that capture the flavors of the season. The first is a punch drink, “It’s Hip to be Here” which incorporates rose hips and is perfect for batching for a party. We also create an aromatic experience by smoking a rosemary Old Fashioned with persimmon syrup.
Valentine’s
Valentines themed cocktails can be playful and balanced. In this class we made a very special ingredient for everyone to use in the second drink of the night. Earlier in the year we met the chocolatiers of Tres Gallos at a Social Hour cocktail classes. They later gave us some of the bourbon left over from a single origin cocoa bean infusion. We made a chocolate bitters from this incredibly unique spirit and used it in the second drink of the night “Tootsie Roll.”
Sours
This class is all about learning balance and dilution whilst exploring the family of drinks known as “sours.” We cover the why and when you shake or stir a drink. We play with the ever favorite, Margarita, by infusing tequila with fresh pineapple and jalapeño. Our second drink covers the dry shake and the beauty of a proper whiskey sour.
To the Derby
Springtime fun inspired by the food and drink traditions of the “Race for the Roses.” In our Kentucky Derby class we explore the Arabic origins of the mint julep, taste snacks straight off the official menu from the Millionaire’s Row set for the 149th Derby, and learn the techniques to make your favorite Derby drinks at home.
Amaro
The herbal and aromatic family of spirits that make up Amari are wide and varied. Each family holds tight to their secret ingredient list, but with a bit of understanding of their flavor profiles we can find interesting ways to integrate them into our cocktails. In this class we make “Across the Pacific” and the “Boulevardier” which both incorporate, and are enhanced by, their use of an amaro.
Amaro
The herbal and aromatic family of spirits that make up Amari are wide and varied. Each family holds tight to their secret ingredient list, but with a bit of understanding of their flavor profiles we can find interesting ways to integrate them into our cocktails. In this class we make “Across the Pacific” and the “Boulevardier” which both incorporate, and are enhanced by, their use of an amaro.
drinking with churchill
For this special installment of Social Studies, we co-hosted the class with the local authors of “Churchill, a Drinking Life.” Inspired by the cocktail book, we made some of Churchill’s favorite drinks with champagne, cognac and cocktails. We even tracked down a recipe from Churchill’s long time chef, Georgina Landmere, and made her recipe for the evening’s snack.