Need Cash for the Holidays? How to Become a Bartender

The TAP Series Alcohol Training Certificate of Achievement is the first step you will need to complete to become a bartender. But there is more to it than that. A skilled bartender is so much more then someone who just serves drinks. They are artists, creators, therapists and friends. This role requires hands-on experience, skills and a willingness to learn the art of bartending. To begin, a bartender must know how to mix, shake and prepare drinks as well as how to maintain their bar and provide excellent customer service.  

 

Speed Rack 

 

Getting to know your Speed Rack is essential as a bartender. The Speed Rack is positioned right behind the bar, near the ice and cups. This is where the bar will keep their most popular liquors such as rum, gin, vodka, tequila, scotch, Triple Sec, brandy and whiskey. Flavored booze and obscure liquors will be found further away from the bar. The reason these popular liquors are placed in the Speed Rack is so that mixing drinks is easier and faster, which really helps when the bar is busy. 

 

There will be a second rack close by that has orange juice, grenadine, olives, toothpicks, lime juice and other assortments of non-alcoholic mixing agents that are found in most popular drinks.  

 

As a bartender, it is vital to have a comprehensive understanding of how to mix drinks, especially drinks that use alcohol found in the Speed Rack. These will be the bars most popular orders and will need to be made often and quickly. It is essential to know what alcohol is used in what drink and a good bartender will familiarize themselves with these popular drinks before their first day of work. This will make the learning curve those first few days on the job much smoother.  

 

Equipment 

 

Understanding the basic drink mixes is priority number one, but your second priority will be memorizing the bartending equipment. There are different glasses, blenders, shakers, knives, bottle sealers, bottle openers, jiggers and corkscrews to use when mixing drinks. Not only do you need an extensive knowledge of what these are, but also what to use when making each drink. Using the wrong sized cup can cost your costumer or employer big bucks.  

 

Tumblers -short, thick, wide-brimmed glasses are to be used with Old Fashioned cocktails, whiskey on the rocks and Black Russians. Highballs-Tall thin glasses are meant to be used with long island iced teas, Tom Collins and screwdrivers. There are also champagne flutes and martini glasses, all designed to enjoy the specific beverage appropriately. Getting the glass size wrong can lead to more or less alcohol being used then needed.  

 

Pouring 

Real skills are needed when it comes to making the drinks. Once you’ve learned what mixes go into what kind of glasses, it is vital to know how to blend, mix or shake those drinks to achieve the perfect pour. The correct technique will maximum the flavor, texture and appearance of the drink. 

 

Shakers should be filled three-quarters of the way with ice cubes. Then pour the liquor over the ice, starting with the most potent alcohol. Once everything is poured, close the shaker, hold with two hands and shake it. When straining the beverage into the glass, make sure the foamy part of the mixture is on top. 

 

Drinks that require blending are a bit easier, they entail pouring the ingredients in the glass and then decorating the glass accordingly. These drinks usually include whiskey and Coke, gin with lemon-lime soda, and the popular rum and Coke.  

 

Additional Skills to Help Pay the Bills 

A truly good bartender doesn’t let their skills stop at mixing and pouring drinks, but also at how well they interact with their customers. Being able to stay organized, memorize orders, and concentrate on each customer will help when it comes to mixing drinks, opening and closing tabs and handling cash and change hundreds of times each night. 

 

It is the interaction between customers that really propel a bartender from good to great. Their ability to forge relationships, make customers feel important, memorize favorite drinks and maintain conversations and relationships will help enrich the lives of their customers and make their days more interesting and enjoyable, bringing them back to your bar time and time again.