Echo Spirits Distilling is making the most of the shelter in place order by kicking off a virtual cocktail class series.
The Grandview-area distillery was swiftly approaching the opening date for its tasting room when all Ohio bars were mandated to close to curb the spread of COVID-19. So instead of mixing drinks for customers at their bar, the distillery is pivoting to teach others how to mix their own at home in a new weekly cocktail class offered every Thursday at 7:30pm.
Each week, the distillery will tap a bartender from Central Ohio to teach a lesson on crafting cocktails. The distillery will post the needed ingredients and supplies for each lesson on their Facebook page a few days before each class.
There is no fee to attend the virtual events, but Echo Spirits is asking for donations to the United States Bartender Guild (USBG) COVID-19 Relief Campaign which supports service industry personnel who have been impacted by the current closures.
The inaugural lesson on March 26 will teach bartending tools, terminology and basic skills with Columbus USBG president Christina Basham leading. If you’d like to follow along, you will need the following supplies and ingredients: Echo Spirits rum, lime or lime juice, sugar, a cocktail shaker and ice for the first cocktail; bourbon or rye, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, orange bitters, ice and a spoon for the second cocktail.
The classes will be conducted Thursdays at 7:30pm via Crowdcast — click the link to register for a reminder, and be sure to check Echo’s Facebook page for future lessons.
