Summer may be long over, but that doesn't mean that back to school can't be cool.

Take your education a step further with a lecture in liquor from one of Houston's many bar experts. Below you'll find classes that will teach you all about what's in your cup:

Anvil Bar & Refuge - 1424 Westheimer

Anvil's monthly cocktail classes, held on the last Saturday of each month, are each themed around a different spirit. Anvil mixologists take students through the history of each focused ingredient while they sample an array of producers and cocktails made with the theme of the month in mind. Next month's theme is "Bitter is better." $55.

TQLA - 4601 Washington Ave.

TQLA's More Than Margaritas tequila series is every first Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees get a private tasting and a lesson in the featured brand (October's featured tequila is Don Julio), tequila production and a sampling of appetizers. $15.

Reserve 101 - 1201 Caroline

Reserve 101, located downtown on Caroline Street just across from Houston Pavilions, holds free tastings on Tuesdays of high-end bourbons, whiskeys and scotch (as well as the occasional rum or tequila, although whiskey is its thing). Past examples include Treaty Oak platinum rum, Buffalo Trace experimental bourbons and India's Amrut single malt.

Next up on Tuesday is a tasting of Japan's first whiskey, a Suntory Yamazaki single malt. Free with registration.

Américas - 2040 West Gray

Beginning Oct. 6, and continuing the first Thursday of every month, guests at Américas River Oaks can sample piscos from Peru and Chile and other South American spirits while noshing on complimentary hors d'oeuvres. $15.