Three Tennessee whiskey cocktails, made your way.

This is a hands-on workshop in East Nashville’s Tank Room at Love & Exile, where you mix your own drinks while your host connects them to Tennessee whiskey culture and bartender know-how. It runs about 90 minutes, and the class is built for you to leave with practical technique, not just trivia.

What I liked most was the focus on three different Old Fashioned builds you make yourself, plus the way Chris Mallon uses simple, repeatable adjustments to improve flavor fast. I also appreciated the combo of craft and storytelling, so the session feels like a fun Nashville night, not a stiff lecture.

One consideration: at $90, you’re paying for an intimate, hands-on experience with three full-size cocktails, so it’s best if you actually want to learn and drink. If you’re hoping for a wide-ranging menu of spirits beyond Tennessee whiskey and Old Fashioned variations, this workshop is more specialized than broad.

Key things to know before you go

• Chris Mallon leads the class, mixing cocktail technique with Tennessee whiskey stories and hospitality culture
• You make three full-size cocktails during the 90-minute workshop, using bar tools, glassware, and ingredients provided
• Old Fashioned ratios matter here, with tips for small changes that shift the final flavor a lot
• You learn bartender methods, including how elements like bitters, citrus oils, sugars, and salts can affect the drink
• Groups stay small (max 24), which helps keep the vibe interactive
• You can linger after at Love & Exile, with food and the option to hang on the patio or in the main bar

Entering the Tank Room: where your Nashville night starts

The workshop meets at Love and Exile Bar at 715 Main St A in Nashville, starting at 3:30 pm. You’ll be tucked into their private workshop space, the Tank Room, which matters more than you’d think: it keeps the class focused, even though the larger venue gives you a natural excuse to stick around afterward.

The format is also designed to be social. You’re in a small group (up to 24), and the host style leans conversational. That’s why people with very different levels of drink knowledge tend to have a good time: you’re not forced into a single pace.

One more practical note: the experience is in English, and you get a mobile ticket. It’s also near public transportation, so you can plan without stressing about a car if you prefer transit.

What you actually make: three Tennessee Whiskey Old Fashioneds

The headline promise is simple: you’ll learn to make three whiskey cocktails over about 90 minutes, and the price includes three full-size cocktails that you mix yourself. In practice, that means you’re not watching someone else work. You’re doing the steps, using professional tools, and getting immediate feedback as you go.

The class centers on Old Fashioned variations. You’ll create three different versions of an Old Fashioned, guided by Chris Mallon and other Nashville hospitality professionals and whiskey experts. From the reviews, the big win is that the class doesn’t treat the Old Fashioned as a single recipe. It treats it like a framework you can tune.

A detail I find especially useful as a traveler: you’re learning how to think about flavor structure. People walk away talking about adjustments, and that’s the point. If you understand the levers, you can recreate a great drink even when you’re using whatever bottles and bitters you can find at home.

Also, the class has real flexibility. One review notes that the host was accommodating when someone asked for brandy instead of whiskey. That tells me the session isn’t rigid in a way that ruins the fun.

The bartender secrets: ratios, flavor levers, and small tweaks

This workshop is often described in terms of Old Fashioned technique, but what you’re really getting is a way to troubleshoot your own drink.

The most praised theme is ratios and how small differences add up. People specifically mentioned that they finally got why their home Old Fashioneds often didn’t taste right before taking this class. The learning here is not just about measuring. It’s about understanding how changes affect balance, strength, and finish.

Chris Mallon also brings a chef’s way of thinking to cocktail flavor. Reviews mention concepts that link cocktail elements to taste outcomes: bitters, citrus (including oils), sugars, and even salt. The practical value is that once you know what each ingredient is doing, you stop guessing.

Here’s the kind of takeaway this workshop sets you up for:

• If your Old Fashioned tastes flat, you’ll know what to look at first (sweetness and how you’re building the drink).
• If it tastes harsh or one-note, you’ll understand why minor adjustments can smooth it out.
• If it tastes dull instead of aromatic, you’ll learn where citrus oils and bitters fit into the structure.

And because the class includes stories and history of Tennessee whiskey while you’re working, the theory sticks better. You’re not just memorizing steps. You’re tying them to a drink culture that makes sense in Nashville, which is famous for hospitality and craft.

Value math: why $90 can be fair (and when it isn’t)

Let’s talk money plainly. At $90 per person for about 1.5 hours, you’re paying for three things at once:

1) instructor-led hands-on coaching,

2) all bar tools, glassware, and ingredients provided,

3) three full-size cocktails included in the price.

If you price that like a normal drink tab plus instruction, it starts to look reasonable. You’re not just getting a single pour or a tiny tasting. You’re making and drinking three full-size drinks, which is a big difference from many “light” classes that feel like extended happy hour.

Is it pricey? One review explicitly says it felt a little pricey, even while praising the experience. That’s the honest trade-off: you’re paying for a high-touch format rather than a cheap, self-guided activity.

So when is this best value?

• You like whiskey and want to improve what you order at bars and make at home.
• You’re the type who enjoys technique and wants the confidence to adjust recipes.
• You’ll actually use the Old Fashioned framework, not just enjoy the first great sip.

When might it feel less worth it?

• If you’re mainly drinking and don’t care about technique.
• If you’re expecting a huge variety of cocktail styles outside Tennessee whiskey and Old Fashioned builds.

Timing and flow: how the 90 minutes stays fun

The session starts at 3:30 pm and runs about 1 hour 30 minutes. That timing is a sweet spot for a Nashville evening. It’s early enough that you can still eat and wander afterward, but late enough that you’re not forced into an awkward lunch-to-dinner schedule.

Because it’s structured around making three cocktails, the rhythm stays active. You’ll be mixing, tasting, adjusting, and learning as you go. That helps you avoid the common problem with classes: staring at a demo while the clock moves too slowly.

Another reason this works: the host keeps it interactive, and the room energy matters. Reviews repeat words like fun, engaging, personable, and not stiff. The takeaway for you is that the workshop is designed to feel like a night out with people who know what they’re doing, not like school.

Where to linger after: patio time, wine, and pairing food

A big part of the experience is what happens after the class, even though the workshop itself ends back at the meeting point.

Love & Exile’s kitchen offers food that pairs well with what you just learned to make. The key is that the class doesn’t cut off your night. If you want to turn the workshop into a full evening plan, you can.

You also have easy options for hanging out:

• Sit on the patio
• Grab a seat at the main bar
• Stay for additional drinks like wine (food and extra drinks aren’t included, but they’re available)

This matters for your decision-making because a $90 ticket can feel easier to justify when you treat it as a starter to dinner, not the whole event. If you’re traveling solo, that post-class space can be social. If you’re with a couple, it can be a relaxed way to keep your date going without planning a whole new activity.

Who should book this Tennessee Whiskey Workshop

This workshop seems built for several types of travelers, and the reviews back it up with variety:

• Whiskey lovers who want to learn the real mechanics behind Tennessee whiskey and a classic Old Fashioned
• Couples looking for an experience with a clear start, shared activity, and a fun atmosphere
• Friends who want something more interactive than a typical bar crawl
• Beginners who want technique without feeling talked down to

One interesting pattern: even people who don’t usually order whiskey said they still enjoyed the class. The reason is practical. You’re learning to customize flavor, and that makes the drinks feel less like a forced taste test and more like your own creation.

If you’re the kind of person who likes adjusting recipes and talking about how flavor changes, you’ll probably leave satisfied. If you just want a quick drink and zero learning, you might find it more structured than you expected.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want a hands-on Nashville activity where you mix three full-size Tennessee whiskey cocktails and learn how to make Old Fashioneds taste right. The best reason is the teaching style: you’re not only tasting a product, you’re learning the knobs you can turn at home. That’s why people keep repeating themes like ratios, small tweaks, and practical tips.

Skip it or reconsider if:

• you’re not interested in whiskey or Old Fashioned variations,
• you want a long list of different cocktail styles instead of a deeper focus,
• or the $90 price feels uncomfortable compared with your usual travel splurges.

If you do book, show up ready to participate. The moment you lean into mixing and asking questions, the workshop clicks—and you’ll be the person who can order an Old Fashioned later and explain why it’s good.

FAQ

How long is the Tennessee Whiskey workshop in Nashville?

It runs for about 1 hour 30 minutes.

What does the $90 ticket include?

You get a 90-minute workshop, all tools/ingredients/glassware, and you mix and take part in drinking three full-sized cocktails.

What cocktails will I learn to make?

You’ll learn to make three whiskey cocktails, including three different Old Fashioned variations.

Where does the workshop start?

The meeting point is Love and Exile Bar, 715 Main St A, Nashville, TN 37206.

What time does the experience start?

Start time is 3:30 pm.

Is food included?

Food is not included, but food is available during the experience at Love & Exile.

Can I stay after the class for more drinks or dinner?

Yes. The experience ends back at the meeting point, and Love & Exile has options like the patio, the main bar, and food available.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included. The venue is near public transportation.

Is the class only for English speakers?

The workshop is offered in English.

Can service animals attend?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What if I need to cancel?

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, based on the local start time.