Like baking a cake, mixing a drink requires precise measurements and the restraint to not ingest so many ingredients that you ruin your own birthday party. Become a power-mixer with today's Groupon: for $145, you get a bartending course at Mixology Bartending Academy (up to a $299 value). Courses are available in either a two-week session, which runs Monday—Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10:15 p.m., or in an intensive one-week stretch, which runs Monday—Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At Mixology Bartending Academy, a realistic bar acts as a virtual training ground for alcoholic alchemy, instilling students with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead a professional shot-slinging operation. Classes of 10–15 students line up behind a 28-foot all-wood bar and use the eight wells and four fully stocked shelves to craft well drinks, cocktails, and ice on the rocks. As real glassware and more than 106 varieties of liquor provide attendees with exhaustive pouring practice, the classroom’s bar stools, neon beer signs, and down-on-his-luck encyclopedia salesman re-create the experience of working in a real bar.

The registration fee includes all of the necessary supplies, including the course text, as well as a certificate and honorary cocktail sword on completing the course. After graduation, Mixology Bartending Academy offers extensive job-placement assistance to get its students shaking and pouring as soon as possible.

Though Mixology Bartending Academy sometimes features a discounted price online, this Groupon still offers the best deal available.

Our customers loved this deal last year, earning Mixology Bartending Academy a spot on Groupon's Best of 2011 list.