Our Approach
COCKTAILS + LEARNING + FRIENDS
A great cocktail is more than a drink... it's an experience. The flavors dancing on your palate, the feel of the cold glass in your hand, the scent of a fresh garnish. At its best, a proper cocktail can celebrate a red-letter day or take the edge off a difficult one, comfort you when you're feeling spent or lift you up when you're surrounded by those you love. Cocktails are canvases for creativity, crafted with care and shared among friends, created to celebrate with and gather around, a gesture of love from host to guest. Cocktails and the art of making them ought to invoke a spirit of joy, community, and connection!
We believe that a great cocktail does not need to have an elaborate garnish, belong at a country club, or come from the hands of a suspender-&-bowtie-clad bartender at a trendy cocktail establishment (nothing against hip speakeasies & bowties - two things I love)... But a great drink is the one that is made just for you. It’s surprises and delights, makes you grin like a kid, prompts you to unwittingly exhale your stress with a deep breath after the first sip, makes you wrestle with wanting to gulp down it’s exquisite contents yet wanting to savor it forever. A great drink isn’t elite, esoteric, “foodie,” or unattainable for the casual drinker, but something that you can make in your own home, with a few of the right tools, some fresh ingredients, and a couple good bottles of the right stuff.
That’s where we come in! With Spirited, our hope is to share with you the history, the technique, the art, and the joy of crafting cocktails... together! In the warmth and welcome of a home or shared space, we will explore new flavors, sample unique spirits, refine our technique, make some mistakes and probably a few messes, garnish generously, learning and imbibing together as we journey with some extraordinary cocktail recipes, both contemporary and classic.
After a Spirited Cocktail Class, it’s our sincere hope that you leave excited and inspired, having gained some of the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make cocktail-crafting a part of your life and your hosting repertoire. As we said, cocktails are an expression of love, just like a great meal, meant to be savored and shared! #ShareTheSpirit
We believe that a great cocktail does not need to have an elaborate garnish, belong at a country club, or come from the hands of a suspender-&-bowtie-clad bartender at a trendy cocktail establishment (nothing against hip speakeasies & bowties - two things I love)... But a great drink is the one that is made just for you. It’s surprises and delights, makes you grin like a kid, prompts you to unwittingly exhale your stress with a deep breath after the first sip, makes you wrestle with wanting to gulp down it’s exquisite contents yet wanting to savor it forever. A great drink isn’t elite, esoteric, “foodie,” or unattainable for the casual drinker, but something that you can make in your own home, with a few of the right tools, some fresh ingredients, and a couple good bottles of the right stuff.
That’s where we come in! With Spirited, our hope is to share with you the history, the technique, the art, and the joy of crafting cocktails... together! In the warmth and welcome of a home or shared space, we will explore new flavors, sample unique spirits, refine our technique, make some mistakes and probably a few messes, garnish generously, learning and imbibing together as we journey with some extraordinary cocktail recipes, both contemporary and classic.
After a Spirited Cocktail Class, it’s our sincere hope that you leave excited and inspired, having gained some of the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to make cocktail-crafting a part of your life and your hosting repertoire. As we said, cocktails are an expression of love, just like a great meal, meant to be savored and shared! #ShareTheSpirit
Meet Robbie
SPIRITED FOUNDER
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I’m Robbie - a spirited elementary school educator by day, and a dedicated cocktail enthusiast by night. After falling hard for craft cocktails in the late aughts (around the same time Denver’s cocktail renaissance really picked up), I started tinkering and mixing at home, mimicking drinks I enjoyed while out, and improvising with the ingredients I had available. As a former middle school math and science teacher, I loved the science of mixing, the diversity of ingredients, and the precision of cocktail recipes. My home-bar expanded slowly at first, bottle by bottle and bitter by bitter. But over the years, it has exploded, earning its own room in our home. I now find myself not only a hobbyist, but a cocktail instructor, member of the United States Bartenders' Guild, and still a life-time tequilavangelist.
My wife and I love to host - bringing people together for good food and fine drink is part of our history, in our blood. And for my part, I couldn’t help but share my love for crafting cocktails. What started with making drinks for friends and family and building our own home bar menu soon became something more, and in early 2019, Spirited was born. In Spirited, three of my favorite things have come together: my love for hosting, teaching, and of course, cocktails!
My wife and I love to host - bringing people together for good food and fine drink is part of our history, in our blood. And for my part, I couldn’t help but share my love for crafting cocktails. What started with making drinks for friends and family and building our own home bar menu soon became something more, and in early 2019, Spirited was born. In Spirited, three of my favorite things have come together: my love for hosting, teaching, and of course, cocktails!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Happens To The Leftover Liquor After The Class?
In our model, the liquor is all yours. Because the host purchases the alcohol independently, the host gets to keep what’s left after the class to continue making the cocktails we practiced for all their other friends (just know that if we have a full class of 12 folks, there will obviously be less alcohol left over, but for a smaller class, you’ll likely have a well-stocked bar after the class). We at Spirited provide all of the equipment, barware, glassware, tables, fresh ingredients, and of course the expertise and fun!
What About Food?
Well, we all know that alcohol on an empty stomach is not a fantastic idea, so we strongly recommend that guests eat a meal prior to the class or that the host provide food. We at Spirited can’t provide a full food menu or meal, but we will provide some small bar snacks to graze on. If you are interested in having food catered for the evening of your cocktail class, we can make recommendations for excellent local catering options.
What Is The Cancellation Policy for In-Person Classes?
We understand that schedules change, so no worries! As long as you are more than 7 days out from your scheduled in-person class, you can cancel or change your class date free of charge. However, because available class slots are limited and it is difficult to book a new class in less than a week’s time, there is a $100 cancellation fee if you cancel within 7 days of your scheduled class.
In our model, the liquor is all yours. Because the host purchases the alcohol independently, the host gets to keep what’s left after the class to continue making the cocktails we practiced for all their other friends (just know that if we have a full class of 12 folks, there will obviously be less alcohol left over, but for a smaller class, you’ll likely have a well-stocked bar after the class). We at Spirited provide all of the equipment, barware, glassware, tables, fresh ingredients, and of course the expertise and fun!
What About Food?
Well, we all know that alcohol on an empty stomach is not a fantastic idea, so we strongly recommend that guests eat a meal prior to the class or that the host provide food. We at Spirited can’t provide a full food menu or meal, but we will provide some small bar snacks to graze on. If you are interested in having food catered for the evening of your cocktail class, we can make recommendations for excellent local catering options.
What Is The Cancellation Policy for In-Person Classes?
We understand that schedules change, so no worries! As long as you are more than 7 days out from your scheduled in-person class, you can cancel or change your class date free of charge. However, because available class slots are limited and it is difficult to book a new class in less than a week’s time, there is a $100 cancellation fee if you cancel within 7 days of your scheduled class.
