Essential Bar Tending Tools and Terms

If you are to take up the art of bar tending you need to have the right tools. These tools are essential to the profession. They are what allows you to mix, stir, shake and store your drinks. Without the right tools to practice at home bar tending will be harder to learn. Here is a list of tools you must have to be good at this profession or maybe just a hobby. These can easily be found in any bar supply store or a liquor store. Drinks are usually named according to its ingredients, how it is presented and how it looks.  To be a good bartender or a good customer, there are certain terminologies that you need to be familiar with.

Tools and Tips For Bartending – Essential Bar Tending Tools

If you are to take up the art of bar tending you need to have the right tools.

These tools are essential to the profession. They are what allows you to mix, stir, shake and store your drinks. Without the right tools to practice at home bar tending will be harder to learn. Here is a list of tools you must have to be good at this profession or maybe just a hubby. These can easily be found in any bar supply store or a liquor store.

Essential Bar-tending tools

Wine Opener, not just any wine opener, you should Invest in the waiter’s wine opener. Why? Well, because apart from the long cork screw, it has a sharp blade edge and bottle opener.

Get a Cocktail Shaker – there are two types of shakers, the Boston shaker and the standard shaker and any of the two will be perfect for bar tending. The Boston shaker has a more professional touch but if you choose to use the standard shaker you will be just fine. You can always get the Boston shaker when you can afford to lay your hands on it.

You will need a Strainer – the most widely used strainer in bars is called the hawthorn strainer. It can be easily used on the top of a shaker or bar glass to strain any cocktail.

Some Other Tools you will need includes but not limited to the following:

Bar Spoon: Long spoon that used to Stir mixed drinks.

A High speed Blender: This is used to crush ice or blend different variety of drinks into one cocktail.

Ice Bucket: Obviously, Used to hold ice.

Ice Scoops: used to scoop ice as you must never use your hands to transfer ice.

Measuring Glass: the measuring glass that you get, must be able measure up to 2 oz and down to 1/2 oz.

Smart Serving Tips

Always have punch available for light drinkers.
Hirer a professional bartender
Use only clean and fresh ice
Use only fresh Fruits
Chill your glasses before you use them to serve and put them out five minutes before you use them.
Make sure you use a shot glass for shots nothing more nothing less.
Use lower proof alcohol in mixtures and cocktails.
Use tools to serve ice like tongs. Do not use your hands.
Be sure to have non-alcoholic drinks available like tea and coffee.
Serve hot drinks in a container which has a handle.
Rubbing wax paper over bottle tops with no pourer will prevent dripping
Close the bar an hour before the party ends
When Buying drinks be sure to purchase drinks that are popular. Though they are popular, you will find that many of these drinks may not be expensive. Due to the fact that they are well known, individuals will be asking for them and you had better be able to please the crowd. It would be rather unfortunate to have a well stock bar filled with unknown drinks.

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Bartending Terms

There are so many different kinds of drinks a customer can choose to order.  It is nearly impossible to memorize each by heart but remember that all drinks fall into a certain category.  The drink is usually named according to its ingredients, how it is presented and how it looks.  To be a good bartender or a good customer, there are certain terminologies that you need to be familiar with.  

In the menu, when the term Box comes up, it means that it is a drink that is poured in a shaker and then served.  It gives the drink a quick mixing without necessarily shaking it.  Most menus would have a Call Drink which is a drink that is a combination of a mixer and liquor with a defined brand like Bacardi and Coke or Tonic.  A Cobbler is not just a type of dessert but also a word used to indicate a tall drink of any liquor served in a highball glass topped with crushed or shaven ice and fresh fruit and mint sprigs.  A Cooler is another drink served in a highball glass but consists of ginger ale, soda water and a fresh spiral or twist of citrus fruit rind.  When a customer requests a Daisy, this is an oversized drink of any strong and sour liquor like gin or rum and served with crushed ice, fruit syrup and a straw.  Apart from all these, a Virgin generally means a drink with no alcohol.  

In some bars and restaurants, you may see some of these words on the menu.  The Flip is a chilled and creamy drink made of eggs, sugar and wine or spirit.  The more known flips are the Brandy and Sherry flips.   A Julep is a popular drink and is made of bourbon, sugar, mint and crushed ice.  A Smash is a shorter version of the Julep and is served in a small glass.  It is still made of liquor, sugar and mint.   When the drink is said to be “laced with”. a Lace pertains to the last ingredient that is poured over the drink, more like a garnish.  

Some drinks are heated to add a special touch.  A not so well-known drink is the Mulls and is a sweetened or spiced wine, beer or liquor, heated and served as hot punch.  A Sling is served either hot or cold and is a tall drink made of soda water, sugar, a little lemon juice and either whiskey, gin, or brandy.  

Some drinks are named according to the glass they are served in.  A Highball is a drink served in a highball glass, which is a medium to tall glass and is any spirit served with ice and soda water.  A Rickey is a drink that is served in a Rickey glass and is made up of liquor, usually gin, soda water and half a lime.  It is often sweetened.  A Swizzle on the other hand is named as such because it is served with a stirring rod or a swizzle stick which is rotated to form frost on the glass.  It is traditionally a tall rum-based cocktail with cracked ice.  

In the more festive seasons and occasions, certain drinks are part of tradition.  One famous example is the Eggnog.  It is a traditional holiday drink that contains beaten eggs mixed with cream or milk, sugar and special liquor like brandy, bourbon, or rum.  However, the Eggnog was derived from the British drink Posset and contains heated ale or wine curdled with milk, spices and eggs.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to  http://bartending-guides.com/ Bartending

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