The Casual Cocktail Series launches at The Quoin Hotel’s Simmer Down speakeasy bar in Wilmington with a format built for people who want to understand what they are drinking rather than just order it. Led by newly appointed Beverage Director Gabriel Logrono, the Casual Cocktail Series offers an intimate, 45-minute deep dive into the artistry, history, and technique behind iconic spirits and cocktails. Each session includes a guided tasting of three spirits or three cocktails, hosted directly at the bar with just 10 seats per class. The first session — bourbon — takes place Thursday, April 23, with a daiquiri and rum session following in May.
What the Casual Cocktail Series Delivers
The Casual Cocktail Series is designed for both curious enthusiasts and seasoned cocktail lovers, and the intimate 10-seat format makes the experience feel more like a private tutorial than a public class. Each 45-minute session covers the history, technique, and craft behind a specific spirit or cocktail family, with three guided tastings included. The April 23 session explores bourbon — from heritage expressions to modern interpretations of America’s native spirit. The May session covers daiquiri and rum, celebrating one of the world’s most iconic cocktails and the versatility of the spirit behind it. Classes run from 6 to 6:45 p.m. with tickets priced between $35 and $39 per guest.
Gabriel Logrono and the Casual Cocktail Series Vision
Gabriel Logrono’s path to The Quoin Hotel runs through some of the most demanding bar programs in the country. He began in Philadelphia’s dynamic bar scene before joining the Schulson Collective as part of the opening team at Bar Lesieur under acclaimed beverage innovator Michael McCaulley. From there he moved to New York City, rising to Beverage Director at the Bryant Park Hotel inside the landmark American Radiator Building. Most recently, Logrono completed intensive training at Sips — named the number one bar in the world in 2023 — working alongside renowned bartender Simone Caporale. That experience sharpened a philosophy that drives the Casual Cocktail Series: exceptional cocktails are equal parts precision, storytelling, and hospitality.
At The Quoin Hotel, Logrono channels that global expertise into an experience that feels elevated without being exclusionary. The Casual Cocktail Series reflects a growing demand for immersive, knowledge-driven drinking experiences where guests are invited into the process rather than simply served the result. As Logrono puts it, the series is about demystifying cocktails while celebrating their depth — whether you are new to bourbon or a longtime rum enthusiast, there is always something new to discover in the glass.
The combination of a world-class beverage director, a speakeasy setting, and a 10-seat cap creates something that most cocktail programming in the region does not offer — direct, personal engagement with a practitioner whose résumé includes the best bars in Philadelphia, New York, and Barcelona. The Simmer Down at The Quoin Hotel is already one of the more interesting bar destinations in the Delaware Valley, and the Casual Cocktail Series adds an educational layer that turns a night out into something you carry with you the next time you order a drink. As the region’s cocktail and spirits scene continues to evolve this spring, the Casual Cocktail Series is one of the most intentional entries in the conversation.
The Casual Cocktail Series takes place at The Quoin Hotel’s Simmer Down speakeasy bar, 519 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware. The bourbon session is Thursday, April 23, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. The daiquiri and rum session follows in May with a date to be announced. Tickets are $35 to $39 per guest with seating limited to 10 per class.
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