Tucked away in the opulent Capella Hotel in Georgetown is an intimate bar accomplishing big things—especially when it comes to rye whiskey. We were fortunate to spend an afternoon with Angel Cervantes, a venerable human encyclopedia of cocktails who has been at this 26 years, including a long stint at Michele Richard's Citronelle. We snapped him stirring the bar’s best-selling barrel-aged Manhattan. It’s a contender for most-expensive cocktail in the city at $22, but it’s worth all 2,200 pennies.

You too can spend time with Angel at one of Rye Bar’s cocktail classes, which last two hours. “We want people to get the basics; it should be fun and functional,” he tells us. Considering the level of luxury offered at Capella, the price point for the class seems like a deal—and that’s not the rye talking. Priced at $150 (that's six Manhattans!), guests learn how to make five cocktails under Angel’s watchful eye, while enjoying small bites before a three-course meal with cocktail pairings. Dates of upcoming classes:

• Saturday, July 19th at 6:00 pm

• Saturday, August 16th at 6:00 pm

• Saturday, September 20th at 6:00 pm