Try bartending at Roka Akor mixology class

The bar at Roka Akor. (Credit: Courtesy of Roka Akor.)

This is the best possible way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

And I'm not just saying that because when I went to one of these I was voted the best amateur bartender of the afternoon.

You can try your hand at bartending, or just get your buzz on, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday as the good people at Roka Akor teach you how to make some of your favorite cocktails at their Shochu Lounge mixology class.

A selection of charming bartenders takes you through the preparation, tasting and food-pairing for several of the Japanese restaurant's most popular drinks, including the Tokyopolitan, Nashi Lani and Kudachi Cooler. They'll The staff also will walk you through the basics of sake and Shochu while you nosh on sushi, butterfish tataki and burgers. Throughout the afternoon, they bartenders come up with excuses to award gift certificates to participants and then they send everyone home with recipe cards and the promises that these drinks will transform their next at-home cocktail party.

But if you're not into day drinking, you can swing by Roka Akor after 9 p.m. to indulge in the chichi lounge's reverse happy hour and to hear the band Eclipse play Top 40 and funk. The four-piece group is led by singer Eloni Yawn, and features a drummer, bass guitarist and keyboardist.

Many of Roka Akor's most popular dishes—including butterfish tataki, hamachi serrano chili roll and the heart-breakingly good $2 Roka Akor burger—are on the reverse happy hour menu. Select cocktails, wines and sakes are $6, and a few beers are $3, making this one of the swankiest and cheapest dates worth getting dressed up for.

Details: $60 per person for the mixology class. 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-306-8800, rokaakor.com.