Orlando Bartending Academy, Altamonte Spring

At Orlando Bartending Academy, professional bartenders school future crops of drink slingers in a realistic bar atmosphere. The instructor-owned-and-operated facility's main draw is its 40-hour mixology course, which grants students bartending certification. It also covers alcohol awareness training and a flair seminar that teaches fledgling bartenders how to entertain customers without resorting to the popular bar trick of sawing guests in half. Small class sizes enable instructors to provide one-on-one attention, and job-placement assistance ensures students always have a place to apply their skills.

The professionals also educate home bartenders during couples' martini classes, teaching guests to make a lineup of popular martinis for delighting future dinner-party guests.