Learn how to make your own tasty cocktails and support a local business this weekend
By Kelly Ragan
For the folks out there who miss the sweet embrace of a tasty weekend cocktail, one local business invites you to learn something new from a socially acceptable distance.
Matt Estrin, owner of Tower 56, a craft distillery in downtown Greeley, will livestream a class on bourbon this Saturday. Viewers will learn about the spirit and learn how to make a few popular cocktails. Last week Estrin hosted a livestream class on gin.
“We’ll talk a lot about what bourbon is, the chemistry of barrel aging, and we’ll make some bourbon cocktails,” Estrin said.
Estrin said he’d demonstrate how to make old fashions, manhattans, whiskey sours and bourbonritas.
Last week, about 80 people watched the video live, Estrin said. The video climbed up to at least 1,000 views over the week as others watched it later.
The livestream classes are one of the creative ways Estrin is working to stay connected with his customers.
Tower 56’s tasting room – which is closed – makes up about 80% of the company’s revenue, Estrin said.
He had to furlough most of his staff, he said. While he typically employs eight people, his distiller is the only one still getting paid these days.
“It’s brutal,” Estrin said. “…We were just celebrating, experiencing all the highs of the business. A week later I had to tell my staff I couldn’t employ them.”
While the classes are free, Estrin does provide a link to his Venmo account so viewers can donate if they would like. The money goes straight to the staff, Estrin said.
Estrin has a couple other tricks up his sleeve, too.
Tower 56 is, of course, still selling its spirits.
“We’re really working hard to get some new products out, like canned cocktails,” Estrin said. “Hopefully we’ll have those ready to go by the end of the week.”
Estrin is working to get federal approval to sell canned cocktails. While Gov. Jared Polis did announce restaurants would be allowed to serve alcohol along with food for takeout, breweries and distillery pubs aren’t allowed to provide mixed drinks, according to the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division’s guidelines.
How to participate
What: Facebook Live cocktail class
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
How: Go to https://www.facebook.com/Tower56/ to watch the video and find the ingredient list