Milwaukee’s nationally recognized Agency Cocktail Lounge is opening its doors in a whole new way this season. For the first time, Creative Director Kat Doughty will lead guests through a three-part cocktail class series designed to be as educational as it is inspiring.
Whether you’re just starting to build your home bar, want to sharpen your mixology skills, or simply crave a deeper appreciation for what makes Agency’s drinks exceptional, these classes promise an experience equal parts fun and informative.
“We’re excited to offer these intimate classes and pull back the curtain to show off what we do, why it matters and why we feel so incredibly passionate about what we get to do every day,” says Doughty. “It’s an absolute joy to bring curious, like-minded people together for laughs, exploration, witty debates and a moment to live in the Agency universe for an hour or two.”
What do you get?
Each class is capped at just 16–20 guests, ensuring a highly personal experience. True to Agency’s reputation, the sessions are crafted with the same meticulous care that has earned the bar its James Beard finalist honors as well as a spot on USA Today’s “Top 29 Bars in the Country”.
Attendees will enjoy a welcome cocktail, guided tastings, small bites, take-home recipe cards and info sheets, an Agency notebook and a celebratory toast to close the night.
Executive Partner Ryan Castelaz notes that the series is as much about education as it is about connection.
“As someone who has dedicated the last decade of their life to the wonders of drink making, I learn something new almost every day from Kat," he says. "She is one of the great minds in drink-making today and we are so excited to be able to offer the incredible opportunity to learn from a true professional at the top of their game.”
Fall & winter classes
Bartending 101: The Foundations of Great Drinks
Sept. 22 | 90 mins | $65 per person | Get tickets
Build confidence with bar essentials: must-have tools, shaking vs. stirring and seasonal ingredients. Leave with the know-how to stock a home bar without overspending and the skills to craft cocktails that impress.
Bartending 102: From Fundamentals to Creativity
Oct. 27 | 120 mins | $90 per person | Get tickets
Dive deeper into technique, balance flavors through straw-tasting and workshop your own original cocktail. Find your creative voice behind the bar.
Science Behind the Bar: Techniques for the Exceptional
Nov. 17 | 90 mins | $65 per person | Get tickets
Explore the modern methods that make Agency’s cocktails shine—clarification, spherification, infusion and more. Through demos and tastings, see how science transforms a drink from good to unforgettable.
Tickets & Private Classes
Tickets for the series are available exclusively through Tock and are expected to sell quickly due to the limited seating. Private sessions can also be arranged by contacting Laura@theafterglow.group.
With this series, Agency isn’t just serving world-class cocktails—it’s inviting guests into its creative universe, one shake, stir and sip at a time.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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