$75 per guest
A hands-on cocktail lab taught live at Gioia Mia in Montclair. Learn to build, shake, and stir three classic cocktail styles using real bar technique and restaurant mise en place.
Price is per guest.
Booking for a couple or small group? Select multiple quantities at checkout.
Website bookings bypass Airbnb fees.
This is a guided, technique-forward cocktail lab taught at the bar inside Gioia Mia. The focus is on how working bartenders actually execute during service, not rigid recipes or trends.
You’ll learn measuring, balance, dilution, shaking, stirring, garnish, pacing, and clean finish using professional tools and a real restaurant setup.
You will make three cocktails based on classic builds:
One built cocktail
One shaken cocktail
One stirred, spirit-forward cocktail
Rather than locking you into specific recipes, the class teaches how these core structures work so you can confidently customize drinks to your own tastes, seasonally or anytime. We’ll talk through how to adjust sweetness, acidity, spirit choice, and flavor direction both at home and when ordering at bars.
Every drink includes a non-alcoholic build so all guests can fully participate.
I provide all citrus, syrups, garnishes, bitters, soda, tonic, sparkling cider, espresso components, and all bar tools for up to four guests. Guests bring their own spirits or non-alcoholic alternatives.
Gioia Mia’s full menu is available during class. Food, espresso, tea, and other non-alcoholic beverages may be ordered through your server and enjoyed throughout the session.
Ideal for couples, friends, small groups, or anyone who wants real cocktail knowledge without the chaos.
$75 per guest
Couples: select quantity 2
Small groups (3–4 guests): select quantity 3 or 4
Groups larger than 4, corporate bookings, or private buyouts should email
MMaakCocktail@gmail.com
A booking of 4 guests functions as a private class at the bar.
Sundays and Mondays are available for full bar buyouts.
Select your date here:
https://calendar.app.google/L4bdTg7eUMbJeCVWA
Purchase completes your booking.
A one page rescue plan from the same system inside Host Like a Pro.
Built to stabilize your kitchen, reclaim timing, and reset the day fast.
Thanksgiving collapses when the host loses the timeline.
This one page system corrects that.
The Bartender’s 60 Minute Thanksgiving Reset is a focused, high leverage rescue plan built from the timing, prep structure, and service flow inside Host Like a Pro: The Bartender’s Thanksgiving System.
Inside you get:
• A 10 minute kitchen stabilization sequence
• A four block timeline that removes chaos
• A three zone oven strategy that fixes pacing
• A bartender-style batching method
• A 20 minute pre guest sprint that sets the entire day up to succeed
This is not a recipe sheet.
It is a short, clean, operational reset designed by a career bartender who treats Thanksgiving like a service shift.
If you want the complete system with prep sequences, detailed timelines, beverage builds, the cart setup, and full service logic, the full book is available in print and digital at mmaakcocktail.com.
A bartender’s timing manual for Thanksgiving. Clear, calm, and built to work.
Thanksgiving is the hardest service of the year. This guide shows you how to run it like a pro. No lifestyle fluff. No impossible expectations. Just real sequencing, clear prep, and a system that keeps the host steady.
Inside you’ll find the complete Thanksgiving structure used by veteran bartender and bar manager Margie Maak. Timelines, methods, bar setup, menu, prep work, service flow, and the exact hour-by-hour breakdown that makes the day feel controlled instead of chaotic.
Digital PDF available now.
Softcover print edition available through Lulu.
What’s Included
• Full Thanksgiving menu and methods
• The Command Timeline
• The Task Timeline Planner
• Service bar setup and beverage program
• Tools, prep logic, and workflow
• Cleanup and sustainability loop
Who It’s For
Hosts who want clarity.
Cooks who want timing.
Industry people who want a home version of the shift they already know.
Format
PDF download
35 pages
Designed in the MMaak Cocktail editorial style
Print Edition – Softcover
This is the physical version of the system I use to run Thanksgiving like a service shift.
Perfect-bound, coated white pages, matte cover. Built to be thrown on the counter, flipped open, and followed step by step.
The print edition includes everything from the digital version: the timelines, the prep sequence, the service flow, the brine and gravy sections, the cart setup, and the host logic that keeps the whole day steady.
Print-on-demand. Ships in 7–12 business days.
Fulfilled directly through Lulu. Your copy is printed fresh and mailed to you.
Name: “Tinsel & Tambourines”
Category: Seasonal / Premium Atmosphere
Genre: Holiday
Energy: Balanced / Flow
Length: 8 hours
Description: Jangly guitars, holiday harmonies, and just enough sparkle & cheer for cozy cocktail nights and sleigh bell mornings.
Name: “Retro Showdown”
Category: Bar Vibe
Genre: Mixed / Eclectic
Energy: High Energy / Party
Length: 25.6 hours
Description: Maximalist bops and nostalgic throwdowns from two loud decades. It’s 80s synth vs 90s pop for cocktail bars that play it bold and dance it out.
Name: “Steel Shift”
Category: Bar Vibe
Genre: Mixed / Eclectic
Energy: Moody / Atmospheric
Length: 8.1 hours
Description: Pounding beats, grinding textures, and dark body music built for cocktail bars that rumble under red lights. Shift music for steel-hearted selectors.
Name: “Nights of SIN”
Category: Service Industry
Genre: Mixed / Eclectic
Energy: High Energy / Party
Length: 8.9 hours
Description: Late shift legends, kitchen heroes, and barbacks off the clock. This is the soundtrack for after-hours chaos, service industry saints, and the brave civilians who dare party with them.
Name: “Industry Trashed”
Category: Service Industry
Genre: Mixed / Eclectic
Energy: High Energy / Party
Length: 8.4 hours
Description: Embrace your inner party animal with our service industry playlist featuring strictly party songs. From high-energy anthems to guilty pleasure hits, this curated selection is perfect for letting loose and embracing your inner trash person on the dance floor.
Name: “Riddim & Ritual”
Category: Seasonal / Premium Atmosphere
Genre: Funk / Soul
Energy: Balanced / Flow
Length: 8 hours
Description: Dub, roots, and ghosted grooves for bars where the smoke swirls and the spirits linger. Spooky reggae for chill haunts with deep pours.
Name: “Scream-o Halloween”
Category: Seasonal / Premium Atmosphere
Genre: Emo / Alt Rock
Energy: Chill / Downtempo
Length: 8 hours
Description: Sad songs, spooky riffs, and eyeliner with fangs. Halloween emo anthems for cocktail bars that serve heartbreak in a blood-red glass.
Name: “Velvet Fangs”
Category: Seasonal / Premium Atmosphere
Genre: Goth club classics, post-punk, darkwave
Energy: Moody, atmospheric, seductive
Length: 8.24 hours
Description: Goth club classics, post-punk seduction, and darkwave drips the soundtrack for candlelit cocktails and velvet shadows.
Event Mixology Service – Starting at $450
Make your next event unforgettable with a bespoke cocktail experience curated by Margie Maak and the MMaak Cocktail team. Whether you’re throwing a backyard rager, a garden soirée, or an intimate cocktail hour, we bring the bar—minus the boring.
1 professional bartender for up to 30 guests
2 signature custom cocktail recipes
Up to 3 hours of bartending service + 2-hour setup & breakdown
Consultation + curated shopping list
Cocktail garnish & specialty item sourcing (reimbursed separately)
Custom cocktail signage (chalkboard or framed print)
Client to provide liquor (750ml or 1L bottles), mixers, ice, bar setup, glassware, trash/recycling access, and any desired non-alcoholic beverages.
Additional staff, extra cocktails, decor, and bar rentals available upon request.
Cocktail tastings before your event
Custom bar menu display
Signature cocktail taps (cider, spritz, etc.)
Bar or ice well rental
Pop-up tent & lighting
Edible flowers & cocktail fountains
Full glassware service (standard or vintage)
Hydration & non-alcoholic bar setups
Themed bar decor + lawn games
Smoked cocktails station
Mobile sink or generator rental for outdoor events
Want more than two cocktails? We’ve got recipes for days. Just let us know.
👉 Add to Cart to Submit Event Details
Shake, Stir, Learn.
Whether you're looking to host a memorable party, elevate your team’s happy hour, or educate your bartenders—this customizable cocktail class experience brings the skills (and the fun) to you.
Virtual Classes (great for corporate events or long-distance parties)
Private In-Person Parties (birthday, bachelorette, holiday, etc.)
Brand Activations (teach guests to mix cocktails with your product line)
Bartender Trainings (staff-focused classes to improve speed, technique, and menu knowledge)
3 signature cocktails taught step-by-step
All recipes, tools, and shopping suggestions provided
A focus on shaking, stirring, garnish, balance, and storytelling
Flexible formatting: interactive demos, hands-on builds, or both
Instruction by Margie Maak – industry pro, mixology coach, and crowd favorite
Custom-branded handouts
Ingredient kits for virtual guests
Sponsor integration or staff curriculum
Theme development (e.g., Point Break, Women’s Cocktail History, Tiki, etc.)
Add to Cart then complete the form with your event details. We’ll follow up with availability and a tailored quote.
Starts at $300
Pricing varies by class type, guest count, and location. Final quote will be provided after submitting the form.
This isn’t just a bartender manual—it’s a blueprint for running a high-functioning, guest-forward bar program. Designed for GMs, educators, bar leads, and bartenders ready to level up, this 45+ page guide covers everything from opening rituals to service choreography, from garnish logic to ice integrity. It’s built for real bars, real service, and real standards.
Crafted from years of on-the-floor leadership, high-volume training, and modern bar strategy, this guide fuses systems, structure, and style into one seriously sharp resource. If you’re onboarding new staff, retraining your team, or scaling your bar’s operations—this is the tool you’ve been missing.
✅ Opening & Closing Protocols
Full checklists, detailed readiness flows, and cleaning standards that hold the bar—and your team—accountable.
✅ Station Setup & Tools
Every square inch optimized. Tools, ice, garnishes, syrups—exactly where and how to set up for speed and sanity.
✅ Cocktail Building & Technique Training
Master jiggering, stirring, shaking, dry shaking, and multi-order service. Reinforce consistency, reduce waste, and boost confidence.
✅ Flavor Prep + Ice Protocols
From juicing and herb syrups to clear ice and oleo-saccharum—train your team like a modern cocktail lab.
✅ Productivity, Mindset & Team Dynamics
Learn to "own your zone," work with flow, and drive service forward. This section alone can retrain a staff culture.
✅ Glossary, Conversions, and Pro-Level Language
We give your team the words, logic, and habits that define a well-run program.
Clean, print-friendly layout
Tablet/digital reader compatible
Ready for in-service training, classroom instruction, or onboarding docs
Written in a no-BS tone with tactical detail and modern bar sensibilities
GMs building or rebuilding bar systems
Bartenders who want to master their craft, not just coast
Consultants and educators training teams at scale
Operators designing SOPs and need a fast, stylish head start
Introducing The MMaak Cocktail Classic Cocktail Compendium – a beautifully illustrated, expertly curated collection of 55 foundational classic cocktails. Designed for bartenders, beverage directors, and cocktail enthusiasts alike, this guide includes clean specs, original line art, and quick historical context for each drink. Whether you're mastering the standards or refreshing your repertoire, this downloadable PDF is your new bar cart essential.
Features:
55 foundational cocktails
Clean printable PDF format
Hand-drawn line illustrations for each cocktail
Brief historical context included
Designed by industry pro Margie Maak (MMaak Cocktail)
Perfect for: training staff, brushing up your classics, elevating your bar program, or geeking out over cocktails.
Tired of chaos at the top and tail of your shift? This PDF walks you through foolproof opening and closing systems used at a top-tier cocktail bar. Includes checklists, shift readiness routines, and an outline of main priorities to ensure your bar runs like a machine—even on a Friday night.
What separates a solid bartender from a seasoned pro? This part dives into the soft skills: managing intoxication, reading the room, protecting your station, and establishing healthy service boundaries. Includes real-world advice on how to cut someone off, manage team communication, and stay grounded.
We’re diving into the behind-the-scenes flavor work that sets elite bar programs apart. From prepped citrus to vibrant herb syrups to the deeply aromatic oleo-saccharum, these techniques save time, reduce waste, and turn your cocktail specs into next-level expressions. Let’s sharpen your prep game.
