The Best Online Spirits Classes

With courses for professional bartenders as well as beginners, the BarSmarts program offers certification and a wide range of instruction.

At BarSmarts, you’ll choose from one of two levels of online learning: BarSmarts Basics and BarSmarts Professional.

BarSmarts is designed for the professional bartender and offers comprehensive training that includes how to taste like a professional, product knowledge, the history of spirits and liqueurs, an extensive cocktail compendium from 1800 to the present, and service management techniques.

Whereas BarSmarts is designed for the working professional, home bartenders and beginners will benefit from the BarStarts Basics program. Beginner bartenders will learn about spirits and liqueurs, the essentials of proper service, bartending fundamentals, and more. Each program costs $29.

Individuals can join group classes, but groups of six or more can get a private virtual class.

Tatton & Thompson integrated virtual learning to offer quality education in an interactive social environment for home learners.

Following a similar structure to their in-person courses, the virtual cocktail classes are offered in collaboration with its sister company, Mixology Events. You’ll learn core techniques, create custom cocktails, and end with a virtual cocktail-making competition.

Everything you need (except the ice) will be delivered to your door before class, including instructions for setting up your home bar. On the day of the class, you’ll join a virtual waiting room until the class starts. Each session lasts from 30 minutes to two hours. You’ll make (and drink) five cocktails during the class. The first four are by instruction from the host; at the end, you will create your own cocktail using the mystery ingredients included in a package sent to you.

The Udemy Bartending course is tailored for the home enthusiast or new bartender as an introduction to cocktails.

At the Udemy Bartending course, world champion mixologist Paul Martin teaches students how to mix world-class cocktails, taking the mystery out of creating cocktails. As a trainer of more than 40,000 bartenders, Martin has worked in the industry for 25 years.

Before the class, you’ll need to purchase the required bar equipment and alcohol. You’ll see examples of 16 of the most popular cocktails to make yourself after the course. You’ll learn what makes a great cocktail, secrets for creating the perfect cocktail, and garnishes to finish off the presentation during the course. The class features popular favorites such as a mojito, cosmopolitan, dry martini, and 13 additional cocktails.

The beginner’s course is $29.99.

A Bar Above focuses on the craft of mixology and does not teach bartending.

A Bar Above differentiates itself from other courses by separating bartending from mixology and focuses on the art of creating syrups, tinctures, and bitters; experimentation techniques; and flavors and textures that create a unique cocktail.

Whether you're a professional or an enthusiast, you’ll learn advanced skills for developing original cocktails from scratch.

The $147 program includes a three-step process to certification that involves courses and a two-part final exam. The first step is Master Your Ingredients which teaches an understanding of cocktail components. The second step introduces Master Balance & Flavor for a Mixology 101 course. You’ll earn your certificate with a two-part certification exam that includes a multiple-choice test and a practical exam with step three.