Learn cocktails with confidence.
Beginner-friendly guides to cocktail techniques, essential recipes, tools and home bartending.
Beginner Questions
How to Make Cocktails at Home: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Everything a complete beginner needs to start making great cocktails at home.
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Fundamentals
Core skills and concepts every home bartender should master first.
10 Guides -
Essential Cocktails
The classic recipes every well-stocked home bar should be able to make.
15 Guides -
Tools & Glassware
What to buy, what to skip, and how to use the equipment you already have.
4 Guides -
Beginner Questions
Quick, direct answers to the questions every beginner has but hesitates to ask.
3 Guides
New to cocktails? Start here.
Five steps that take you from complete beginner to confident home bartender.
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Learn the core techniques
Shaking, stirring, straining — master the three methods that cover 90% of cocktails.
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Stock the essential spirits
You don't need everything. Start with four bottles and make dozens of cocktails.
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Make your first five cocktails
Five classic recipes that teach you technique, balance and flavour at the same time.
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All Guides
How Much Ice Should You Use in a Cocktail?
How much ice to use when shaking, stirring and serving cocktails, plus what actually controls dilution.
What Cocktail Tools Do You Actually Need?
The essential cocktail tools worth buying first, what each one does and which extras can wait.
Shake vs Stir: When to Shake or Stir a Cocktail
The simple rule for knowing which cocktails to shake, which to stir, and what each technique actually changes.
How to Shake a Cocktail Properly
Learn the simple technique behind properly chilled, balanced and well-mixed shaken cocktails.
How to Make Cocktails at Home: A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Everything a complete beginner needs to start making great cocktails at home.