Barcelona: Cocktail Class Workshop – Make Shake Cook & Paint

Barcelona’s Sacsejar workshop turns cocktail-making into a playful evening of shaking, cooking, and painting under UV light. You arrive at Çukor Candy Kitchen, a sweets workshop by day, then enter its secret speakeasy setting for three creative drinks guided by Jon, an award-winning mixologist.

I like the welcome glass of cava and the mix of real cocktail technique with games, stories, and magic. I also like that the drinks use local products and come with a recipe PDF, so the class has value after you leave. The main consideration is simple: this is a drinking experience, and extra cocktails after class cost more.

Key things to know

• Three signature cocktails: You make and shake three unusual drinks, including creations such as Frambuesa Fresca and Correfoc.
• More than a standard bar class: One drink involves cooking in the dark, while another includes painting with UV-reactive ingredients.
• Jon leads the session: Expect cocktail history, practical bar tips, cheeky humor, magic tricks, and friendly competition.
• A social night out: The small-group format suits couples, friends, solo visitors, hen and stag groups, and team events.
• Good extras included: You get cava on arrival, light snacks, a farewell chupito, and recipes in PDF form.
• Plan ahead for dietary needs: Tell the team about allergies, vegan diets, dietary restrictions, or a need for non-alcoholic drinks before booking.

Entering Çukor Candy Kitchen in the Gothic Quarter

The meeting point is Çukor Candy Kitchen in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. That address gives the evening a sense of occasion. By day, the venue makes candies, cakes, and other sweet treats. At night, it changes into the hidden workshop for Sacsejar.

You are not walking into a polished hotel bar or a formal culinary school. The setting is part candy kitchen, part private cocktail den. That helps explain the tone of the class: creative, informal, and a little theatrical.

Arrive ready to take part rather than sit back. The evening works best when you join the games, try the techniques, and accept that a few things may not go exactly as planned. This is a hands-on activity, not a tasting where someone else does all the work.

The class is taught mainly in English. Jon can also explain things in Spanish, which is useful for mixed-language groups. If your group needs a Spanish-only class, a private event, or a custom menu, contact Sacsejar before reserving.

Cava first, then a relaxed introduction

The class begins with a glass of cava. That small welcome matters because it gives everyone a chance to settle in before handling shakers, ingredients, and bar equipment.

Light snacks are served during the session. The examples provided include popcorn, olives, and fuet, with sweet treats linked to the venue’s candy-making side. These are not a full meal, so I would eat beforehand if you need dinner, but they help between drinks.

Jon sets the mood with an introduction to the drinks and the ideas behind them. The teaching mixes cocktail history with practical bar advice. You may learn why certain ingredients work together, how a drink changes when shaken, and how presentation affects the way you taste it.

The tone is friendly rather than formal. Several parts of the evening use short stories, magic tricks, and playful contests to keep the group involved. If you prefer a quiet, technical masterclass, this may feel too lively. If you want a social night with useful bar skills, the format makes sense.

Three drinks with three different kinds of fun

The main part of the evening is making three signature cocktails. The drinks are designed to feel different from one another, so the class does not become the same shaking exercise repeated three times.

You work under guidance rather than being left to guess. That is helpful if you rarely make cocktails at home. You still get to take part in the measuring, mixing, shaking, and finishing, but Jon provides the structure needed to keep the drinks balanced.

The recipes follow a Kilometer 0 approach, using locally sourced products where possible. That does not turn the class into a Catalan food tour, but it gives the drinks a link to the place you are visiting. The workshop also connects ingredients and techniques with local traditions and stories.

One drink mentioned by name is Frambuesa Fresca, a fresh, fruity cocktail that is likely to appeal to anyone who prefers bright flavors. Another is Correfoc, a name drawn from Catalan fire-running festivals. The drinks are not presented as standard gin and tonics or simple rum mixes. Expect more unusual combinations and stronger attention to color and presentation.

The exact balance of flavors will suit some people more than others. A person who likes sweet, fruity, or theatrical cocktails may enjoy the menu most. If you only drink very dry classics, ask about the style of the drinks before booking.

Cooking in the dark and painting with UV light

The workshop’s most unusual feature is the way it adds cooking and art to mixology. One cocktail involves cooking in the dark. Another lets you paint a neon drink under UV light.

These activities give the class a clear sense of progression. You are not only learning how to combine liquid ingredients. You are also dealing with temperature, texture, color, and presentation. The dark cooking section adds a small challenge, while the UV painting makes the final drink feel like a piece of edible artwork.

The painting is not just decoration for decoration’s sake. It shows how visual details affect a cocktail before you take the first sip. A drink can taste good and still feel more memorable when its color and finish are part of the experience.

The dark section may not suit everyone. If you have dietary concerns or need to see every ingredient clearly, tell the team in advance. The activity provider asks for notice about allergies, vegan diets, other restrictions, and non-alcoholic requirements.

Jon’s teaching style and the social side

Jon is central to the evening. He brings experience from London bars and combines cocktail instruction with humor, stories, and simple magic. The class is meant to feel welcoming, not intimidating, so you do not need previous bartending skills.

That matters for solo visitors. The format gives you easy conversation points because everyone is making the same drinks and reacting to the same surprises. It also suits couples who want a date night with more to do than sit across from one another.

Friends can treat it as a shared activity, while hen and stag groups can use the private-group option. Companies and private parties can also contact the provider about bespoke menus and event times.

The social element is a strength, but it also means the evening may depend on the group in the room. A lively group can make the games and competition more fun. A quiet group may produce a calmer class. Private groups give you more control over the atmosphere and the menu.

What you get for $71

At $71 per person, the price is higher than simply ordering three cocktails at a bar. The value comes from the full package: 2.5 hours of instruction and entertainment, three cocktails you make yourself, cava on arrival, snacks, a farewell chupito, and a PDF recipe book.

You are also paying for the unusual setting and the work behind the themed drinks. The cooking and UV painting require more preparation than a basic cocktail demonstration. The instructor’s stories, games, magic, and guidance fill out the evening rather than leaving you with three quick pours.

I consider the price fair for someone who wants an activity as well as drinks. It is less attractive if your main goal is simply to consume cocktails at the lowest cost. Additional cocktails after the class are not included, so keep that in mind if you plan to continue drinking at the venue.

The PDF recipes add useful follow-up value. You can try to recreate the drinks at home, although specialist ingredients or presentation tricks may not be easy to match exactly. Still, the recipe booklet turns the class into something more lasting than a one-night bar tab.

How long the 2.5 hours feels

The stated duration is 2.5 hours, which gives the workshop enough time to include instruction, preparation, drinking, snacks, and the entertainment sections. It should feel like a complete evening activity rather than a quick stop before dinner.

The pace is likely to vary slightly depending on group size and how much time people need with each drink. Games and stories also add time, but they are part of the format rather than filler.

I would avoid booking a tightly timed activity immediately afterward. The class includes several moving parts, and the social pace may be relaxed. If you want to explore the Gothic Quarter afterward, that is easy to plan because the venue is centrally located. Sacsejar also offers recommendations for where to go next.

Remember that alcohol affects people differently. A welcome cava, three cocktails, and a farewell chupito can add up over 2.5 hours. Eat before or during the class, drink at your own pace, and request a non-alcoholic option in advance if needed.

Who should book this workshop

I would recommend Sacsejar most strongly to:

• Couples who want a playful date night
• Friends looking for an activity with plenty of conversation
• Solo visitors who enjoy meeting people through shared activities
• Hen and stag groups seeking something more creative than a standard bar crawl
• Teams planning a private event
• Cocktail fans who want to learn practical techniques without a serious classroom mood
• Visitors who enjoy food, drink, theater, and visual presentation in one activity

It is also a good choice for people who have already done a basic cocktail class and want something less predictable. The dark cooking and UV painting give it a different shape.

I would think twice if you do not drink alcohol, dislike group participation, or want a quiet, highly technical lesson. A non-alcoholic option may be possible, but you need to request it in advance. Children under 18 cannot join.

Practical tips before you reserve

Book ahead if your dates are fixed. The experience is limited by the size of the workshop and is especially useful to arrange early for private groups or special events.

Tell Sacsejar about allergies and dietary restrictions before booking. Do the same if you are vegan or need non-alcoholic drinks. The snacks include items such as fuet, so do not assume every food option suits every diet.

The class is primarily in English, with Spanish explanations available. For a Spanish-only class, a bespoke cocktail menu, or a different date or time, contact the provider before making a standard reservation.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times when choosing your date.

Should you book Sacsejar?

Book it if you want your Barcelona evening to involve more than sitting at a bar. The workshop gives you three drinks, useful techniques, a playful setting, local ingredients, cava, snacks, and enough entertainment to fill a full evening.

The strongest reasons to go are the inventive format, Jon’s warm hosting style, and the switch between cocktail-making, cooking in the dark, and UV painting. The main caution is the price and the alcohol content. This is not the cheapest way to drink in Barcelona, and extra cocktails cost more.

For a couple, small friend group, or solo visitor who enjoys social activities, I think the $71 price is reasonable. For a quiet drinker or someone seeking a formal bartending course, choose a different kind of evening.

FAQ

Where does the cocktail workshop take place?

The workshop takes place at Çukor Candy Kitchen in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter. The venue operates as a candy kitchen by day and a speakeasy-style workshop at night.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts 2.5 hours.

How many cocktails do I make?

You make three unique signature cocktails during the workshop.

Is cava included?

Yes. The experience includes a glass of cava upon arrival.

Are snacks included?

Yes. A selection of light snacks is included. Examples include popcorn, olives, and fuet.

Is the class taught in English?

Classes are primarily taught in English. The instructor can also explain things in Spanish.

Can I request a non-alcoholic version or mention dietary needs?

Yes. Tell the provider in advance about allergies, dietary restrictions, vegan requirements, or a need for non-alcoholic drinks.

Are extra cocktails included after the class?

No. Additional cocktails after the workshop are available as an extra purchase and are not included in the $71 price.