“Making Great Gin Cocktails at Home

– Hands On with Tony Abou-Ganim”

Join Tony Abou-Ganim, TheModern Mixologist, as he shows you what you need to stock your home bar, tools of the trade and how to use them, and all the secrets behind mixing great gin drinks at home. Be it a classic Martini, Tony’s favorite cocktail, the Negroni or one of his originals, he'll show you how easy it is to craft these wonderful libations. From shaking to stirring, muddling to blending, Boston Shakers and Hawthorn Strainers, you'll learn all you need to know to set up and tend your home bar. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just want to impress your friends, you’re sure to enjoy this entertaining journey into what it takes to make a great gin cocktail!

Your ticket includes hands-on instruction in several cocktails (that you may also enjoy), light snacks, and some fun take home gifts. Autographed and personalized copies of Tony’s book, The Modern Mixologist, will also be available for a discounted price.

Great gin cocktails start with great gin.

This class is brought to you in partnership with our friends at BOMBAY SAPPHIRE

With additional support from

Though parking is relatively easy WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT DRIVE, if you are going to drink your cocktails. Parking options: on street or across the street at the Some Grand Building ($2 for first hour, $8 up to 4 hours). Bart Civic Center stop is 1.5 blocks away and we are centrally located for easy taxi access.

All ticket sales go to the Barabry Coast Conservancy of the American Cocktail and support our mission of preserving and advancing San Francisco's cocktail and saloon culture. Thank you for your support.

About Tony Abou-Ganim

Tony Abou-Ganim is widely regarded as one of the pioneering and leading bar professionals in the world. He has made countless national TV appearances on shows including TODAY, Iron Chef America, Good Morning America, CNBC, Fox News and more. Abou-Ganim is the author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails (Agate, 2010) which offers readers an in-depth look into spirits and ingredients available to today’s mixologist, both professional and amateur alike. This entertaining and informative journey will take readers from the early stages of the cocktail to what Abou-Ganim has come to deem “Modern Mixology.” Abou-Ganim also has a DVD to his credit, Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home, and hosted the Fine Living program Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs. Abou-Ganim has also won two Iron Chef America competitions; his first pairing cocktails with Iron Chef Mario Batali in “Battle Mango,” and most recently pairing cocktails in “Battle Tequila and Tortillas” with Iron Chef Jose Garces. His signature branded line of Modern Mixologist bar tools will be released summer 2012. Abou-Gamin is also a partner at Inoteca Liquori in New York City.

Abou-Ganim grew up in the bar business, learning the craft from his cousin Helen David at the Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan. His initial introduction to the business was steeped in the tradition of classic cocktails and professional barmanship, teaching him the necessary steps to become a leader in the beverage industry. After graduating from college, Abou-Ganim further developed an appreciation for a hand-crafted cocktail using only the freshest ingredients while working at Jack Slick's Balboa Café and then during the opening of "Harry Denton's,” a legendary hangout in Fog City. In 1993 he moved to New York City and took a position as the opening bartender at Po, Mario Batali’s first restaurant.

Tony later returned to San Francisco to open Harry Denton's Starlight Room atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel and it was here that he developed his first specialty cocktail menu featuring several of his original cocktail recipes including the Sunsplash, Starlight and his most famous of them all, the Cable Car.

In 1998, Abou-Ganim was selected by Steve Wynn to develop the cocktail program at Bellagio Las Vegas. He not only implemented his philosophy of bartending and drink preparation, stressing both quality ingredients and proper technique, but also created several original cocktails for the resorts 22 bars. In 2002 he won the Bacardi Martini World Grand Prix – one of only two Americans to ever win this title.

As the National Ambassador of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, www.usbg.org, and Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail, www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org, Abou-Ganim continues to educate about the history and lore of cocktails. He also operates his own beverage consulting firm specializing in bar staff training, product education and cocktail development.

Abou-Ganim is currently working on his upcoming book dedicated to the often overlooked spirit, vodka, which is scheduled to be released in January 2013.

Keep current with news, appearance and special events on our News page on Facebook and on Twitter @MdrnMixologist.