James Beard honoree Lynnette Marrero has been at the forefront of the NYC craft cocktail movement. Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) is the founder of Dandelyan, named the world’s best bar. They will teach you the essentials of cocktail making, from developing your palate to building your home bar. Learn how to mix a perfectly balanced drink for every occasion and mood—and become your friends’ new favorite bartender.
Overview
Syllabus
- Meet Your Instructors: Lynnette Marrero & Ryan Chetiyawardana
- A leader in the New York City–based craft cocktail movement, Lynnette Marrero is the bar director at the Llama Inn in Brooklyn. Nicknamed “Mr Lyan,” Ryan Chetiyawardana has opened award-winning bars around the world.
- Lynnette’s Perspective on Craft Cocktail Culture
- Lynnette shares the origins of the craft cocktail movement and how her experience working in the restaurant industry informs her drink-making style. She also discusses the importance of mentorship and empowering women in the industry.
- Mr Lyan’s Philosophy on World Class Cocktails
- Ryan believes cocktails can boost your mood by bringing people together. World class cocktails aren’t about obscure ingredients or fancy equipment, he says—they’re about the people and the occasions you’re making them for.
- Get Behind the Bar
- Lynnette and Ryan discuss the essentials for a home bar. Ryan encourages you to work with the spirits you love, Lynnette covers which spirits are the most versatile, and they agree that it’s best to make use of what you have.
- Exploring the Palate
- Your individual palate should guide you in building cocktails that balance sour and sweet flavors. Lynnette and Ryan demonstrate their preferred lemonades and then add seasonal ingredients, resulting in perfectly balanced non-alcoholic drinks.
- Solo Starters: Mojito and Whiskey Smash
- Ryan and Lynnette demonstrate some cocktails to relax with on your own after a long day.
- Intimate Classics: The Old Fashioned
- Lynnette teaches you her riff on the Fancy Free, a quicker version of an Old Fashioned. Ryan demonstrates a more advanced version by infusing bourbon with beeswax and bottling it for a fun gift.
- Shared Sours: Clara Bow, Margarita, Siesta, and Cosmopolitan
- Sours are a favorite of Lynnette’s, and she explains what they involve and demonstrates three different drinks. Ryan shares his recipe for the often-misunderstood Cosmopolitan.
- Silky Egg White Sours: Panacea, Pisco Sour, and Morning Glory Fizz
- Egg whites make for silky-smooth sours. Lynnette and Ryan show you how to incorporate egg whites into drinks using citrus (which “cooks” the whites), with whiskey and pisco as base spirits.
- Shared Classics: The Martini
- Learn a new take on the vodka Martini from Ryan, who also demonstrates a classic gin Martini. Lynnette makes a Bond-style Vesper and a Martinez, a Manhattan/Martini hybrid that originated in the late 1800s.
- Dinner Party Classics: The Negroni
- Lynnette’s riff on the classic Negroni swaps gin for aged rum, resulting in a toffee-flavored cocktail. Ryan shows you how to use the microwave to infuse spirits with fresh herbs and fruit.
- Dinner Party Refreshments: Sherry Spritz and Queen’s Park Swizzle
- Ryan creates a savory spritz using basil and bell peppers. Lynnette explains her swizzle technique and how rum can be brightened up with mint and Angostura Bitters.
- Party Starters: Tiki and DIY Highballs
- Lynnette creates an island party in a glass. Ryan teaches you how to keep guests entertained by batching a base and laying out garnishes and mixers so everyone can make their own custom highballs.
- Celebratory Libations: Pre-Batched Cocktails and Punches
- Impress a crowd with a champagne cocktail you can batch ahead of time with Ryan’s bottled fizz. Lynnette shares a recipe for a punch called the Llama del Rey, which includes a variation of a traditional Peruvian drink.
- Raucous Drinks: The Lyan Mary
- Ryan demonstrates his signature interpretation of a Bloody Mary. Learn which spices and flavors are ideal and why you shouldn’t overload the glass with garnishes.
- Pairing Cocktails With Food
- Lynnette’s version of a Barracuda holds up against the savory meat and pungent cheese of a charcuterie board. Ryan’s Portland Calling is a refreshing complement to a light berry and custard tart served for dessert.
- Creativity and Craft
- Lynnette and Ryan talk about what they’ve learned from each other and why they love collaboration. They encourage you to get creative, collaborate with friends at home, and concoct your own original drinks.
Taught by
Lynnette Marrero & Ryan Chetiyawardana
