Shake, stir, and build with purpose.

The Art of Bartending is a four-day immersive certification experience developed in partnership with J. Martini and hosted by Well Done Cooking Classes. This program blends cocktail history, spirits education, professional technique, and hands-on execution into a structured, confidence-building curriculum.

Over four intensive days, guests will move from foundational bartending principles to advanced techniques, spirit families, and real-world cocktail execution. Each session is designed to balance technical rigor with the fun, social, and elevated experience Well Done is known for.

Whether you are looking to step behind the bar, deepen your spirits knowledge, or simply master the craft at a professional level, this experience delivers both skill and credibility.

No prior bartending experience required. All skill levels welcome.

Participants who complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion.

DAY 1: Foundations of Bartending + Cocktail Process

Focus: Understanding the “why” before the “how”

Curriculum

• Course dynamics and expectations

• A concise history of cocktails and bartending culture

• Introduction to distillation and spirit categories

• The cocktail build process:

  • Balance, dilution, temperature, texture

• Equipment mastery:

  • Shakers (Boston, Cobbler)

  • Jiggers

  • Mixing glass and bar spoon

• Mise en place and bar setup

• Glassware fundamentals

• Execution of 10 classic/foundational cocktails

Outcome: Students understand structure, tools, and classic builds with confidence.

DAY 2: Rum, Cachaça, and Vodka

Focus: High-volume spirits and crowd-pleasing execution

Curriculum

• Rum:

  • History and production

  • Styles and regional differences

• Cachaça:

  • History and differentiation from rum

• Vodka:

  • History, producers, and consumption styles

• Execution of:

  • 10 rum and cachaça cocktails

  • Core vodka cocktails used in professional settings

Outcome: Students gain speed, familiarity, and versatility with high-demand spirits.

DAY 3: Gin, Whiskey, and Tequila

Focus: Flavor complexity and spirit-forward cocktails

Curriculum

• Gin:

  • History, definitions, and styles

  • Juniper-forward spirits vs distilled gin

• Whiskey:

  • History and global styles

  • Whiskey vs whisky

• Tequila:

  • History and production

• Execution of classic and modern cocktails featuring:

  • Gin

  • Whiskey

  • Tequila

Outcome: Students understand nuanced spirits and how to build balanced, elevated cocktails.

DAY 4: Special Techniques, Beer/Wine/Champagne, and Final Assessment

Focus: Polish, creativity, and application

Curriculum

• Special bartending techniques

• Beer, wine, and champagne fundamentals for bartenders

• Final test cocktail:

  • Concept

  • Build

  • Presentation

  • Explanation

Outcome: Demonstrated mastery and program completion.