Lynnette Marrero & Ryan Chetiyawardana Mixology MasterClass Review

Lynnette Marrero & Ryan Chetiyawardana Teach Mixology

It’s time for another MasterClass! If this is the first time that you are reading one of our MasterClass Reviews, you should know that we are huge fans of this platform. It’s great for everyone who wants to learn new skills, and not only culinary skills, for example, this time, we’ll bring you a mixology MasterClass.

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.

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Get Behind the Bar

This is the first mixology class released by the MasterClass platform, that will take you behind the bar. One of the first things that Marrero and Mr. Lyan will teach you is how you can choose the spirits you love.  Growing access to a wealth of diverse spirits means there are more choices than ever when it comes to stocking your home bar. But it also means it can be a headache to decide on spirits.

A good place to start is with what you love. Whether you favor lighter spirits like vodka and gin or dark spirits like bourbon and brandy, rely on your preferred brand and begin to build out your bar from there. Rounding out your bottle selection with some fortified wines, modifiers, and bitters will grant you great versatility when it comes to making a variety of cocktails that fit your palate.

After you start taking some of the advice given by Marrero and Mr. Lyan you’ll realize that after all, it is no so difficult to set your own bar. And what you’ll realize is that you don’t need to have a huge collection of bottles. With some clever choices and some of your favorite drinks, you’ll easily become your friend’s new favorite bartender.

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MasterClass Overview

01 – 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.

02 – 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.

03 – 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.

04 – 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.

05 – 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.‍

06 – Solo Starters: Mojito and Whiskey Smash

Ryan and Lynnette demonstrate some cocktails to relax with on your own after a long day.

07 – 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.

08 – 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.

09 – 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.

10 – 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.

11 – 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.

12 – 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.

13 – 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.

14 – 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.

15 – 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.

16 – 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.

17 – 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.

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The Right Tools

How to select and use the right tools it is also something that you’ll learn in this mixology masterclass. As with the bootles you don’t need a huge collection of tools to make great drinks. In this class, you’ll learn about the importance of having a Jigger, a Bar spoon, a Hawthorne Strainer, and a few other tools. You’ll also learn how to shake, and the differences between glassware.

Another tool that you’ll learn to use and how to develop it is your palate. Throughout the class, Marrero and Mr. Lyan will share some tricks and tips on how you can improve your palate, and how can you use it to make better drinks. Another great thing that is taught in this class is how can you adapt the recipes to your palate.

And speaking of recipes, you will find many in this class. You’ll learn how to make solo starters, like the Mojito, Intimate Classics like The Old Fashioned, Shared Sours like Margarita, and many other drinks. This class will be a great starting point for you to start building your own drinks repertoire.

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Final Thoughts

This amazing mixology MasterClass is a great way to learn the essentials of cocktail making. With this class, you’ll develop your palate and you’ll learn how to build your home bar. There are many recipes for you to try, and all of them can be made at home and adapted to your preferences. We believe that this MasterClass is a great starting point for all those who want to get started in the world of mixology.

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