Manhattan, Straight Up

You may have trouble finding a good drink this weekend since many of the country’s top bartenders will be in New York City for the Manhattan Cocktail Classic. The five-day extravaganza consists of dozens of events, including seminars by spirits experts, behind-the-scenes tours of famous bars and technique demonstrations. As a friend of Liquor.com, you can get 25% off your tickets if you use our discount code: Liquor. To help you decide which events to attend, here are some of our favorites.

Drink Punch and Be Merry (Saturday, May 15):

Liquor.com advisor and cocktail historian David Wondrich leads this “damp and anecdotal look at the roots of modern drink-making.” The seminar will, of course, include a tasting of three historic and tasty punches.

Stories from Behind the Bar: Macao Trading Co. (Saturday, May 15):

Spend Saturday afternoon imbibing at the TriBeCa bar Macao Trading Co. with Liquor.com advisor Dushan Zaric and his business partner Jason Kosmas. Sip expertly made cocktails and get to know these two veteran bartenders.

Glasses & Tools (Sunday, May 16):

This seminar answers the age-old quandary of what kind of glass to use for each type of cocktail. The best part? You’ll have the chance to shake drinks with master mixologist and Liquor.com advisor Dale DeGroff.

Bar Myth Busters (Monday, May 17):

Get to the bottom of many bartending traditions, practices and theories, including the accuracy of jiggers and whether or not it’s necessary to shake a Ramos Gin Fizz for 15 minutes. The session is led by the talented duo of Alex Day and Don Lee.

Mastering the Art of Bartending (Tuesday, May 18):

Want to know what it’s like to be on the other side of the bar? This all-star panel—including Simon Ford, Liquor.com advisor Aisha Sharpe, Gary Regan and Dushan Zaric—will share some of their favorite stories and bartending wisdom.

Sustainable Spirits? (Tuesday, May 18):

Find out why green cocktails and spirits matter from a panel of experts, including Liquor.com advisor Allen Katz, Melina Shannon-DiPietro from Yale’s Sustainable Food Project and Joseph J. Magliocco of Crop Harvest Earth Organic Vodkas.