Cocktail Class in Congress Street Up: Prohibition-Era Mixology

Bartenders teach you the historic ratios that built cocktail culture during Prohibition.

Congress Street Up hosts a two-hour cocktail class where you make two full-sized Prohibition-era cocktails using authentic bar equipment, guided by award-winning bartenders inside a 1920s speakeasy theater at the American Prohibition Museum. The class includes three additional cocktail samples and snacks; you must be 21 or older and bring a photo ID. A mocktail option is available with advance notice.

The Experience

Congress Street Up, the 1920s-style speakeasy inside the American Prohibition Museum, is where you'll spend two hours learning from the bar team that knows how cocktails got their start. During Prohibition, alcohol was so harsh that bartenders and home brewers began mixing it with other ingredients to make it drinkable—and that necessity became an art form. You'll learn the two historic ratios that built that tradition, using the same kind of equipment the early mixologists relied on.

You make two full-sized cocktails yourself, hands-on with the tools and techniques. Beyond what you pour, you'll sample three additional cocktails the bartenders prepare, so you're tasting the range of what those ratios can become. Snacks come with the class, and the whole thing fits into an afternoon without eating up your whole day. The space is wheelchair accessible, and if you prefer not to drink alcohol, you can arrange a mocktail option ahead of time.

Photo ID is required at the door, and you have to be 21 or older to attend—Georgia law means the bar team won't serve anyone who appears intoxicated. It's worth eating something before you arrive, since you're learning and tasting over two hours. The museum sits where public transportation reaches it, so you don't need a car to get there.

What’s included

• Two full-sized cocktails you make yourself.
• three additional cocktail samples prepared by the bartenders.
• snacks.
• instruction from award-winning bartenders.
• use of authentic bar equipment.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Historic Tours Of America

Is this one for you?Book this class if you're coming with a small group of friends or a partner and want to learn something you can actually use at home—the two historic ratios stick with you, and the bartenders teach you why they work, not just how to follow a recipe.

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Top questions

What exactly do I make during the cocktail class?

You create two full-sized cocktails yourself using authentic bar equipment and the two historic ratios that bartenders developed during Prohibition to make alcohol more palatable. The bartenders teach you the technique and the reasoning behind each ratio.

How much alcohol will I be drinking?

You sample five cocktails total over the two hours—the two you make yourself and three additional ones prepared by the bartenders. Snacks are included with the class. If you prefer not to drink, you can request a mocktail option when you book.

What do I need to bring to Congress Street Up?

Bring a photo ID proving you're 21 or older; the bar team checks it at the door. Eating something before you arrive is recommended, since the class runs two hours and involves tasting multiple drinks.

Is Congress Street Up accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, Congress Street Up is fully wheelchair accessible—all areas and surfaces accommodate wheelchairs. Service animals are also welcome.

Can I get to the American Prohibition Museum without a car?

Public transportation options are available near the museum, so you can reach Congress Street Up without driving.