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nyone that’s ever watched a cocktail being made by an expert will tell you how mesmerising the process is – a seductive dance of shiny shakers, diamonds of crushed ice, fresh fruit and lovely, lovely liquor. And the taste is something else. Well, now you can learn the tricks of the trade at Leed’s Rock Bar cocktail course, the finesse though may come later.

There’s no better place to learn how to mix up some magic than at the ultra-hip Rock Bar in Leeds. A trained professional, the mixologist, will teach you to combine spirits with flair and shake like Tom Cruise in his prime.

But be warned, there is no slap-dash element, no winging it, cocktail making is a science. If you’re going to make a martini fit for James Bond then it comes down to the ability to stir the vermouth and gin while ensuring the ice doesn’t make a sound – easier said than done.

As well as the martini, you will learn to make a cosmopolitan, beloved of the Sex in the City girls, and perfect the tricky balancing act that goes into the delightful daiquiri. By the end of the evening, you will be equipped with the basic skills to get creative with the booze cupboard and wow your friends.

It may take years to perfect brave new fusions, but my golly it will be fun trying.