Cocktail University

The curriculum

Every experience
is intentional.

Every guest arrives with a ticket. Every night is curated. This is the full menu of what we offer — the building blocks of the monthly drop.

Bourbon 101: The Kentucky Story
Spirits Education
01

Bourbon 101: The Kentucky Story

"Why does bourbon taste the way it does? 90 minutes. One answer."

The foundational CU experience. Guests learn the five things every bourbon drinker eventually asks: the legal definition, the grain bill, the barrel, the Kentucky climate, and how to actually taste. Three pours are served — a high-rye expression, a wheated expression, and an aged single barrel — so guests taste the differences they are learning about in real time.

Price

$75 / person

Capacity

8–12 guests

Cadence

Every other week

The Blind Tasting Challenge
Spirits Education
02

The Blind Tasting Challenge

"Four glasses. No labels. One winner."

Four unmarked pours. Guests taste, score, and guess the distillery, age, and price point of each expression. The reveal is the entertainment — the $25 bottle that beats the $120 bottle, the famous brand that finishes last. Competitive, social, and deeply shareable.

Price

$65 / person

Capacity

10–20 guests

Cadence

2× per month

The Cocktail Lab
Social Experience
03

The Cocktail Lab

"Build it. Name it. Drink it."

Guests are given a base spirit, a set of modifiers, and a brief. They build their own cocktail, name it, and the room votes on the best one. Less lecture, more participation. The hands-on version of the curriculum — guests learn by doing. Perfect for bachelorette parties, birthday groups, and corporate teams.

Price

$85 / person

Capacity

8–16 guests

Cadence

2× per month

The Distillery Dinner Series
Spirits Education
04

The Distillery Dinner Series

"One distillery. One evening. Four courses. Four expressions."

One distillery. One evening. Four courses, each paired with a different expression from that distillery's portfolio. A brand ambassador presents each pour and tells the story behind it. Food is catered by a local chef or catering partner. This is the event that builds distillery relationships and positions CU as a serious hospitality venue.

Price

$135–175 / person

Capacity

12–20 guests

Cadence

Monthly

The Founders Table
Premium & Exclusive
05

The Founders Table

"Rare pours. Small room. No agenda."

A monthly dinner for 10–12 people, invitation-only or by application, hosted by CU ownership personally. No theme, no agenda beyond good conversation and exceptional pours. The spirits are rare or allocated — things guests cannot easily find elsewhere. This is the event that creates the mythology around CU.

Price

$200–300 / person

Capacity

10–12 guests (strict)

Cadence

Monthly

Cocktail & Canvas
Arts & Culture
06

Cocktail & Canvas

"The cocktail matches the painting. The painting matches the mood."

A local artist leads a painting session while guests build a cocktail thematically connected to the piece they are creating — matched by color palette, mood, or ingredient. The cocktail element is what makes it a CU event rather than a standard paint night. The most accessible entry point in the CU calendar.

Price

$65 / person

Capacity

12–20 guests

Cadence

2× per month

The Residency
Arts & Culture
07

The Residency

"One artist. One month. One night at CU."

One artist is featured for the full month. Their work hangs in the space from the first of the month. On the event night, guests arrive to a gallery-walk format: 30 minutes with the work and the artist, followed by a facilitated conversation, then open mingling with a second pour. The artist keeps 100% of any sales.

Price

$45–65 / person

Capacity

20–35 guests

Cadence

Monthly (last Friday)

Bourbon & Beats
Arts & Culture
08

Bourbon & Beats

"An intimate set. A curated flight. 40 people who were supposed to be here."

A single musician or duo performs an intimate acoustic set while a curated flight is poured. The flight is thematically connected to the music: a Kentucky bluegrass set paired with small-batch bourbons, a jazz set paired with New Orleans-influenced cocktails. The intimacy of 40 people makes this feel like a private concert — because it is.

Price

$55–75 / person

Capacity

25–40 guests

Cadence

1–2× per month

The Unannounced
Mystery & Performance
09

The Unannounced

"One night. One performer. No previews."

The ticket sells the mystery, not the act. Every booking simply says: CU presents The Unannounced. The performer is revealed the morning of the event, or at the door. Mentalists, magicians, comedians, spoken word artists, hypnotists, interactive performers. The format is the brand. The performer rotates.

Price

$35–55 / person

Capacity

20–40 guests

Cadence

Monthly

The Sommelier Series
Premium & Exclusive
10

The Sommelier Series

"Beyond bourbon. One spirit. One expert. One evening."

A certified spirits professional leads a one-night deep dive on a single category outside of bourbon. One night is Scotch. One night is Japanese whisky. One night is mezcal. One night is cognac. These are for the guest who already knows bourbon and wants to go further.

Price

$95–125 / person

Capacity

8–16 guests

Cadence

Quarterly

Lovely Nights with Lucy
Arts & Culture · Live Music
11

Lovely Nights with Lucy

"Lucy and the Love Letters. Live. Every Thursday."

A ticketed live music experience featuring Lucy and the Love Letters performing in the intimate CU lounge. Each night includes a curated cocktail menu designed to match the mood of the set — warm, soulful, and made to linger over. The best Thursday in Lexington. Every week.

Price

Ticketed

Capacity

Up to 40 guests

Cadence

Every Thursday

The Cocktail Course
Social Experience
12

The Cocktail Course

"Make two cocktails. Stay for the social hour."

The most approachable experience on the CU calendar. Guests are guided through making two cocktails from scratch — measuring, shaking, stirring, and garnishing — by a CU bartender. No experience required. The cocktail menu rotates monthly (or quarterly), so regulars always have something new to learn. After the class, the bar opens for a social hour where guests can practice what they just learned, meet other guests, and enjoy the space.

Price

$55 / person

Capacity

8–16 guests

Cadence

Every other Saturday

Studio Sunday
Arts & Culture
13

Studio Sunday

"CU's version of sip and paint. Elevated."

CU's take on sip and paint — designed for Sunday mornings that deserve more than brunch. Guests receive a canvas, brushes, and a guided painting prompt while a curated brunch cocktail menu (mimosas, Bloody Marys, seasonal spritzes) flows throughout the session. No art experience required. Every guest leaves with a finished piece, a full afternoon ahead of them, and a reason to come back next month.

Price

$65 / person

Capacity

10–14 guests

Cadence

2× per month (Sundays)

Industry Night
Community
B

Industry Night

"Half price. Full access. For the people who run this city's hospitality."

One night per month, reserved for hospitality industry professionals — bartenders, servers, sommeliers, chefs, and event planners. Half-price tickets, educational format, networking focus. Not a revenue event. A relationship event.

Price

$20–30 / person

Capacity

15–30 guests

Cadence

Monthly (Sun or Mon)

Ready to attend?

See what's on
this month.

The monthly drop releases the upcoming schedule to Reserve List members and Faculty members first. Tickets open to the public shortly after.

View Upcoming Events Full Calendar