Bartenders: Bar Basics Training (Video)

<< Back to Previous Page

Bar Careers:  Bartender Training Video

What is a "cocktail"?

A cocktail is a nice way of saying "mixed drink." You essentially take one or more spirits and mix them with one or more juices and/or sodas, that`s a cocktail. Cocktails started in Prohibition time when bootleg whiskies were being mixed with other drinks to improve their substandard flavor. It wasn`t until much later that people really started experimenting with vodka and gin, and realized that those were great mixers as well and they made great cocktails.

Why do people like cocktails?

People like cocktails for a wide variety of different reasons. I think that cocktails really just bring people together. drinking cocktails is a very social activity, and it also loosens people up a little bit. It`s a conversation starter, and it lets you bring down your guard a little bit and have a great night or a great afternoon with some cocktails and friends.




What makes a good bartender?

A good bartender needs to have a lot of different qualities. The first thing that I`m looking for in a good bartender, as a patron and as a manager, is personality. If you have personality, I can teach you how to bartend. I can teach you drink recipes but I can`t teach you to be a fun person, which is the most important thing about being a good bartender. You have to be engaging, welcoming, make people comfortable and have a great smile. People want to come to your bar and spend their time and money with you, you need to make them feel good about that. Another important aspect of bartending is theoretical knowledge; people want to be comfortable that you can competently mix anything they order. Cleanliness and preparation are also crucial in bartending; maintaining your bar throughout the night and being prepared to make any order that comes in are both vital.

Is bartending as complicated as it looks?

I don`t think so. I think you can always be a better bartender, learn more recipes and develop your knowledge. The hardest thing about bartending is experimentation; learning to get the balance of flavors and alcohol is important, but I think that you can only acquire that through experience and practice. You could always learn to do stupid tricks like spinning the bottle around, but I think the most important thing that you need is have a great personality, willingness to learn, and the ability to multi-task. If you can do several things at once, your going to be a great bartender.

You can also watch How to Prep a Bar Video

Or check out: How to Serve Champagne Video



Job Seekers can select from the following bar job categories:

Bar / Pub Manager Jobs  
Bar Supervisor / Assistant Manager Jobs
Bartender Jobs   Drinks / Food Server Jobs
Duty Manager (Bar) Jobs  
Food & Beverage Manager (Bar) Jobs
Food & Beverage Supervisor Jobs  
Sommelier (Bar) Jobs
Wine Waiter Jobs