WEEKDAY SF | JULY 21st-24th
WEEKDAY SF | JULY 21st-24th
July 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th from 10AM- 2PM
The training real bartenders wish they had. (We wish WE had)
This isn’t your average bartending school—and that’s the point.
At The Cocktail Camp, we offer a refined, hands-on bartending certification program for everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned bartenders looking to sharpen their edge. Whether you're new to the bar or already behind one, this course delivers what no other program can: real training, in a real (and popular) bar, taught by respected professionals.
Most bartenders roll their eyes at traditional “bartending school” on a résumé. This isn’t that.
Our students train in working bars—not classrooms—learning the rhythm, tools, muscle memory, and mindset it takes to succeed in the industry (or throw a world-class cocktail party).
👥 Who This Course Is For:
Total beginners with zero experience
Home enthusiasts ready to build real skills
Career changers preparing to enter hospitality
Working bartenders who want to refine their craft and gain respected certification
Anyone who wants training that actually means something on a résumé
🔥 What Makes This Program Different?
You train inside a real, fully operating bar (not a classroom mock-up)
You taste and work with top-shelf spirits
You get a modern, industry-informed curriculum
You learn from instructors who are deeply connected in the field
You walk away with practical skills AND real credibility in the hospitality world
Our class time is devoted to physical practice: setting up, breaking down, shaking, stirring, and tasting.
After class, you’ll go deeper with our exclusive online Student Center, where you’ll find:
Extended homework
Slides + theory
Bonus readings
Prep for your final exam
🧠 What You'll Learn
Core Foundations:
Glassware + cocktail pairings
Opening and closing the bar
Tools and technique
Cocktail Architecture™ — our proprietary recipe-building system
Garnishing: wedge, twist, flamed zest
Deeper Knowledge:
The most-requested classic and modern cocktails
Spirit history, tasting notes, and category breakdowns
Distillation, fermentation, barrel-aging 101
Hospitality and guest engagement that turns first-timers into regulars
🏆 Why It Matters
This training isn’t just for fun (though it is that, too). It’s for building a foundation that lasts, whether you’re landing your first bar job, elevating your résumé, or finally understanding the deep structure of the drinks you’ve been making for years.
And for those who want to take it even further, we offer our Master Certification Course just once a year—an advanced, intensive training for serious mixology mastery.
The Cocktail Camp is where new bartenders are born—and where seasoned ones get their edge back.
This is the training the industry respects.
And there’s truly nothing else like it.
🎯 Course Structure & Philosophy
This is not a lecture-based course. Our philosophy is simple: you learn bartending by doing it.
We use in-bar time to develop your physical technique, confidence, and rhythm—all the things you can’t learn from a book. You’ll pour, shake, strain, prep, and serve, over and over, until it becomes second nature.
After each class, you'll receive your homework packet and gain access to our Student Center, where you’ll dive deeper into cocktail history, spirit education, and theory at your own pace.
This hybrid structure ensures that you're not just learning recipes—you're building a foundation.
🧠 Curriculum Overview
🍸 Core Skills
Glassware: Understand the purpose behind every glass—and how it affects taste and presentation
Bar Setup & Flow: Learn how to open, close, and navigate the bar like a pro
Tool Mastery: Get confident using shakers, jiggers, bar spoons, strainers, and muddlers with speed and accuracy
Cocktail Architecture™: Our proprietary system that teaches you how to construct any cocktail from scratch
Garnishing Techniques: Create elegant twists, wedges, flamed zests, and pro-level finishing touches
📚 Deeper Knowledge
🍹 Cocktails
The most popular and requested drinks you’ll encounter behind any bar
Recipes you’ll memorize through muscle memory—not flashcards
Variations and substitutions for every kind of guest
🥃 Spirits & Tasting
Explore the big six: Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey, and Brandy
Learn how to taste and describe spirits like a professional
Discover fun facts, origin stories, and signature characteristics of each category
🧪 Production & Technique
Introduction to distillation, fermentation, aging, and proof
Why these processes matter—and how they affect flavor, body, and use
💼 Hospitality & Guest Interaction
Customer service strategies that create loyal regulars
How to read the room, control the pace, and stay grounded under pressure
Real-world etiquette: handling difficult guests, tipping culture, and teamwork
💬 Why This Matters (Even If You're Already a Bartender)
If you've been working behind the bar but never had formal training, this course fills the gaps. It’s your chance to refine your technique, elevate your knowledge, and finally understand the “why” behind everything you do.
Putting The Cocktail Camp on your résumé means something—because we train the way the industry works: in real bars, with real expectations, and real mentorship.