New Woman

New Meeting Spot: Cocktail Classes

Can’t fave the whole desperate idea of sped dating? Why not try meeting your match over a martini? FastLife runs Cocktail Creation evenings around the world, which gives you the chance to meet up to 12 guys and learn how to whip up the perfect cocktail.

After a quick introduction by an expert, otherwise known as the Cocktail King, everyone gets down to business. The guys move around the room every eight minutes, meeting new girls and tasting their mean concoctions. A session will set you back $89 and if anyone takes your fancy, all you have to do is write his name down on your card and the organizers send him your details the next day.

Strike rate

“As I arrive at the MINT Bar at 7pm on Tuesday night my nerves completely shot, I’m thrilled to find that all the men appear to be handsome, well dressed and not at all desperate. It’s a pretty swanky place and I breathe a sigh of relief that I made an effort and dressed up a bit.

Our cocktail King breaks the ice by whipping up a few saucy sounding cocktails for us – Brazilian Wax or Foreplay anyone? – and soon it’s time t sip and chat to the guys. All 12 of my dates agree that they like meeting women at an organized dating event like this.

“The hard work is all done for us,” says the very handsome John, 30, a banker here with a few work colleagues. “All we have to do is turn up, enjoy a few drinks and chat to gorgeous girls like you.” I notice that most of the guys work really long hours in demanding industries such as stockbrocking, law and medicine. A place like this means they meet a lot of girls in a short spae of time, and they have a much higher chance of getting a date here, than from spending a night in a club.

“By the end of the night, not only have I learned how to shake and stir like a pro, I’ve honed in on at least one guy with huge relationship potential. Paul, 33, is a GP and I write his name down. The very next day he asks me out for a coffee!”

Try this: To meet a hardworking, professional man.

Dates scored: One

Eligible men: 12