A Guide to Virtual Mixology Classes for Team Building

While it exists primarily as a marketing gimmick, the concept of happy hour has become a staple part of many social events and team building activities. Going to the bar, enjoying the company of your colleagues after work, and having a few drinks is a tradition that dates back at least a century.

If you would like to bring the social aspects of happy hour to your team without having to get everyone into a bar, you can consider signing your team members up for a virtual mixology event. In these events, you and your team members will join a virtual classroom and learn the basics of cocktail making from a professional mixologist who is ready to guide everyone through all of the steps needed to create a handful of classic and modern favorites. Your team members will have everything they need delivered right to their doors, and the event will be an easy and accessible, hands-on lesson that everyone on your team can participate in.

A Quick Summary of Virtual Mixology Classes for Team Building

• Rum: A rum mixology experience is an excellent way to learn more about these cocktails and gain first-hand experience crafting them. Take your team from novices to confident home bartenders!
• Vodka: Vodka is the most commonly used spirit for making cocktails and a truly versatile ingredient. These mixology classes teach how to use it as a flavor enhancer and component in different types of drinks.
• Tequila: Learn the basics of making tequila-based cocktails, as well as the history and culture behind this spirit, in a tequila mixology class. Perfect for groups looking to make drinks with bold and vibrant flavors.
• Mocktails: For groups that prefer non-alcoholic drinks, mocktail mixology classes are an inclusive alternative. These classes focus on using fruits and mixers to build flavor and create just as delicious drinks as the ones that contain alcohol.
• Tasting Events: Tasting events are elevated experiences where participants can sample different spirits and foods that complement them. These sessions are informative and a great introduction to the world of tasting spirits.
• Holiday Mixology: Celebrate the festive season by hosting a holiday-themed mixology class. These events teach groups how to craft the perfect seasonal cocktail with help from an expert mixologist. 

The Most Popular Virtual Mixology Classes for Team Building

Hands-on Virtual Mixology Classes 

Rum Cocktails Workshop

• About: Master the art of using rum to create delicious cocktails under the guidance of a professional mixologist. This private workshop works for teams of all sizes and covers the history behind this Caribbean treasure.
• What You’ll Do: Teams will work together to create three rum-based drinks: South Point, Isla Bonita, and Tropic Thunder. They’ll also learn how to use mixology tools like a shaker and strainer to truly up their drink-making skills. 

Virtual Vodka Cocktails

• About: Learn how to use vodka as a base for delicious drinks and a flavor enhancer to bring out notes of other ingredients. Teams also learn the history of vodka and how to use mixology tools.
• What You’ll Do: This one-of-a-kind workshop has teams create three delicious vodka drinks called Lollipop, Cosmic, and Mr. Bubble. These cocktails are unique and feature fun additions like blackberry pomegranate syrup and dehydrated lemon. 

Virtual Sparkling Cocktails Workshop

• About: This workshop is ideal for teams that love Prosecco and want to learn how to craft sparkling wine cocktails. You’ll also learn about basic bar equipment and how to select glassware for each drink.
• What You’ll Do: Groups will learn to make a Classic French 75, an Air Mail (with rum, lime, and honey), and a Bourbon Apple Cider Mimosa. You’ll also learn how to select garnishes for each cocktail and the art of presentation.

Virtual Mezcal Cocktails

• About: This workshop helps your team learn how to use this premiere Mexican spirit to create a collection of cocktails beyond the classic margarita.
• What You’ll Do: Anyone looking for a chance to try some unique drinks will love attending this mezcal workshop. Groups will craft three delicious cocktails called Bring the Heat, Spirit World, and Taza de Magia. These drinks feature fun additions like strawberry syrup and dehydrated oranges.

Virtual Mixology Spritzes

• About: Help your team members learn about one of the latest trends in mixology in this spritzes course, where they’ll get hands-on experience making these wonderful dessert cocktails.
• What You’ll Do: This event is sure to be a hit since aperitif-based cocktails aren’t something that your team members likely experience often, so this class will be an incredibly novel experience.

Virtual Food and Drink Mixology Events

Guacamole & Margaritas Workshop

• About: Does your team thrive with hands-on activities? They’ll be able to roll up their sleeves and learn how to make guacamole and margaritas in this workshop! Suitable for both large and small groups.
• What You’ll Do: This 45-minute event finds groups working with a professional chef to create delicious guacamole and ice-cold margaritas. It’s an engaging and interactive workshop that’s ideal for team building, learning new culinary skills, and eating together as a group. 

Virtual Tasting Events

Virtual Tequila Tasting

• About: Dive into the world of tequila tasting and learn how to taste spirits with help from a professional tequila expert. All ingredients are included outside of glasses and can accommodate large and small groups.
• What You’ll Do: This event unfolds over the course of one hour and has teams of three different types of tequila: Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo. Everyone will sample the spirits together before having a reflective conversation on the process and what they’ve learned.

Wine and Cheese Workshop

• About: A wine and cheese workshop is a tasty way to bring your team together and build on their conversational skills. This is a unique event that’s led by an expert host, and all materials are provided to participants.
• What You’ll Do: This beginner-friendly event is the perfect introduction to wine and cheese tasting for large and small groups. Each participant will get to sample a pair of wine and cheese offerings and learn about the flavor profiles, tools, and tasting vocabulary.

Group Wine Tasting

• About: A private wine tasting workshop will not only bring your team together but also give everyone an opportunity to taste exquisite wines from around the world.
• What You’ll Do: This 90-minute tasting event covers everything from varietal and tasting techniques to everyday wine appreciation tips. An expert host walks groups through the tasting process and helps facilitate live feedback to reflect on the activity. 

Virtual Belgian Beer Tasting

• About: Take your team on a flavor adventure and journey to learn all about Belgian craft brewing. This group tasting provides a chance to taste delicious beer while working on team building.
• What You’ll Do: This private, interactive workshop is hosted by a trusted professional who walks participants through Belgium's rich brewing history by tasting a variety of unique beers.

Virtual Holiday-Themed Mixology Classes

Group Holiday Mixology Workshop

• About: Festive drinks and themed libations are a great option for any holiday! Give your team a chance to learn the basics of crafting three seasonal cocktails.
• What You’ll Do: These seasonal cocktails are perfect for anyone looking to celebrate the winter holidays with one another or alone, and you and your team members will leave the workshop ready to recreate these delicious holiday drinks.

Mocktail Classes for Team Building

Make-Your-Own Mocktails

• About: One popular alternative option for a mixology event is a mocktails event, where your team members will learn all the same skills and techniques, but they will apply them to creating artisanal juices and non-alcoholic options.
• What You’ll Do: Perfect for team members who want to learn to make drinks for their families, this workshop teaches groups how to make three alcohol-free beverages. There’s also time for teams to learn how to use basic bar tools and utilize substitutions. 

Virtual Team Building Alternatives to Mixology

Paint and Sip Party

• About: Choosing a paint and sip party is a great alternative to a mixology class where teams can still enjoy their favorite drinks while learning to paint a beautiful image on a canvas.

• What You’ll Do: There are a variety of paint and sip-style classes, including watercolor and acrylic painting workshops. Teams can choose from a collection of images or choose their own to recreate while unleashing their creativity and growing closer as a group.

Why Host a Mixology Event?

Mixology events are often very popular precisely because they mimic the laid-back, casual relaxation of visiting the bar with your co-workers after work without all of the hassle and logistics of actually going to a bar. Hosting a virtual mixology event will give your team members a chance to have a few drinks, enjoy one another’s company, and learn some fun new skills all from the comfort of their own homes (which is, in many ways, significantly cheaper and significantly safer). These events are a good way to bring your team members together for a fun and enjoyable group activity, and they are so customizable that you are sure you will be able to find the right event for your team.

What Are the Advantages of Virtual Mixology Events?

Mixology events are a great team building activity because they combine a relaxed, social atmosphere with the structure of a training event. Since these events are held online, participants can make their drinks from anywhere (though it is likely that their homes will be the best choice), which makes attending the event easier and less stressful for all who would like to attend. Being in a more relaxed space for your attendees can also boost attendance and improve engagement, which can be particularly helpful for ensuring that your team members are actually in attendance and engaged in the event.

Mixology events also offer a good balance between the ease of the skill being taught and the usefulness of that skill. While it isn’t likely that your team members will become professional mixologists, knowing how to make a few cocktails is a useful skill for anyone who hosts events or who is looking for a fun hobby that they can spend more time learning. On the other hand, it is very easy for even complete novices to learn the basics, meaning that your team members won’t have to worry about feeling unable to mix their drinks and enjoy them with their coworkers. 

Plus, since cocktail making is a fairly quick process (even the most elaborate cocktails don’t take more than 10 minutes to make, with most taking no more than 3 or 4. This means that, unlike a cooking class, where you will spend a full hour (or more) working on a single recipe, in a mixology course, you’ll be able to quickly bang out a trio of cocktails while still having time to learn some fun mixology facts, talk to your team members and enjoy the drink amongst your coworkers (and provide your takes on those drinks).

Mixology events also have the advantage of being incredibly open-ended and customizable. While it isn’t always perfect, you can easily swap out most spirits and bitters for one another to suit your personal tastes (though a vodka Old Fashioned or a gin Margarita might not be the tastiest item on the menu). Not only can you easily swap out different spirits, but you can also remove the liquor entirely and replace it with specific juices or non-alcoholic options (the quality of non-alcoholic spirits has vastly improved over the last decade). This flexibility will help ensure that everyone can participate in the event, whether they are making use of the small amount of gin they have left over from a party or if they are a non-drinker.