Class Recording: Old Fashioned R&D

ABOUT THIS CLASS:

The weather is turning- there’s a chill in the air- and we can feel the first whispers of Old Fashioned season coming.

Join Brand Ambassador Benny Hurwitz and bartender Josh Seaburg for a master class on the cocktail that started it all – the Old Fashioned.

In this session they will share Old Fashioned trends from top bars around the world, and show how the basic building blocks of sugar, spirit, and bitters can combine to make drinks that are anything but ordinary.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Building Blocks: Understand the structure of a balanced Old Fashioned
Proof of Concept: Develop a repeatable R&D process from inspiration to finished drink
Explore: Discover modern techniques for creating innovative Old Fashioned riffs

About Your Teachers:

Benny Hurwitz

Benny Hurwitz joined Campari Group in 2018 as American Whiskey Portfolio Ambassador after more than a decade in Washington, DC’s cocktail community. A veteran of two of the country’s most influential bars, he spent seven years at Jack Rose Dining Saloon, one of the world’s leading whiskey destinations, and helped shape memorable guest experiences at the acclaimed Columbia Room. A graduate of the respected BAR 5 program, Benny combines deep technical expertise with a passion for spirits education and storytelling. Over the past eight years, he has traveled across the United States training bartenders, distributors, and industry professionals on the American whiskey category and the brands he represents, including Wild Turkey, Russell’s Reserve, and Wilderness Trail Distillery. In 2026, he was named Best U.S. Brand Ambassador at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards. Known for his approachable style, category knowledge, and commitment to the trade, Benny remains a trusted voice in contemporary whiskey culture.

Follow Benny at @bennybourbon101.

Josh Seaburg

Josh Seaburg is a beverage director, consultant, and bottle shop owner based in Norfolk, Virginia. Over his 15 years working in and around bars, Seaburg has created bar programs ranging from 40 seat restaurants to multi-outlet hotels. Having spent the last several years working on technical applications to make cocktails better and easier, including developing clarified milk punch trainings for such institutions as Campari Academy and Portland Cocktail Week, he is now focused primarily on Fast Fashion, a best in class bottled Old Fashioned base.

When not thinking about cocktails, he can be found hanging with his wife and dogs, riding motorcycles, or driving around in his Subaru Baja.

Follow Josh at @ahotdogisasandwich.