Once you have all the correct ingredients for making a tasty cocktail, now you need the tools to mix them together. Having the basic equipment nearby helps you to create the perfect serve, quickly, meaning your guests can enjoy a quality, efficient service. So what are the essential bar tools you should have in your bar? Find out here and create the perfect serve every time.
Bartending Basics: Essential Skills, Techniques And Tools
Are you a master of your craft? Discover the essential bartender skills you should hold to progress and improve the guest experience in your bar.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
As a bartender, a core function in your bar is to create a memorable and pleasurable drinking experience for your guests. You should have all the necessary skills nailed to ensure your bartending game is strong and you're performing at your best. Below are basic skills every bartender should have... Ready to tick these off your list?
Basic bartending techniques
Must-have bartender tools
Essential and advanced bartending techniques
How to achieve the perfect serve
Current bartending trends
How to Master Basic Bartending Skills
How to Master Basic Bartending Skills
First things first, familiarise yourself with the common ingredients and cocktail recipes you have decided on for your menu.
Next up, you will need to master the basic bartending skills, techniques and bar tools that will help you hone your craft, climb the career ladder and give your guests the best drinking experience in your bar.
Must-Have Bartender Tools
All About the Jigger
Explore the jigger's history and usage to understand more about its contribution to the art of cocktails.
The Bar Spoon
The barspoon is a versatile tool that has come to represent the craft and skill of bartending. Learn more about the range of uses and styles to suit personal of this essential bar tool.
The Essential Guide to Speed Pourers
The speed pourer ensures a drink is prepared with speed and accuracy. Learn more about this important gadget and the role it plays in the hospitality industry.
Essential Bartending Techniques
Essential Bartending Techniques
This is essentially a Bartender 101 for every bartender, either new or advanced in the industry. Perfecting your drink-making technique is vital for elevating the guest experience in your bar.
Plus, when you’re ready to dig deeper and mix drinks like a true professional, having all of these techniques will only add to your skill set. The majority of drinks will use one of these techniques:
BASIC DRINK-MAKING TECHNIQUES
Shaking – This technique is used for creating chilled and diluted cocktails. Read more to learn the proper shaking duration and method on how to shake a cocktail.
Pouring – Discover the different pouring techniques and how to achieve precision and consistency when pouring a cocktail.
Stirring – Learn the benefits of stirring versus shaking, and the steps involved for achieving a well-stirred cocktail.
Mastering the Art of Cocktail Shaking
Unlock the secrets of perfect cocktail shaking with expert insights, foundational techniques and advanced styles to elevate your cocktail-making game.
Mastering Pouring and Cutting
Unlock the secrets of perfect pouring and cutting techniques in bartending and delight your customers with consistent, high-quality drinks.
Cocktail Stirring
Stir your way to cocktail-making perfection with style tips, tools and techniques to help you master the subtle art of stirring.
ADVANCED DRINK-MAKING TECHNIQUES
How To Achieve The Perfect Serve
Presentation is an important element of cocktail making as it can improve the overall guest experience and also make your cocktail look Instagram-worthy! Considering the little things like the right glass, ice and garnish, will elevate your cocktail and make it stand out.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach and perfecting your serve comes with, exploration, practice and consistency. However, there are a number elements to consider when crafting the perfect serve.
1. Glassware and its impact on presentation:
Learn how to choose appropriate glassware for various drinks, glassware trends and how glassware enhances the drinking experience.
A Bartending Guide to Glassware
Glassware is a staple in any bar and an important part of elevating the customer experience. Take a deeper dive into the world of drinking glasses.
Mixing Glasses
A mixing glass is a key piece of equipment for any stirred drink, especially classic such as a Manhattan or a Martini. Discover more about the history of this essential tool, its various forms, and the nuances that define its use.
2. What role does ice have in serving drinks?
Learn how to prepare ice properly and how best to use it for different cocktails.
A Guide to Ice Cutting and Carving
Explore the captivating world of ice cutting and carving in drinks making and discover how this Japanese legacy can unlock unparalleled cocktail craftsmanship.
The Complex World of Cocktail Ice
Understand the importance of ice when crafting a cocktail and learn about the different types and ways it influences the final product.
Using Dry Ice and Liquid Nitrogen in Cocktails
Explore the use of dry ice and liquid nitrogen in your cocktails, learn applications and execute them to wow your guests.
3. Learn how to choose the perfect garnish
Uncover how to select garnishes that complement your cocktails and learn different techniques for garnishing drinks effectively so your drink stands out.
Cocktail Garnishes: A Complete Guide
Give your serves the wow factor with our expert guide to cocktail garnishes -full of tips, ideas, and inspiration for perfecting your drinks.
Garnish Dehydration
Garnish can add flavour nuances and aesthetics that capture the drinker's attention. Elevate your garnish further using the art of dehydration.
Garnish 101 Quiz
Think you know how to complement certain drinks with garnishes? Do you understand which flavours go together? Test your basic knowledge of garnishes with this quiz.
CURRENT BARTENDING TRENDS
CURRENT BARTENDING TRENDS
Having the basic bartending skills nailed will help to set your bar apart from the rest and progress in your career, but what will really help you succeed is being creative and staying on top of industry trends. Find out what’s new and trending in the industry now:
1. Embracing Sustainable Cocktail Practices
Key Takeaways
Understanding and learning the basic bar skills, including techniques, tools and trends, will help you succeed in your career, as well as elevate the overall guest experience.
It’s important to practice and continuously learn new tricks of the trade to improve your service.
Don’t be afraid to explore your creativity and experiment with new trends, whether that’s with glassware, ice or garnish.
To learn more about bar techniques and skills that can supercharge your performance, join Diageo Bar Academy to access exclusive insight.
Related content
Speed and Efficiency
Mastering speed and efficiency will help you serve perfect drinks and deliver great service to your guests, leading to happier customers who want to return time and again.
Elevating the Guest Experience
The right customer experience in your revenue can boost sales and boost customer loyalty. Complete this course to learn how to enhance your guest experience.
Bartending Basics: Essential Skills, Techniques And Tools
Are you a master of your craft? Discover the essential bartender skills you should hold to progress and improve the guest experience in your bar.
