the botanical bartender
herbal beverage & mixology training| online program
There has been an epic uprise in the use of herbs and spices in the modern-day beverage scene.
learn the art and craft of mixology and the botanical spirits that define it.
Botanicals and spirits have gone hand and hand since the very beginning and recently there has been an obvious and epic uprise in the use of botanicals, herbs, and spices in today’s ever-popular beverage scene. Many modern-day herbalists and bartenders (or "mixologists" as some prefer to be called) are both highly skilled at making incredible cocktails and alcohol-free mocktails.
Herbal beverage enthusiasts often lack experience in the art, science, and ritual of herbalism.
From sweet and floral to earthy and spicy, we trace the origins of mixology and explore the unique qualities of the herbs that define it, all grounded in botanical safety. You’ll learn how to craft cocktails and mocktails using over 10 key herbs, along with expert recipes, tips, and techniques to enhance your mixology. Beyond drinks, we’ll also discuss the nutritive benefits of these herbs and how to incorporate them into your creations.
What you can expect
The Origin Story of This beloved course…
As a lifelong herbalist and former bartender, Lupo Passero has always been fascinated by the meeting place between plants, people, and the art of the pour. She has watched the botanical boom in the bar industry with great excitement, witnessing her favorite medicinal plants take center stage in the cocktail and mocktail revolution.
Yet, as a patron and a judge at cocktail competitions, she began to notice that some of these drinks included herbs that were not safe for everyone to consume. Over a shared plant-based beverage and conversation with friend, fellow herbalist, and aromatherapist Ilana Sobo, The Botanical Bartender was born. An online training for all lovers of plant-based spirits teaching the safe, intentional, and effective use of herbs in cocktails and mocktails, while honoring the artistry and the wisdom of the plants.
“As a newbie in the world of mixology, this class taught me essential information about the historical significance of herbal drinks, in addition to profound knowledge of many unique herbs. I found myself getting inspired in every module, as Lupo and Ilana’s infectious creative energy was super refreshing!”
- Kamryn Hancock, aspiring mixologist
What You wIll receive
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Experience over twenty immersive video lessons that bring the art of botanical mixology to life. You’ll begin with the rich history and foundational knowledge of botanical spirits, then move into mastering essential techniques for crafting exquisite herbal preparations and plant-inspired cocktails with confidence and creativity.
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Receive a beautifully designed course handbook and supplemental handouts that illustrate the content covered in each class. These materials are crafted to support your learning journey, plus you will receive a library of different recipes you can make at home.
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Learn to craft both cocktails and mocktails featuring a diverse range of botanicals, from grounding roots and aromatic herbs to uplifting blossoms. Recipes include creations with Angelica, Blue Butterfly Pea, Cacao, Chamomile, Elder, Ginger, Hibiscus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, and more.
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Explore the materia medica of the most beloved herbs used in botanical cocktails. You will discover how each plant’s unique properties, flavors, and energetics can transform a drink into a work of art that delights the senses while supporting balance, intention, and well-being.
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Teachings that awaken your inner knowing and inspire you to trust your intuition behind the bar or in your apothecary. This course honors the lineage of plant medicine and guides you to craft drinks with purpose and presence, helping you shape your own path as a botanical bartender and modern herbal artist.
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Enjoy lifetime access to every lesson and resource, allowing you to learn at your own pace and return whenever you feel inspired. Let this course become a trusted companion in both your home and work, supporting your growth as you blend creativity, intention, and botanical wisdom into every drink you craft.
Anyone curious about the history, art, and safe blending of botanicals in drinks and mocktails—not just alcohol-based cocktails.
Food and beverage professionals or home mixologists seeking to explore herbal-infused drinks and deepen their knowledge of botanicals.
Herbalists or plant-medicine practitioners eager to integrate their materia medica into creative botanical beverage formats.
Baristas, café owners, and beverage innovators looking to expand into botanical cocktails and mocktails.
People who enjoy hosting, entertaining, or wedding planning, or creating special occasions at home with elevated, herbal-forward beverages.
Those looking to build confidence in using botanicals safely and effectively in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Who is this class for?
What you will learn
Foundations of Botanical Mixology
Learn the art and spirit of crafting drinks with plants. Explore the history, energetics, and purpose behind botanical cocktails and mocktails while developing confidence in working safely and creatively with herbs.
Herbal Techniques and Preparations
Master essential methods for making infusions, syrups, tinctures, and bitters that bring depth, balance, and intention to every drink. You’ll learn to blend flavor and function in ways that awaken the senses and nourish the spirit.
Connection and Creativity
Deepen your relationship with plants through materia medica teachings and intuitive mixology practices. Cultivate your own rhythm, trust your inner knowing, and craft beverages that are as healing as they are beautiful.
What makes this
Program different?
This program is led by two seasoned herbalists with over 50 years of combined experience in plant medicine, healing arts, and education. Together they weave deep botanical knowledge with the joy of mixology for a learning experience that is both grounded and inspiring. Rooted in tradition yet alive with modernity, The Botanical Bartender Course bridges science and sensory exploration.
You will learn not only how to make botanical drinks but why, honoring each plant as a living teacher and creative muse. In addition to the recipes and techniques, you gain a renewed relationship with the plants, confidence in your craft, and a deeper sense of connection to the art of herbal hospitality. This is the art of mixology: the alchemy of plants, spirit, and creativity.
Meet the botanical bartenders
Lupo Passero
A lover of both herbal medicine and botanical beverages, Lupo Passero has followed the rise of the botanical boom in the bar industry with great enthusiasm. Having started her career as a bartender in her early twenties, she brings firsthand knowledge of mixology and hospitality to her work. In recent years, she has come full circle, serving as a judge in cocktail competitions and witnessing how medicinal plants are reshaping the world of drinks and spirited gatherings.
Lupo is a Clinical and Community Herbalist, Educator, Apothecary Owner, and Natural Products Specialist with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of herbalism and natural health. She is the founder and director of Twin Star Herbal Education and Community Apothecary and Twin Star Travel, where she has been teaching and mentoring students for over two decades.
Ilana Sobo
Ilana Sobo is a community herbalist, Ayurvedic Practitioner and Yoga Instructor and offers courses, classes and consultations in Connecticut and Vermont. She has spent over 28 years in the fields of Ayurveda, yoga and herbalism and has worked with & apprenticed for several of the pioneers in Botanical Medicine & Ayurveda in the US. Her time at the Ayurvedic Institute studying and working in the clinic was greatly formative.
Ayurveda is the thread of continuity in all Ilana’s work and she is honored to help pass down the ancient wisdom shared by her teacher Dr. Vasant Lad. Ilana also has unique apothecary training spanning over 20 years and regularly compounds tinctures, salves, essential oil blends, teas and flower essences for her local community. She is available for consultations and classes on Ayurveda, yoga and herbology by appointment.
You can visit her at flowerpowerproject.com
LOG ON AND LISTEN IN THE KITCHEN.
Whip out your mortar and pestle and immerse your fingertips and taste buds in The Botanical Bartender. Lupo and Ilana guide you through the knowledge, history, and mixology of botanical spirits with a depth of experience and creativity. Learn materia medica for over 10 herbs and how to wildcraft for and artfully pair flavors in your own delicious concoctions.
Investment
$444
Choose the option to pay the full amount of $444 up front. Once payment is complete, you’re all set! Or you can secure your spot with a payment plan of two payments of $222 each, making it easy to join and begin your Botanical Bartender journey.
You’ll receive a confirmation email right away, along with your course log-in and class details.
FAQs
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The Botanical Bartender contains a deep-dive (and Materia Medica) into over 10 culinary herbs frequently used in mixology-angelica, blue butterfly pea, cacao, cayenne, chamomile, elder, gentian, ginger, hibiscus, holy basil, kava kava, lavender, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sage and thyme.
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Mixology goes one step further than bartending. It is the in-depth study of the art of making mixed drinks and the ability to create new recipes with that knowledge. While a bartender and mixologist can craft the same drink, the mixologist understands its history, the constituents of the ingredients, why it is made a certain way, and how the various liquors contribute the different flavors that make it as tasty as it is visually stunning. This is the lens through which the Botanical Bartender is taught.
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The chemical constituents are the active compounds plants produce that give them their distinctive taste, aroma, and medicinal affects. These include alkaloids, bitters, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, vitamins, minerals, volatile essential oils, and the matter that gives the plants their color.
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The Botanical Bartender teaches you over 10 different herbal preparations, including infusions, decoctions, bitters, herbal infused syrups, traditional simple syrups, decoctions, bitters, cordials, elixirs, shrubs, fire cider, and how to incorporate edible flowers.
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Absolutely not, The Botanical Bar was crafted for the professional bartender and aspiring home mixologist alike. If you’re already in the bartending world, this course enhances your knowledge and grow your confidence in creating signature cocktails and mocktails for yourself or your restaurant. For aspiring mixologists, it provides a foundation of the history and practice of herbal beverage crafting, and the ability to create balanced drinks, all in your own kitchen.
Unsure if this Program is the right Fit For You? Let’s talk.
Sometimes you just need a listening ear. Jenna, (our Marketing Coordinator) or Lupo (Twin Star founder) are happy to help you decide which program matches where you’re at on your plant (and personal empowerment) journey.
"I have changed a lot in the last few years, including what I eat and drink -- it's been a long journey of testing and experimenting with what is best for my body, mind, and spirit. The Botanical Bartender was a fun, informative, and safe way for me to continue being mindful of what I ingest. The interchangeability between adding or removing alcohol for each recipe brought balance, and the aesthetically pleasing presentation inspired me to start playing with flavors. What was key to me is the connection to herbalism and the depth of knowledge I received to create personalized recipes for myself, friends, and family at any point in the season."
— Alexis, aspiring mixologist
gift yourself or the plant person in your life an herbal education to sip, sample, and share.
Ready to get your herbal mixology on?
All recipes and demonstrations are available as soon as you enroll and remain yours (or your loved one’s) for a lifetime.