Call Me Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned fans get their own playground. This private Bristol workshop gives you hands-on time with Rye and Bourbon, taking you from a prohibition-style recipe to a modern version and a smoky finish. I like the clear three-drink format, and I like that you make every cocktail yourself rather than simply watching a bartender work.

The private venue is another strong point, especially for a stag party, birthday, or work gathering. Carrie is praised by name for teaching the class and keeping the activity fun. The main thing to consider is the alcohol level: three full cocktails in about 90 minutes is generous, so this suits a group ready for a focused drinking activity, not anyone wanting a light or quiet tasting.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Old Fashioneds per person: You make a prohibition-style Rye Old Fashioned, a modern Bourbon Old Fashioned, and a smoky version.
• Private use of the venue: Only your group participates, which gives the class a relaxed setting for celebrations and stag groups.
• A clear historical theme: The session follows the drink from prohibition-era traditions to the modern Old Fashioned.
• Cigars and smoking jackers finish the class: The final drink adds a theatrical smoky element to the tasting.
• Central Bristol meeting point: You start and finish at St Stephen’s St, Bristol BS1 1EE.
• Good cancellation terms: Cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Three cocktails, one short Bristol session

This is not a long bar crawl or a general mixology course. It is a concentrated Old Fashioned workshop lasting about 1 hour 30 minutes, with the drink itself at the center of every stage.

You and your group get hands-on instruction from cocktail staff, then make and shake your own drinks. The format matters. You are not paying just to receive three cocktails at a bar. You are taking part in the preparation, learning why the recipes differ, and drinking everything you make.

That structure works well for a group with a shared interest. One person can usually take the lead with mixing while others watch, but the activity is designed around group participation. Since the venue is reserved for your party, you do not need to worry about strangers joining the class or a public bar crowd taking over the room.

The tone is deliberately relaxed. This is designed for people who want to have a good time while learning something useful about a classic drink. You will not need to approach it like a formal spirits examination, and the emphasis is not on memorizing technical terms.

Still, the class does have a subject. If your group dislikes Bourbon, Rye, or spirit-forward cocktails, the narrow focus may feel limiting. If you already know the Old Fashioned is your drink, the focus is exactly the appeal.

Starting at St Stephen’s St in Bristol

The meeting point is St Stephen’s St, Bristol BS1 1EE, with the activity ending back at the same place. That simple start and finish is useful for a group organizer because you do not have to coordinate separate transport after the class.

The information provided does not give a detailed walking route from Bristol stations or a precise venue description beyond the meeting address. I would therefore plan to arrive early enough to find the exact entrance without rushing. Your confirmation is issued at booking, so keep that mobile ticket available when you meet the group.

The listed operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 12:00 AM to 7:00 PM for the stated date range. Because the hours are written in an unusual format, check your confirmed start time carefully. A 12:00 AM opening time can be read in different ways, and the booking confirmation should be your practical guide.

This is a private activity, not an open class that fills with individual bookings. That makes it especially useful for a stag group or birthday party where the organizer wants one fixed event for everyone.

The first pour: a prohibition-style Rye Old Fashioned

The first drink takes you back to the Old Fashioned’s prohibition-era character. It uses Rye, a whiskey with a sharper, spicier profile than Bourbon.

The value of beginning with Rye is that it gives the class a clear starting point. You get to see how the base spirit changes the drink before moving to Bourbon. The workshop presents this as a journey through time, from the period when alcohol was illegal in the United States to the versions commonly served today.

You will make the drink yourself, then drink it. That makes the lesson practical. Instead of hearing a short explanation and moving on, you can taste the result and decide how the Rye works with the other ingredients and preparation.

The prohibition theme also gives the session more shape than a random list of cocktails. You are learning one drink through different styles, rather than making three unrelated recipes with no link between them.

I would expect this first Old Fashioned to appeal most to people who already enjoy whiskey neat or in simple mixed drinks. If your friends prefer sweet, fruity cocktails, the Rye stage may be a challenging first round. That is not a flaw, but it is worth knowing before you pay for the group.

The second round: a modern Bourbon Old Fashioned

The second drink switches from Rye to Bourbon and brings the class into the modern day. Bourbon is generally associated with a rounder, sweeter profile, so the change gives you a useful comparison within the same cocktail family.

This is where the workshop’s format earns its price. You make two versions of the Old Fashioned and can compare them while the differences are still fresh. You are not simply told that Rye and Bourbon taste different. You get to drink both recipes as part of the experience.

The modern version also helps you understand why the Old Fashioned remains a popular order. It is a small drink with a strong base spirit, but the preparation can make it feel very different from one bar to another. The class gives your group a shared reference point for those differences.

At $61.93 per person, the drink count is important. You receive three cocktails and instruction in a private setting, rather than one drink and a short demonstration. For a group that would otherwise spend the evening buying several drinks, the price can be fair. The value is less convincing for anyone who sees the class mainly as a quick lesson and does not plan to drink all three cocktails.

The smoky finale with cigars and smoking jackers

The last round is the most theatrical. You finish with a smoky Old Fashioned, along with cigars and smoking jackers.

This final stage gives the workshop a clear ending rather than simply stopping after the second recipe. It also leans into the traditional gentleman’s-drink image used to describe the class. The smoky element should appeal to anyone who enjoys presentation and atmosphere as much as flavor.

You should note the wording here carefully. Cigars are part of the planned finish, so this may not suit someone who avoids tobacco or is sensitive to smoke. The provided details do not explain the cigar brand, smoking arrangements, or whether a non-smoking alternative is offered. If that matters to someone in your group, ask before booking.

The smoky cocktail is also a good reason to avoid treating this as a standard tasting. The activity has a theme, a sequence, and a final flourish. It is built for celebration rather than a quiet, technical lesson.

Why the private setting matters

Private use of the venue is one of the strongest practical features. Your group can ask questions, make mistakes, and enjoy the jokes without sharing the class with another party.

That privacy is particularly useful for stag groups. The class is designed with stag parties in mind, and the informal style should work for a group that wants an organized event without a stiff schedule. It also fits birthdays and work parties, provided everyone is comfortable with a whiskey-heavy activity.

I like private classes when the group is uneven in its cocktail experience. One person may know how to make a proper Old Fashioned, while another may be holding a shaker for the first time. A private guide can keep the pace together more easily than a public class with several unrelated groups.

The trade-off is that you do not get the social mix of a shared workshop. If you enjoy meeting new people at tastings, this will feel more contained. The privacy is the point, but it narrows the social side of the experience.

The guide and the teaching style

The class is led by cocktail experts, with the emphasis on instruction, preparation, and fun. Carrie is specifically praised for teaching the Old Fashioned session and for being good at taking the group through the activity.

That personal touch matters in a short class. Ninety minutes is enough time for three cocktails, but not enough for a slow, highly detailed spirits course. A guide who keeps the group moving while still explaining the drinks makes the difference between a rushed sequence and an enjoyable lesson.

The experience is described as informative but not too serious. I would expect the teaching to focus on the story of the Old Fashioned, the difference between Rye and Bourbon, and the preparation of each recipe. You should not book it expecting a professional bartending qualification or a full lesson on every classic cocktail.

The strongest feedback praises both the cocktail-making and the friendly guide. That suggests the human side is central to the experience. Your group will likely get the most from it if you join in, ask questions, and treat the preparation as part of the entertainment.

Is $61.93 good value?

At $61.93 per person, the cost is not bargain-basement, but the package includes three cocktails, the ingredients, the instruction, and exclusive use of the venue for your group.

The calculation looks better if you are organizing a special occasion. Three cocktails purchased separately in central Bristol could take a large part of that price, before paying for a private room or guided activity. Here, the group gets one planned event with a strong theme and no need to decide where to go next during the class.

The value depends on your drinking habits. Someone who would order only one drink and watch the rest of the group may find the price high. Someone who wants three whiskey cocktails and a social activity will probably see more value in the package.

The short duration is also a plus for a busy celebration. At about 90 minutes, it can fit into a larger day or evening. You can schedule it before dinner or another activity without giving up half a day.

Who should book this Old Fashioned class?

I would choose this for a group that already likes whiskey, wants a private activity, and prefers making drinks over sitting through a formal lecture.

It is a particularly natural fit for:

• Stag parties seeking a structured drinking activity
• Birthday groups with an interest in cocktails
• Work parties where a private venue is useful
• Bourbon and Rye drinkers who want to compare styles
• Anyone who enjoys classic drinks more than sweet, elaborate creations

I would think twice if your group includes many non-drinkers, people who dislike strong spirits, or anyone uncomfortable with cigars and smoke. The class is not presented as a broad cocktail sampler, so you should not expect Gin, Rum, Tequila, or alcohol-free options based on the information available.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Those details help with access, though the information does not specify the venue’s full physical accessibility.

Booking, timing, and cancellation advice

You receive confirmation at the time of booking, and the experience uses a mobile ticket. Keep the ticket easy to access on your phone, particularly if you are coordinating several people.

The activity runs Monday through Saturday during the listed operating period, from July 31, 2019 through June 17, 2026. The stated hours run from 12:00 AM to 7:00 PM, so check the exact session time rather than relying on the general opening information.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Within 24 hours, you receive no refund, and changes made inside that window are not accepted.

The experience also requires a minimum number of participants. If the provider cancels because that minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book Call Me Old Fashioned?

Book it if your group wants three whiskey cocktails, private use of the venue, and a lively lesson with a clear beginning, middle, and smoky end. The combination of Rye, Bourbon, cigars, and hands-on preparation gives the 90-minute session more character than a basic cocktail demonstration.

I would skip it if your group wants a wider range of drinks, a long bar crawl, or a low-alcohol event. For the right audience, $61.93 is a reasonable price for three cocktails and a private group activity. Just confirm the start time, make sure everyone is comfortable with Rye, Bourbon, and cigars, and arrange the rest of your Bristol evening around a session that is likely to leave the group well supplied with whiskey.

FAQ

Where does the Old Fashioned workshop start?

It starts at St Stephen’s St, Bristol BS1 1EE, UK.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on St Stephen’s St.

How long does the experience last?

The workshop lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

How much does the workshop cost?

The listed price is $61.93 per person.

How many cocktails does each person make?

Each person makes three Old Fashioneds.

Which cocktails are included?

You make a traditional prohibition-style Rye Old Fashioned, a modern-day Bourbon Old Fashioned, and a smoky Old Fashioned.

Is the activity private?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the group has exclusive use of the venue.

Is a mobile ticket available?

Yes. The experience includes a mobile ticket.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.