Cocktail Classes with House Spirits Distillery

Have you ever had spirits from House Spirits Distillery? You may have enjoyed these local spirits in cocktails around Portland without even knowing it. Besides offering a distillery tasting room where during a visit you can try tastings of their liquors, at their tasting room you can also try their whiskey, spirit, and cocktail flight (or try a particular cocktail individually). You can also join in one of their free distillery tours. But did you also know they offer special cocktail classes? Having attended one myself, I can highly recommend it as you will get your money’s worth in learning at least 5 types of cocktails and making them hands on and tasting them, as well as the rest of the knowledge you will gain when you attend the cocktail classes with House Spirits Distillery.
House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth with cocktail classes at House Spirits Distillery House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth at cocktail classes with House Spirits Distillery

For instance, for my class, which was called the Bitter Truth and centered on learning, trying, and using bitters, I was able to make multiple cocktails as you’ll see below. The cocktails centered around their Westward Whiskey, Volstead Vodka, Krogstad Aquavit, and Casa Magdalena Rum, so we got to try cocktails with all the liquors. Here’s a look at the setup before we messed it up making drinks – you can see my “Welcome House Spirits Cocktail” also in the video from my Instastories. Tip: wear comfortable shoes because you will be standing making cocktails during the entire class.

We started with a simple classic recipe dramatically named here, The Cocktail- basically an Old Fashioned. This simple start also is when we talked about how much is in a dash, how to know stir and when to stop stirring (stir for 20 seconds with back of spoon to the glass sides, and the glass should feel chilled), and tips on how long simple syrup lasts (4 weeks!) and freezing lemon juice in ice cube trays.
House Spirits Distillery offers tastings of their liquors but also their cocktails in a cocktail flight or individually, try a distillery tour for free, or sign up for a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth House Spirits Distillery offers a Distillery Class like this one for a fee - and you will more and get your money's worth. Our first drink that I made was this Classic Cocktail, basically an Old Fashioned, so we could focus on technique and facts about the bar equipment.

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Classic Cocktails with the Rookery

The Rookery at Raven & Rose recently has launched a monthly cocktail classes with the men of the Rookery bar, bar director David Shenaut and barman Alan Akwai. This past September, October, November, and for one more class in December, the title of the class is “Essential Classic Cocktails You Can Serve at Home”. I recently attended the November class, which apparently had the largest attendance yet of the series, and David says that next year they plan to change up the theme so that even if you took the classic cocktail class you will want to follow up with another class for further continuing education!

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery

The Essential Classic Cocktails class I attended covered the history, construction and recipes for four vintage cocktails, included samples of the four cocktails, as well as some “fancy snacks” for the $50 class price. Afterward, by showing the recipe notebook after class, you can enjoy a complimentary dessert with an entree purchase at the Raven and Rose restaurant downstairs.

I’m a big fan of the Rookery and David and Alan- I’ve been to the Rookery a couple times for beverages, and also events like Beer with the Bird or one of their several whiskey events (the one I attended was Raven and Rye). I’m not going to repeat my crush on their ability to articulate details of flavors in ingredients and craft combinations that are unique and perfect just for you. Instead, I’m going to recap the Classic Cocktails with the Rookery class for you!

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Dave Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Alan

Upon checking in, we were led to our seats which were marked by placecards and there was a punchbowl of an autumnal punch they had whipped up (and as we found out later, just “winged it” with Jameson, apple cider, and spices) to welcome us. We were soon double-fisting it however as the samples of the first drink we would be learning, the Margarita were passed out. I’ve made margaritas before, but Dave and Alan immediately educated everyone on their philosophy of building cocktails Dry – that is, with no ice. By waiting on the ice the drink does not diluted and you can still make changes when you take a stirring straw taste, or wait so you can prep for all your dinner party guests.

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the starter sample of an autumn punch Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the next cocktail sample and first recipe we learn is a Margarita

Dave and Alan have a great friendly rapport as they answered questions varying from how long to shake or how they explain how to know whether to shake or stir a drink (answer: citrus, egg, and creme are shaken, drinks that are more boozy are stirred.) Furthermore, they illuminated that the shaking is about aeration, not just a way to mix ingredients. Also, how does Alan make it look so fun to shake? There was also a difference in opinion as Dave would never make more than one serving in a shaker, while Alan realistically says he would.

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Alan shakes it Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Dave rims a margarita glass Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - answering questions

The next classic vintage cocktail was the Old Fashioned. After Alan showed us the right glassware, Dave tagged in to talk about making simple syrup and how to not heat the mixture as it loses flavor. Then Alan was back showing us techniques in dashing bitters in different amounts with various flicks, and Dave went on to wax poetic about bitters as well as where he sources his ice (he sources from PDX Ice – I also recognize that ice from Imperial!). Alan brought us back to how stirring is about binding, and how important it is to stir on the edge of the glass and create a whirlpool with no lifting of the spoon to add air. After a good stir the drink should look viscous and feel round.

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the glass for the Old Fashioned Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai- Alan is dashing some bitters Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai- without a special bottle, bitters pour out quickly Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Dave loves pdxice Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai- teaching us about stirring right Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai- teaching us about stirring right

We tasted the Old Fashioned 3 ways. After we each had a chance to practice trying to pour a perfect jigger of the cocktail for ourselves, we took a sip of it plain. Next, we broke a lemon peel over it in order to infuse lemon oils. Finally, we added the lemon peel into the drink (our tables’ favorite).

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the next cocktail sample and second recipe we learn is the Old Fashioned Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the next cocktail sample and second recipe we learn is the Old Fashioned, this time with lemon peel

Next up was Punch. After being schooled on Oleo Saccharum (“oily sugar”), we were then taught the magic ratio. Although it sounds like a lot of work in making Oleo Saccharum which includes peeling 4 lemons and making hot tea concentrate, it opened up my eyes to how much layering and complexity of flavor you can add just with your selection of the type of tea. Since the base spirit and dilution (juice, wine, soda, water, or sparkling cider or champagne as we sampled in class- the second punch we would soon be sampling used champagne) can also vary, the possibilities are endless, and Dave sagely promised that the Magic Ratio has never failed him.

Also, making punch seems fun since in order to get the right amount of liquid, you will end up having a glass of base spirit and glass of dilution (champagne below!) leftover that Dave encouraged us to have ourselves to loosen us up for our dinner party!

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - Dave takes a glass of bubbly out before pouring the rest in for punch Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the punchbowl visits us temporarily as Dave tells us we should probably eat Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, Champagne Punch

After the punch lesson, it was time punch, and for the Fancy Snacks.
Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai at Raven and Rose's the Rookery, the fancy snacks portion of class

The final cocktail was the famous Rookery Irish Coffee, which was a warm, wonderful end to the class before going back out into the night and the rain. If you haven’t had the Irish Coffee here (which uses Spella coffee), you must try it- it’s the best I think in Portland.

Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai - the next final cocktail and my favorite, the Irish Coffee Essential Classic Cocktails, a cocktail class with David Shenault and Alan Akwai of Raven and Rose the Rookery

If you want to find out more about or sign up for upcoming classes, be sure to contact event manager Natalia Toral, at natalia at ravenandrosepdx.com.

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