The Brine Lab : April 11th, 2026

Ever wondered what to do with the brine left in a jar of ferments? In this hands-on workshop, HEX Superette Tasting Room Host Hunter Elson explores how lacto-fermented brine can transform cocktails by adding brightness, depth, and unexpected complexity.

We’ll start by breaking down what brine actually is: the difference between a living lacto-fermented brine and a quick pickle, the microbes that make it alive, and how fermentation creates the tangy, complex flavors that make brine such a powerful ingredient.

Through guided tastings, you’ll learn how to approach flavor the way mixologists do—with curiosity, vocabulary, and an eye toward balance. From there, Hunter will walk you through the roles brine can play in a drink, where it shines, and the common pitfalls to avoid.

Then comes the fun part: building your own recipe from scratch. Using a simple, repeatable method for experimenting with flavor, you’ll develop a brine cocktail (with spirits or NA) of your own and leave with both the recipe and the process to keep exploring at home.

This workshop is perfect for bartenders, home cooks, chefs, aspiring mixologists, or the resident bartender friend in your group; really anyone curious about fermentation, flavor, and the creative possibilities hiding inside a jar of brine.

No bartending experience required. No fermentation background needed. If you’re curious about what’s going on inside a fermented jar - or simply want to make something delicious and unexpected - this workshop is for you.

*(Don’t drink alcohol? No problem—non-alcoholic options will be available throughout.)

Every participant leaves with their own Brine Cocktail Starter Kit, including:

✓ A jar of brine simple syrup you make during the workshop
✓ Brine ready to experiment with at home
✓ The original brine cocktail recipe you develop in class
✓ The techniques and flavor-balancing approach Hunter uses to develop brine cocktails

In other words: you won’t just learn a drink; you’ll leave with the tools and techniques to start building your own.

Hunter Elson is the Tasting Room Host at HEX Superette, where his curiosity for brine as an underutilized cocktail ingredient first took hold. Through hands-on experimentation with fermentation and mixology, Hunter approaches drinks with curiosity, exploration, and a passion for pushing into uncharted territory. In the world of cocktails, brine is that territory.

• Hands-on, mostly standing. 
  
• Limited to 15 participants.
• No exchanges or refunds (we cannot transfer your ticket to another class, sales are final. If this is a gift, please make sure the recipient is able to attend before you purchase).