#barknowledge

A bartending job is much harder than you might think. Taking care of a bar (bar-sitting) is one thing, becoming a great host, entertainer, server, team player, chef, and do-it-all is another! Here are 5 Tips on becoming a better bartender.

Have the knowledge. And more importantly be hungry for it. Nobody wants a badly made drink, and even worse, nobody wants to order their preferred drink and get something completely different! People feel taken care off and safe, when they are in the hands of a knowledgeable bartender. Study to become better every moment you can so when somebody asks you for a cocktail they presume you don’t know, you will not only know, but make them the best one they ever had! SMART!

Know your responsibilities. From coming in and knowing how to prepare your night, to closing your station properly and everything in between. Be responsible for your actions and make sure you’re focused. Don’t serve another drink to a very drunk customer. Give them a glass of water instead. Don’t have sex in the bathroom with a customer and leave the till unattended, ask your friend to keep an eye while you’re gone. RESPONSIBLE!

Be a great team player. Try working in harmony with your co-workers. The work dynamics can be easily destroyed by one person being out of tune and can lead to problems down the line. The most important skill a bartender should have is good communication. You’re a team, like an ant colony or them dudes that fix up the F1 cars in the pits. TEAMWORK!

Have Style. There is a form of showmanship needed in this industry. People go to cocktail bars to have a good time, for the experience. The part of that experience in not just the drink, but also you. Whether it is juggling 3 bottles in the air or a stylish twist of a spoon, create your own style and personality behind the bar which will make you stand out from the rest. ROCKSTAR!

Be Humble. This is by far the most important, but often neglected point. Especially by young bartenders who just moved up from being average highball & beer servers to cocktail makers, and now think that they are super cool *coughHipsters*. The moment you think you know everything, is the moment you will stop your progress. You are not a brain surgeon, chill..., know that you know nothing (like Jon Snow). This is the beauty of our industry. Every time you step into a subject like for example vermouth, or bitters, you can spend months doing your research and still just scratch the surface. SO GO OUT THERE AND BECOME BETTER!

A Gin fizz is a beautifully simple cocktail that is a mixture of gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and soda. But what happens when there are so many variations that we can barely keep track? Well now we can! Here is the list...

Silver Fizz- A gin fizz with added egg white as an ingredient. Golden Fizz- A gin fizz with egg yolk added. Royal Fizz- A gin fizz with a whole egg added to the drink. Diamond Fizz- A gin fizz topped up with champagne instead of soda. Green Fizz- A normal gin fizz with a dash of green creme de menthe added. Ramos Gin Fizz- A gin fizz with equal parts lemon and lime juice, added egg white, cream and orange blossom water.