Signature Lounge to Offer Mixology Class

By Roger Kamholz in Food on Mar 25, 2011 5:30PM

If you had any doubts that mixology has become a lofty subject as of late (and, depending how you feel about it, that's for better or for worse), you must not have known that it's currently being practiced in space.

Well, not quite. But the John Hancock Center's Signature Lounge on 96 certainly does qualify as above the canopy. Its presiding bartender, James Kuehner, is the so-called "mastermind behind the 30,000 martinis served annually at the Signature Lounge." (That's nearly a quarter million masterminded martinis over his past eight years as SLo96's lounge director.) Kuehner will share his tips and insights into the art of cocktail-making next Thursday, March 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at a one-night-only mixology class.

To kick things off, guests get to sip on two of the bar's signature drinks, the Pineapple Mimosa and Peanut Butter Bourbon. Things move to one of the Signature Room's private dining rooms, where Kuehner will demonstrate making a Cosmo, a Mojito, and a Bloody Mary with housemade roasted tomatoes, as well as how to give each a seasonal twist. Guests will get some advice on properly stocking their home bars. They may even score the recipe to Kuehner's Sidecar (pictured), one of the bar's classic cocktails.

The Signature Room kitchen will be on snack duty; accompanying hors d'oeuvres will include deep-fried jalapeno pickles, caramelized onion rillets, and roast beef and chipotle mayo sandwiches on pretzel bread.

The cost of the class is $55, which includes food, cocktails, tax and gratuity. Last we checked, fewer than 8 spots remained open. Call (312) 280-0472 for reservations or book online.

The Signature Lounge on 96 is located at 875 North Michigan Ave.