Castalia

What a wonderful class, taught by Kevin ! We tasted crickets, dissected daiquiris, and arpeggiated old fashioneds. Great city, great bar, great people. Couldn't ask for a warmer reception, and everyone's interest in Cocktail Theory was amazing to see!

Taking the show on the road! Can't wait to head to Minnesota and hang with the Meteor crew!

📖 Class: Cannabis, Roses, and Whiskey - Archetypes of Beauty 🪴🌹🥃 Sunday, June 23, 5pm
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The scents of cannabis, roses, and whiskey have been sought after for centuries or more, and each provides a poignant example of how to construct an enticing aroma. Students of this class will construct cocktails analogous to the scent structures of these three substances.
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This class will also detail how an understanding of scent creation guides cocktail creation at Castalia, and attendees will walk through the process Castalia bartenders follow when designing new menus.
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Based on Chapter 9 of Castalia co-founder Kevin’s book Cocktail Theory, students will smell cannabis during this class, but sadly none will be available to consume.
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Taught by Dr. Kevin Peterson, ticket price includes all ingredients, tools provided, and 2-3 drinks worth of alcohol (potentially split among several smaller tastes). Zero-proof options available. The class is a mixture of lecture and hands on. 🎟️ link in bio to reserve a seat!

Black Card + DATBE Juneteenth Cocktail Tasting 🎉 Tuesday, June 18th, seatings at 6:30 and 9pm
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Join us for a unique 90-minute tasting and story-telling experience through the creation of original cocktails paired with fragrances, featuring all black spirits!
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This special edition of Black Card × DATBE gets into Juneteenth and highlights the rich history of black america. It also interweaves nuances of black culture through a liquid and artistic lens, while highlighting Detroit and all its wonder. Prepare for your senses to be pleasantly overwhelmed by a curated playlist, intentional fragrance pairings and delicious light bites.
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🎟️ Link in bio to reserve tickets
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Black Card is a pop-up event specializing in crafting original cocktails fashioned by gifted black bartenders. Black Card highlights all things hospitality involving black chefs, artists, DJs, businesses, creatives, and more!
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DATBE - Detroit, as Told by Ellie
DATBE is a storytelling platform that centers the love, understanding, and appreciation of Detroit while engaging the 5 senses. DATBE is told from the lens of lifelong Detroiter Ellie St.Clair, who gives a personal yet approachable account of experiences, favorites venues and restaurants, music, community programs, events and education.

Few spots left for our class 🥃 The Everlasting Old Fashioned 🥃 happening in two weeks. The old fashioned has maintained its cocktail supremacy for more than a century, yet each individual drink is superb for only 4-6 minutes. Even when highly motivated, it often takes me at least 10-20 minutes to finish them. This deliciousness gap is entirely unacceptable, so armed with the knowledge of where cocktails are optimum and how they lose their luster, we’ll fight the tendency for drinks to warm up or over-dilute.
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Based on some of the most groundbreaking findings from Castalia co-founder Kevin’s book Cocktail Theory 📖, this class will describe how to extend the life of your old fashioned, tasting along the way to see what makes drinks succeed...or fail.
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🎟️ Taught by Dr. Kevin Peterson, ticket price includes all ingredients, tools provided, and ~3 drinks worth of alcohol. Zero-proof options available with advance notice. The class is a mixture of lecture and hands on.
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Sunday, May 19, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Reserve your spot, link in bio

SOLD OUT CLASS TODAY (so we’ll do this again in a few months)
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This is Your Brain on Smells, A Guided Bourbon Tasting with Bardstown 👃🥃
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In collaboration with Bardstown Bourbon, this guided bourbon tasting will feature custom scents, custom bottles, and custom knowledge.
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A great spirit needs an amazing aroma. Scents are ethereal, so describing and optimizing that aroma is difficult. Taking cues from both perfumery and bourbon-making, this class will detail two conceptual models for thinking about the fragrant components of a drink. Along with sippable and sniffable examples, both a musical analogy and an image analogy will be used to demonstrate how aromatic components combine, enhance, and detract from each other.
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Co-taught by Bardstown’s Jaz’min Weaver, and Castalia’s Dr. Kevin Peterson, this class covers how the aromatic portion of a flavor is registered in the brain, along with practical advice for making that aroma sing. The perfect class for both bourbon-enthusiasts and cocktailians looking to bring their drinks to the next level.

The Stiletto is an old fashioned in disguise. Made with a mango syrup and baking spice bitters, this cognac and bourbon sipper is sure to redefine the meaning of the classic.
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Our co-owner Erica is celebrating her third year at Castalia! Sign up for a scent creation class with her, try one of her delicious cocktails, or just stop in and say hello!

Patio season is here, and we’re excited to enjoy drinks in the sunshine! ☀️🌿 To ensure the best experience for everyone, we ask you to please:
- Leave pets and kiddos at home (adults 18 and over only)
- Refrain from smoking or fragrant va**ng
- Relax and enjoy the cocktails 😎
Thank you for your consideration, and hooray for patio weather!

Thanks for the write-up, Detroit News ! Happy to be among such good company!

15 cool Detroit bars to take out-of-towners Pull up a barstool at one of these hip destinations in the city for craft cocktails, mocktails and beers.

Riddles Menu❓❔❓ Fresno chili shrub carrot tomatillo gin lime tangerine oleo green peppercorn anise bubbles. The Metal & Stone cocktail is vegetal, bubbly, and bright! Pairs with Survival Instinct. 🌶️🥕

‼️📢 Castalia is hiring! We are looking for a part-time bartender, 1-2 nights per week, including Saturday night. The ideal candidate would have some experience behind a cocktail bar, familiarity with classic cocktails, shaking, and stirring, and a drive to learn more, as we like to push the boundaries of flavor through innovative technique and esoteric ingredients.
Tag all the good people please 😄🙏
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Send a resume to [email protected] for more info.

The most important things you do are the things you do first, the things you do most, and the things you do last. Cap Off the Night properly with porcini- and ginger-infused rum, black sesame, shochu and kiwi.

📚 Next Cocktail Class: Everlasting Cocktails
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Most cocktails are superb for 4-6 minutes, however it often takes at least 10-20 minutes to finish them. This deliciousness gap is entirely unacceptable, so armed with the knowledge of where cocktails are optimum and how they lose their luster, we’ll fight the tendency for drinks to warm up, over-dilute, and go flat.
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Based on some of the most groundbreaking findings from Castalia co-founder Kevin’s book Cocktail Theory, this class covers a variety of unconventional techniques, ranging from pre-batching to force carbonation to calibrated ice cubes, demonstrating how to extend the lifetime of most cocktail families by about a factor of 4, as you taste the difference.
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🎟️ Taught by Dr. Kevin Peterson, ticket price includes all ingredients, tools provided, and ~3 drinks worth of alcohol. Zero-proof options available with advance notice. The class is a mixture of lecture and hands on.
Sunday, Apr 7, 2024
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

🥂 Big News! 🍾 We’re excited to announce that Erica Kassel is now a co-owner at Castalia! Erica has been with us since 2021 and has held nearly every role within our company at one point or another. Her relentless pursuit of novel flavors for cocktails, the depth of research she has poured into special tastings, and her dedication to bringing an amazing experience to every guest made bringing her onto the ownership team an easy choice.
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Kevin, Jane, & DuPree
Co-Owners of Castalia

Our new menu is here! The time has come to try to crack the Riddles menu. Join us for the unveiling of our Spring/Summer cocktails based around 8 different thought provoking riddles that will keep your brain occupied as you imbibe.

📚 Next Cocktail Class: Defying Logic - The Mysteries of Cocktail Aroma on Saturday, March 23!
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What if you were playing CCR on your stereo, but when you cranked the volume, it turned into The Eagles? Scent perception behaves in unintuitive ways compared to the other senses, and understanding the possible effects and likely pitfalls is necessary to create ideal drinks.
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Attendees will taste ingredients that erase other ingredients, smell the fine line between floral and f***l, and experience how sweet smells imply sugar when there isn’t any there.
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This class covers aspects of olfaction that are rarely discussed or understood outside the realm of perfumery, including a “subconscious spice rack,” a collection of liquids that enhance drinks, even if they are used in levels where they can’t be consciously noticed. This class is perfect for those that are looking to elevate their cocktail creations beyond the classics.
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🎟️ Taught by Dr. Kevin Peterson, ticket price includes all ingredients, tools provided, and ~3 drinks worth of alcohol (split among several smaller tastes). Zero-proof options available with advance notice. The class is a mixture of lecture and hands on.
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Small Class - only 4 seats!
Saturday, Mar 23, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Reserve your spot! Link in bio

Upcoming Class: Pain in Space and Time - The Spicy Margarita 🌶️ Sun, Feb 18th 🌶️ 2 spots left!
Pain is perceived separately from scent or taste, but your brain incorporates the pain into the overall perception of a cocktail. Various peppers cause pain in different parts of the mouth, and with different speeds, so in this class, we will build a perfect spicy margarita one pepper at a time.
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Additionally, color, texture, and even expectations about the flavor aren’t strictly part of taste or smell, but can make or break a drink. Based on Chapter 10 of Castalia co-founder Kevin’s book Cocktail Theory, students will taste through a number of examples of how the flavor of a drink can be altered by tricking the brain in various ways.
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This is the ideal class for folks that love the cool, refreshing, yet aggressive flavor of a spicy margarita on a hot summer day.
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Taught by Dr. Kevin Peterson, ticket price includes all ingredients, tools provided, and 2-3 drinks worth of alcohol (potentially split among several smaller tastes). Zero-proof options available. The class is a mixture of lecture and hands on.
Reserve your seat via link in bio! Sunday, Feb 18th, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

FAIRY TALE Menu! DARK URGE is a nod to “The Scorpion and the Frog” where a scorpion asks a frog to carry him over a river, promising not to sting him. Halfway across he stings the frog anyway saying, “it’s my nature!” 🦂 Also in the scorpion’s nature is the ability to harmonize and mellow intense flavors. Using real dried scorpions (thankfully the poison denatures shortly after the scorpion’s passing), we create a scorpion tincture, a few drops of which lend an ethereal and intriguing edge to this drink’s flavor.
Earthy and robust, with notes of dried fruit and hints of smoke, and made from lapsang souchong-infused gin, golden raisin and fig-infused gentian liqueur, sweet vermouth, PX sherry, and scorpion tincture. / / Alcohol Content: 1.2 standard drinks / / Pairs with Arcanum scent

Join us for this special Valentine’s Cocktail Tasting, Tues, Feb 13th, with Black Card + DATBE ❤️🖤❤️
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This Valentine’s edition of Black Card × DATBE gets into Black Love for Valentines day and Black History Month, while highlighting the rich history of black america. It also interweaves nuances of black culture through a liquid and artistic lens, while highlighting Detroit and all its wonder. Prepare for your senses to be pleasantly engaged by a curated playlist, intentional fragrance pairings and delicious light bites. (Optional and available al a carte).
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🎟️ This unique 90-minute tasting features story-telling through the creation of original cocktails paired with fragrances, and all black spirits!
Tuesday, Feb 13th with two seatings, one at 6:30 and 9pm. Limited to 12 seats per seating. Link in bio!
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Black Card is a pop-up event specializing in crafting original cocktails fashioned by gifted black bartenders. Black Card highlights all things hospitality involving black chefs, artists, DJs, businesses, creatives, and more!
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DATBE, is a storytelling platform that centers the love, understanding, and appreciation of Detroit while engaging the 5 senses. DATBE is told from the lens of lifelong Detroiter Ellie St.Clair who gives a personal yet approachable account of experiences, favorites venues and restaurants, music, community programs, events and education.

GOLD & TWINE ✨ inspired by Rapunzel, this approachable and bubbly cocktail has light notes of smoke and a kick of ginger!
Made with house-made Paradiso amaro, scotch, ginger, turmeric, pine needle, saffron liqueur, lemon, soda / / Alcohol Content: 1.2 standard drinks / / Pairs with Nijananda scent
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We’ve got a new class on tap on Tuesday, January 16th with Dr. Kevin Peterson — The Mathematics of Cocktail Experience! This is an ideal class for engineers of all stripes, but all cocktail enthusiasts are welcome. Besides the ingredients in a drink, the deliciousness of a cocktail is dependent on temperature, dilution, and aeration. Based on Chapter 3 of Castalia co-founder Kevin’s book Cocktail Theory, this class will cover the most relevant numbers that make cocktails work. Visit https://linktr.ee/castalia to save your seat or reserve your copy of Cocktail Theory - A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Drinks.

Photos by EE Berger

Not only is technique important in cocktail creation, the right tools of the trade also make a difference in whether your cocktail is crafted optimally or not. Up your at-home cocktail game today or treat a loved one to some new gadgets for the holidays — now 50% off & available during Castalia & Sfumato Fragrances hours.

Photos byEE Berger

✨ Our to-go cocktails are back in limited quantities! ✨ We have our Gravitas Old Fashioned which features a touch of baking spices along with our Cacao Manhattan which has a hint of cacao & coffee. Both are available in individual bottles that serve approximately 1.5 cocktails. We are also carrying our Lavender Limoncello, House Amaro Paradiso, & Radiant Bitters. Find them all on the shelf in our House Spirits To-Go section during Sfumato Fragrances & Castalia hours while they last!

Photos by EE Berger

We have lots of events coming up this month! Learn more about them or save your seats by visiting exploretock.com/castaliacocktails.

12/10 — Intro to Shaking and Stirring Cocktail Class
Enhance your cocktail making abilities! Technique is often the key factor separating the drinks you make at home from the ones made at your favorite bars. Even if you buy all the right ingredients, there are three variables that are critical to making your cocktails shine: temperature, dilution, and aeration. All three variables are controlled with proper technique. Luckily, armed with a bit of knowledge, you can create optimum drinks every time. Taught Castalia Co-Owner DuPree.

12/12 — A Merry Malört Holiday Cocktail Tasting
Have you ever wondered what Scrooge drank to keep his tightly wound grimace in place? Or what the Grinch drank before his caper on Whoville? Well, join us to take a peek into what drinks kept the bodies of these bitter bitties warm, but their curmudgeonly cheer as strong as ever. Based entirely around Malört, the cult-favorite, love-to-hate-it bitter liqueur, Castalia Co-Owner DuPree has designed a 5 course cocktail tasting menu (about 4 drinks worth of alcohol) featuring this infamous bitter booze.

12/19 — Black Card + DATBE Holiday Edition Cocktail Tasting at 6:30 & 9:00pm
For this holiday edition of Black Card × Detroit As Told by Ellie, Castalia’s own Ellie St. Clair will highlight the rich history of Black America and Black culture through a liquid and artistic lens. Prepare for your senses to be pleasantly overwhelmed by a curated playlist, intentional fragrance pairings and yummy bites (optional and available al a carte).

Photos by EE Berger

We’re excited to announce our Co-Founder, Dr. Kevin Peterson, has written a book about the science behind the sensory experiences at Castalia and Sfumato Fragrances. Cocktail Theory: A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Cocktails analyzes drinks from 3 perspectives: an engineer, a perfumer, and a bar owner. Including new research, re-interpretations of esoteric texts, and recipes and experiments you can do at home, this book is a look at cocktails unlike any other.

This comprehensive book makes a great holiday gift! The e-book version has guaranteed holiday delivery, with the physical book arriving in early 2024. Visit tinyurl.com/cocktailtheory to pre-order your signed copy today & read more about this project!

Impress your guests on Thanksgiving with our Once Upon A Time cocktail — a rich black bottom pecan pie inspired old fashioned featuring pecan and cacao nib infused bourbon finished with a vanilla and pecan brown sugar syrup. This cocktail pairs with Sfumato Fragrances's Mocha Valentino.

🥃 Please note pre-order is required via exploretock.com/castaliacocktails. Orders are available for pickup Wednesday, November 22nd from 5:00pm-11:45pm — choose the time that works for you!

Photos by EE Berger

Join us for a unique tasting and storytelling experience through the creation of original cocktails paired with fragrances, featuring all Black spirits on Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30 & 9:00pm with Castalia libation artist . Limited to 12 seats per seating.

For this special edition of Black Card × DATBE we'll give thanks and highlight the rich history of Black America and Black culture through a liquid and artistic lens. Prepare for your senses to be pleasantly overwhelmed by a curated playlist, intentional fragrance pairings and yummy bites.

🎟 Visit https://linktr.ee/castalia & select the 6:30 or 9:00 seating to save your seats!

Black Card is a pop-up event specializing in crafting original cocktails fashioned by gifted Black bartenders. Black Card highlights all things hospitality involving Black chefs, artists, DJs, businesses, creatives, and more!

Detroit as Told by Ellie is a storytelling platform that centers the love, understanding, and appreciation of Detroit while engaging the 5 senses. DATBE is told from the lens of lifelong Detroiter Ellie St.Clair, who gives a personal yet approachable account of experiences, favorites venues and restaurants, music, community programs, events and education.

Photos by EE Berger

We're excited to share our brand new cocktail lineup! Visit castaliacocktails.com/menu to read our new offerings.

Our latest menu, The Fairytales Menu, examines beloved children's stories such as The Little Mermaid and The Jungle Book & the darkness within these tales. This menu features some unique flavor pairings such as kombu and serrano, as well as saffron and pine, all aptly paired with our Sfumato Fragrances. We also created alcohol-free versions of each of our 8 cocktails.

Did you know we offer menu tastings, which include a half-size serving of each of our 8 new cocktails over a 90-minute seating? Alcohol-free tastings are also available. Please note you must make a tasting menu reservation for this experience.

Photo by EE Berger

Join us for a unique tasting and story-telling experience through the creation of original cocktails paired with fragrances, featuring all Black spirits on Tuesday, November 14th at 6:30 & 9:00pm with Castalia libation artist Ellie St. Clair. Limited to 12 seats per seating.

For this special edition of Black Card × DATBE we'll give thanks and highlight the rich history of Black America and Black culture through a liquid and artistic lens. Prepare for your senses to be pleasantly overwhelmed by a curated playlist, intentional fragrance pairings and yummy bites.

🎟 Visit https://linktr.ee/castalia & select the 6:30 or 9:00 seating to save your seats!

Black Card is a pop-up event specializing in crafting original cocktails fashioned by gifted Black bartenders. Black Card highlights all things hospitality involving Black chefs, artists, DJs, businesses, creatives, and more!

DATBE (Detroit as Told by Ellie) is a storytelling platform that centers the love, understanding, and appreciation of Detroit while engaging the 5 senses. DATBE is told from the lens of lifelong Detroiter Ellie St.Clair, who gives a personal yet approachable account of experiences, favorites venues and restaurants, music, community programs, events and education.

Photos by EE Berger