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TX · January 24-25, 2026

HOUSTON

Montrose · craft bar boom.

Venue

Rocksteady

Location1319 W 3rd St, Houston, TX 77006
Start9:30 AM
DatesJanuary 24-25, 2026

Focal points

Montrose district hotspot with USBG Houston partnership — a hospitality hub with a fast-growing craft bar scene.

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RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN HOUSTON

Complete the application to register for Houston.

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Curriculum

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

20 modules across two days — tap any to expand.

DAY 112 modules
  • 01Bar Setup & Tools
    What you'll cover

    Mise en place — how a pro station is built, stocked, and reset between services.

    Key speakers

    Lead Ambassador + venue bar manager

    Good to know

    Closed-toe shoes required. Bring a notebook; tools are provided.

  • 02Pouring & Mixing
    What you'll cover

    Free-pour counts, jigger accuracy, shake vs. stir, dilution, and ice discipline.

    Key speakers

    Bacardi Brand Ambassador team

    Good to know

    Hands-on station — you will pour every round.

  • 03Proactive Bartending
    What you'll cover

    Reading the room, anticipating the next drink, and managing a full bar top.

    Key speakers

    Senior Ambassador

    Good to know

    Bring questions from your own shifts.

  • 04Service Scenarios
    What you'll cover

    Role-play through rushes, comps, refusals, and recovery moments.

    Key speakers

    Ambassador team + guest GM

    Good to know

    Group exercise — be ready to participate.

  • 05Bartending Definitions
    What you'll cover

    Shared vocabulary: builds, families, methods, and modifiers.

    Key speakers

    Lead Ambassador

    Good to know

    Glossary handout provided.

  • 06Bartender vs Mixologist
    What you'll cover

    Where craft, hospitality, and volume meet — and which lane fits your career.

    Key speakers

    Panel: working bartender + cocktail program director

    Good to know

    Open Q&A at the end.

  • 07Bacardi Portfolio
    What you'll cover

    Walkthrough of the full portfolio — categories, positioning, and signature serves.

    Key speakers

    Bacardi Portfolio Ambassador

    Good to know

    Light tastings; arrive hydrated.

  • 08Vodka — Grey Goose
    What you'll cover

    Production, key serves, and on-premise menu strategy for Grey Goose.

    Key speakers

    Grey Goose Ambassador

    Good to know

    Tasting included.

  • 09Gin — Bombay Sapphire
    What you'll cover

    Botanicals, distillation, and classic G&T architecture.

    Key speakers

    Bombay Sapphire Ambassador

    Good to know

    Tasting included.

  • 10Vermouth & Liqueurs
    What you'll cover

    Modifiers that make a drink — Martini & Rossi, St-Germain, and supporting cast.

    Key speakers

    Portfolio Ambassador

    Good to know

    Tasting flight.

  • 11Agave — Patrón, Cazadores, Ilegal
    What you'll cover

    Tequila vs. mezcal, NOMs, terroir, and how to sell the category.

    Key speakers

    Patrón & Ilegal Ambassadors

    Good to know

    Sipping tasting — small pours.

  • 12Social Media Training
    What you'll cover

    Building your bartender brand: content, tagging, and working with reps.

    Key speakers

    Bacardi digital team

    Good to know

    Bring your phone fully charged.

DAY 28 modules
  • 01Bartending History
    What you'll cover

    From punch houses to craft revival — the lineage behind today's bar.

    Key speakers

    Guest historian + Lead Ambassador

    Good to know

    Lecture format with visuals.

  • 02Hospitality 101
    What you'll cover

    The non-negotiables of guest experience — eye contact, timing, and grace under pressure.

    Key speakers

    Veteran GM guest speaker

    Good to know

    Brings frameworks you can use on your next shift.

  • 03Job Resources
    What you'll cover

    Resumes, references, and the local network — how to actually land the next role.

    Key speakers

    USBG chapter rep + Bacardi field team

    Good to know

    Bring a current resume if you have one.

  • 04Round Robin
    What you'll cover

    Rotate through stations — build, taste, and get live feedback from each ambassador.

    Key speakers

    Full Ambassador team

    Good to know

    Most hands-on block of the program. Wear comfortable shoes.

  • 05Rum — Bacardí, Havana Club, Santa Teresa
    What you'll cover

    Styles, regions, and the Daiquiri as the proving ground.

    Key speakers

    Rum Portfolio Ambassador

    Good to know

    Tasting flight.

  • 06Cognac — D'Ussé
    What you'll cover

    Grapes, grades, and how cognac shows up behind a modern bar.

    Key speakers

    D'Ussé Ambassador

    Good to know

    Neat tasting.

  • 07Whiskey — Dewar's, Aberfeldy, Teeling
    What you'll cover

    Scotch blending, single malts, and Irish — what to recommend and when.

    Key speakers

    Dewar's & Teeling Ambassadors

    Good to know

    Flight tasting.

  • 08Bourbon — Angel's Envy
    What you'll cover

    American whiskey, finishing, and the modern bourbon guest.

    Key speakers

    Angel's Envy Ambassador

    Good to know

    Closes with a guided Old Fashioned build.

Agenda

SCHEDULE

Morning

  • 8:00 AM — Ambassadors arrive, set up
  • 9:30 AM — Students arrive · coffee & breakfast
  • 10:00 AM — Intros, objectives, housekeeping
  • 10:20 AM — Mise en Place & Bar Tools
  • 11:00 AM — Pouring and Mixing
  • 11:10 AM — Proactive Bartending / Scenarios
  • 12:00 PM — Definitions Overview
  • 12:30 PM — Bartending vs Mixology
  • 12:45 PM — Questions

Afternoon

1:00 PM — Lunch (1 hr) · Reset at 1:30 PM

  • 2:00 PM — Bacardi Portfolio
  • 2:15 PM — Grey Goose (Vodka)
  • 3:00 PM — Bombay (Gin)
  • 3:30 PM — Vermouth & Liqueurs
  • 3:45 PM — Break
  • 4:00 PM — Agave
  • 4:30 PM — Closing & Q&A
  • 4:50 PM — Session ends

Registration

APPLY — HOUSTON

Applications for Houston are handled through our official form. It takes about two minutes.

Apply Here →

Speakers

HOUSTON SPEAKERS

Speaker lineup coming soon.