Old Fashioneds, taught like real engineering. In East Nashville’s Love & Exile Tank Room, you spend 90 minutes mixing Tennessee whiskey cocktails while a host shares stories and technique. The workshop stays focused with a private entrance, and the group is kept small.

I love the hands-on setup. You mix three full-size cocktails yourself with bar tools, glassware, and ingredients provided. I also like how Chris Mallon and the team connect the drink to the reason behind it, so the class becomes something you can repeat at home.

One possible drawback: at $90, it is a splurge. Go hungry for both learning and drinking, not just for a quick stop.

Key Highlights Worth Booking

• You mix three full-size Tennessee whiskey cocktails
• Three Old Fashioned variations with a strong focus on ratios
• Nashville hospitality stories that make the class feel like a night out
• Practical flavor levers like bitters, citrus, oils, sugars, and even salt
• Small group size, max 24, in Love & Exile’s Tank Room
• A way to keep the night going with food and drinks available at the venue

Love and Exile’s Tank Room, your Nashville cocktail “starter mission”

This workshop starts at Love and Exile Bar, 715 Main St A, Nashville. The session begins at 3:30 pm and runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, which is perfect timing if you want cocktails before dinner or an easy lead-in to Nashville nightlife.

The setting is the whole vibe. You’re not wandering into a crowded bar lesson. You step into the Tank Room, a private workshop space inside a beloved East Nashville venue. That matters because it keeps the pace relaxed and the attention on what you’re making.

The group stays small, up to 24 people. In practice, that usually means you get more back-and-forth while you mix, taste, and adjust. Also, you get a mobile ticket, and you’ll just show up with confirmation when you arrive.

The 90-minute flow, mixing three Old Fashioned variations

This is a hands-on Tennessee whiskey workshop, not a sit-and-watch lecture. Your host guides you through making three original cocktails, and the included drinks are full-sized and meant for you to enjoy during the class.

You’ll use professional bar tools and get the ingredients and glassware needed. That’s a big deal if you’ve ever tried to recreate a cocktail at home and realized you were missing the right equipment or the right building steps.

Because the workshop is built around Old Fashioneds, you’ll learn how the same basic structure can end up tasting completely different. One build might shift the sweetness balance. Another might change the impact of citrus oils from a peel. Another might lean harder on bitters. You finish the session with three drinks you can compare side by side, which makes the lesson stick.

And because it’s hands-on, you’re tasting as you go. That turns the class into something you can troubleshoot later at home, instead of just remembering a recipe.

Meet Chris Mallon, where the tips come with real-world context

Chris Mallon leads the workshop, along with other Nashville hospitality professionals and whiskey experts. What stands out in how the class is taught is the balance: you get structure, plus room for questions and adjustments.

The teaching style is practical. More than one person highlights how the course goes back to basics but still gets very in depth. You’re not just learning what to put in an Old Fashioned. You’re learning what each part does to the final flavor and how small ratio changes can lead to big differences.

There’s also a chef mindset in the mix. The way the class talks about bitters, citrus, oils, sugar, and salt points to flavor building like you would in cooking. It’s not random trivia. It’s a way to help you taste, then adjust with confidence.

Even better, the class is flexible. If you have a preference, you can ask about modifications. That helped more than one participant feel included, even if their usual drink order is not Tennessee whiskey.

The Old Fashioned fundamentals you can actually use at home

If you care about Old Fashioned, this workshop gives you a clear foundation. The key idea is that the drink is only simple on paper. The real work is in balance, and balance is built from multiple inputs.

Here are the flavor levers the class emphasizes, and why they matter:

Ratios that finally click. Multiple people mention the turning point was learning how the right measurements change everything. If your at-home Old Fashioned tastes too harsh, too sweet, or too flat, ratios are often the fix.

Bitters as the flavor backbone. Bitters are not just for color or tradition. They shape bitterness, aroma, and overall balance. The workshop’s approach helps you think about bitters as a steering wheel, not a decorative dash.

Citrus and citrus oils. Citrus shows up in more ways than you might expect. The class focuses on citrus impacts that come from aroma and oils, not just juice. That’s useful at home because peel technique and how you express citrus can change the drink.

Sugar, not just sweetness. You’ll learn that sugar choices and how much you use can affect texture and how other flavors read. Think of it as a bridge between whiskey heat and the rest of the drink.

Salt, even in small amounts. Salt might sound unusual in a classic cocktail, but the class explicitly talks about how salt can affect perceived flavor. It’s one of those tweaks that can make everything feel more defined.

You’ll leave with the confidence to modify, not just copy. That is the difference between having a recipe and having a repeatable system.

What “customize as you go” looks like in the Tank Room

In this class, customization is not a vague promise. It’s built into the teaching. You taste, you adjust, and you get ideas for how to modify at home based on what you liked in your glass.

For example, people highlight that Chris will suggest modifications as you learn what direction you prefer. Maybe you want it less sharp. Maybe you want more roundness. Maybe you’re curious about how swapping the spirit affects the final flavor.

That also makes the workshop friendly for people who are curious but not fully sold on whiskey. One review even notes the session worked as a confidence boost for someone who does not typically order whiskey. The class helps you focus on technique and balance, which translates to any spirit.

If you’re bringing friends, this is also a good group format. People tend to bond while they’re tasting and comparing notes. And because you’re mixing three drinks, you have plenty of chances to laugh when someone ends up accidentally making a version that surprises them.

Pairing ideas after class, food and patio time at Love and Exile

The workshop is the main event, but your night does not have to end when mixing stops. Food is available during the experience at Love and Exile, with the kitchen serving items designed to pair well with your cocktails.

You might want to plan for staying a bit. The venue has options that let you relax, including time on the patio, or joining the larger bar area. Even if you don’t stay long, having a place right there to grab food can help you keep the evening comfortable, especially since you’re having three full-sized cocktails.

Also, this is a good moment in your Nashville schedule to slow down. After the class, you’ll already have a drink you understand. That makes ordering later easier, because you’ll be able to think, taste, and adjust without guessing.

Price and value at $90, what you’re really paying for

$90 sounds like a lot until you break down what’s included. You get a 90-minute Tennessee whiskey workshop led by Chris Mallon and other experts. You mix three full-sized cocktails yourself, using tools, glassware, and ingredients provided.

You are not paying extra for drinks. You’re paying for instruction, ingredient access, and a guided tasting experience that teaches technique. If you’ve ever dropped serious money on cocktails in Nashville and left with no clue how to recreate them, this format is a smarter use of that budget.

And because the class is small, you’re paying for attention. The feedback and adjustments are part of the value. More than one person highlights how worth it it felt, especially when the class taught not just what to do, but why small changes matter.

One consideration: it is a drink-centered experience. If you want a non-alcoholic evening, this may not match your goals. But if you do enjoy bourbon and whiskey territory, or you want to learn without being judged, this is a solid, focused pick.

Best for who, and how to decide fast

This workshop fits best if you want a fun Nashville activity that teaches you something you can use. It is a great date night because it mixes entertainment with a shared task. It’s also ideal for solo travelers who want connection without awkward small talk, since you’re working side by side at the bar.

It’s especially strong for anyone who likes Old Fashioneds or wants to improve their at-home version. The class is built around that core style, and it spends serious time on the components that change flavor outcomes.

If you’re unsure about Tennessee whiskey specifically, you can still enjoy it. The class is structured around technique and flavor balance, and there are signs that instructors can work with preferences when possible.

Should you book this Tennessee Whiskey Workshop?

Book it if you want a hands-on cocktail class with three full-sized results and a teaching style that makes you better fast. You’ll get technique, practical flavor knowledge, and the kind of confidence that turns your next home cocktail into a real win.

Skip it if you’re looking for something purely sightseeing or if you want a light, low-key night with minimal drinking. At $90, it is best as an intentional Nashville plan, not an impulse snack.

If you’re deciding between a random bar stop and a structured experience, this one is the smarter bet. You’ll leave with drinks you can name, understand, and remake. That is exactly the kind of souvenir worth bringing home.

FAQ

What’s included in the Premium Tennessee Whiskey Workshop?

You get the 90-minute Tennessee whiskey workshop experience, and you mix three full-sized cocktails yourself. Bar tools, glassware, and ingredients are provided, and the workshop is led by Chris Mallon and other Nashville hospitality professionals and whiskey experts.

How long is the workshop and when does it start?

The duration is about 1 hour 30 minutes. The listed start time is 3:30 pm.

Where do I meet for the class?

You meet at Love and Exile Bar, 715 Main St A, Nashville, TN 37206, USA. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is food included?

Food and extra drinks are not included in the price. They are available during the experience at Love and Exile.

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes. The maximum number of travelers is 24.

Is the workshop in English, and are service animals allowed?

The workshop is offered in English. Service animals are allowed.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.