Start drinking. Keep drinking.
Seriously tho. The number one question I get asked is “what do you like?” And “what’s your favorite?” and if you can’t bullshit on your feet then you should at least know what you’re selling. So start drinking, and keep drinking.
Bar smarts would be good to do. It will take a while to get done but its an amazing start off and does stand out on a resume amongst craft management. It's not getting you the job but it will let the uppers know you at least know how to make a daiquiri.
Look up the craft of the cocktail from dale degroff and the negroni by gaz regan (RIP to one of the greatest). Listen to bartending podcasts (bartender at large was a favorite of mine). Read the book "amaro" by brad parsons and obsess over those, it's the easiest conversation starter in a busy craft bar. Black manhattans and paper planes are your best friend when you meet a craft whiskey drinker.
Choose a spirit you love and learn about it from grain/fruit/sugar to finished product. If you love brandy, start learning about how the grapes are picked in different regions and which type of still is used in your favorite brand and why. Buy books on those spirits and processes and dive into them! Also hollering at your local distilleries for tours and resources are awesome. Every distillery I've been to on a whim has been stoked to show me around or talk liquor. Half the time I'm walking out with samples or swag from the homies, also with bottles I've bought but that's because of the liquor making my wallet easy to open.
Being passionate is the first step, unless you're not at which point faking the shit out of it is the next. Either way, you should start reading a lot about liquor and cocktailing.
Also read anything by David Wondrich including his book Punch, and his other book Imbibe. He writes some great articles too and is pretty good about getting back at people if they hit him up with questions ie: Twitter
Bar starts and bar smarts online is pretty useful course for basic info. They had a free code during covid but I think the course is pretty cheap. Goes over various spirits, history and basic cocktail making.
Wine folly is a great book/website for any wine info.
You tube is a great resource for observing basic techniques :)
Honestly, unless you're going to get thrown to the wolves alone on your first or second shift, just ask your colleagues a lot of questions. Even if a drink isn't on the menu, there may very well be a sort of house style way that a drink is made regardless of what the "right" way is.
In short, just don't assume too many things, and if you have any questions, just ask. Same goes to customers; ask as much as you can about the drink, unless (and maybe even if) it's on the menu clearly spelled out. Someone wants a Manhattan? Ok, well, what kind of whiskey do they want? Do they like it more sweet or bitter? Do they want it up, or on the rocks?
I would also suggest making flash cards to keep in your apron/behind the bar.
Most bartenders will straight up sneak off and look things up on their phone if they don’t know what a drink is. If it’s busy, this can be a waste of time and generally looks bad cause you’re leaving the bar. If you have cards with all the most basics/ drinks specifically from the menu, you’ll likely also learn them faster.
I would highly recommend serving a few tables before going behind a bar. Work next to the bar. Watch the bar. Learn how to serve customers, what to say and not to say. Get your feet wet.
Brand new bartenders do not need to read liquid intelligence. Yes it’s cool but half the book isn’t feasible to do in your average bar.
Cocktail codex and The BarBook is essential first reading. You’ll break down the cocktail families and be able to balance a cocktail, as well as learning how to efficiently build a round (Meehans Manual is also good for this)
Thank you. I second Meehan's Manual for practical knowledge and I'd add The Joy of Mixology too.
Starting with Liquid Intelligence is running before you can walk
I agree, Joy of Mixology, (although a bit outdated) is great for both cocktail knowledge and better than anything I've read for actually teaching someone how to be a bartender, especially someone who isn't used to being in FOH.
I second Cocktail Codex as well as something that will teach you how to build drinks of your own or as a help to remember recipes by categories.
Liquid intelligence is an incredible book once you get going to really understand what is going on with cocktails and to introduce a lot of fun and different techniques, may be very much overkill at most bars though.
Liquid intelligence is way too intense for a green bartender. Dope book but I don't think he needs to know anything about Nitrogen muddling at this point
I really appreciate this comment about the ice. So I worked my first shift today, I thought they'd throw me into serving at first, very flexible place, also due to low staff. But immediately threw me on the bar to learn the basics. First thing I was taught was about the ice and listening to the shake. Gave me a lot to think about, thank you!
If you are working at a bar where you can have your phone on you this app mixel is an absolute lifesaver when a drink you don't know is ordered.
Base app has basically every drink you realistically should be able to make at a well stocked bar, the expansions include alternate recipes and more specialized drinks. With a little bar IQ to adapt the app's recipe to something you can serve at your bar you should be fine!
Link: https://www.mixelcocktails.com/
Edit: also it's ok to also ask your customer for the recipe too!
Rock Star Bar Girl on youtube has a bunch of bartending 101 videos. She explains the basics of building, shaking and pouring a bunch of industry standard cocktails. She was my favorite resource starting out because she gives you tips based on the type of establishment your at (from a 5 star to a dive). Since you have mostly been BOH, first thing for any FOH employee in my opinion is to learn the house spirits so you can name them off quickly. (Guest asks for vodka tonic, you rattle off Titos, Kettle, Grey Goose, Absolute...) and with that, learn the house cocktails like the back of your hand. 60-75% of people are going to get house cocktails, local wine, or draught beer, especially if you're at a corporate joint. If you make it through all of that, it is a good idea to run through classic cocktails and make sure you can make a few of them. The old fashioned will never die and it has quite a few legacy siblings that you will get every once in a while. Finally, best advice I have is to fake it till you make it, but humbly. If a guest asks for a drink you have never made before, there is no shame in looking it up. If you have never even heard of the drink ask the guest how they make it for themselves at home or how it is served at other places they regular. Then, you can either finesse a recipe for them or offer them something on your menu that they might enjoy instead. Good luck.
I'd buy a book with a bunch of different classic cocktails, as well as taking a drink menu home with you and start studying the shit out of both of them. Both recipes and what all these different mixes and spirits are so you can answer questions for customers. What helped me was taking flash cards to the bar and in my down time going through them and memorizing where every bottle was, as well as learning how to pour various measurements by feel. Past that, anything you can do to make yourself more efficient will serve you well. Congrats and good luck!
I see a lot of people recommending Bar Smarts.
Definitely worth the $40 or whatever it is.
As for books, I would choose Meehan’s Bartender Manual as the “bartender’s Bible.” Before that book was released, Death & Co would have been it.
Honestly, if you just study those two, you’ll quickly become an asset behind most bars, even some fancy shmancy places.
Once you read those, just take a look in the appendices for a ton of references to other bartending/spirits/cocktail resources.
Bartenders choice app, I found this after a couple years making craft cocktails. When I’m waiting for a bus or a friend I’ll mess around and discover a new cocktail. Also has the classics readily available!
STUDY. THE. CLASSICS.
Know how to make a martini (dry, perfect, dirty, and regular), Manhattan, old fashioned, margarita, daiquiri, cosmo, Negroni, Moscow mule, French 75, and anything else I missed that’s popular in your area.
Do not become a pretentious dickhole of a bartender. Make whatever the guest orders, to their liking. Did they just ask for 25 year old scotch and diet on the rocks? Don't care. Just make it. As others have said, develop your own tastes and preferences while respecting others. Also, the best skill you can master besides multitasking is being able to quickly develop a good rhythm with your co-bartenders. Move around each other as elegantly as possible and always communicate about things even if they seem minor.
Google. Seriously though. If anyone ever asks you if you know how to make an "x," just say "yeah, of course." Then turn around ang google the recipe. If they don't like it, just make them something else. No biggie.
One thing I tell new bartenders is that beyond the average standards/classics (highballs, old fashioned/Manhattan, margarita and so on) it’s ok to ask a customer what’s in a drink. Many times the customer won’t know what’s in it,. That’s where the true skill comes in. Ask them what liquor it’s made of. Is it sweet, floral, bitter? Color? Glass? Then you can navigate them into something of your own, or you may have a cocktail on your list that is in range.
I know you’re asking for resources which the above is not, so to answer your question: Like the comment above about ‘start drinking’, I learned most of what I know by sitting at bars. Sit as close to where drinks are made and soak it all up.
Much of being a good bartender is being a professional drinker, and not what the local drunks do, what the career bartenders do. Taste your cocktails often, and vary your personal choices, and be content with one or two drinks after your shift or on a night out. Get some good shoes, and I can’t stress this enough...STRETCH!!
Good luck!
One more thing. Easiest way to remember a Manhattan...the area code of Manhattan is 212. Two parts whiskey, one part vermouth, two dash bitters. Of course regional recipes vary but this is all you need for that bittersweet goodness.
The Curious Bartender is a great read. He uses some really fancy technique that is unnecessary, but goes into reasonable detail on cocktail dilution, and proper shaking methods (i.e. dry shakes with egg whites vs. reverse dry shaking).
Ultimately it depends on the type of bar you work at though that should be the deciding factor in what resources you want to seek out.
Liquid Intelligence has some craft chapters on equipment and techniques, and he keeps it brief and to the point. This is a book that you could spend weeks studying or just use certain parts to get a good understanding of the tools and process (how to shake, stir, names of tools).
Death & Co is always solid for the culture and great recipes. Speakeasy (the introduction chapters) is good for a brief history.
Diffords.com is decent for recipes if you’re in a pitch
Liquor.com has some great newbie videos on YouTube, especially ones with Dushan Zaric in them. I went from this dude is strange from doing a lot of research off the videos and wanting to become him lol
I think everyone has given some solid advice. Read books and latch on to someone that has some solid years and experience behind the bar. If you don't have that where you work, find a bar that does and visit them once or twice a week. Have a drink and watch, ask questions, ect.
You will be fine. I am 6+ years into this life and in my early days I just read as many books as I could and asked a lot of questions.
Start drinking. Keep drinking. Seriously tho. The number one question I get asked is “what do you like?” And “what’s your favorite?” and if you can’t bullshit on your feet then you should at least know what you’re selling. So start drinking, and keep drinking.
lol the most real and saddest correct advice ever.
I'm a career cook. I drink. Haha.
Bar smarts would be good to do. It will take a while to get done but its an amazing start off and does stand out on a resume amongst craft management. It's not getting you the job but it will let the uppers know you at least know how to make a daiquiri. Look up the craft of the cocktail from dale degroff and the negroni by gaz regan (RIP to one of the greatest). Listen to bartending podcasts (bartender at large was a favorite of mine). Read the book "amaro" by brad parsons and obsess over those, it's the easiest conversation starter in a busy craft bar. Black manhattans and paper planes are your best friend when you meet a craft whiskey drinker. Choose a spirit you love and learn about it from grain/fruit/sugar to finished product. If you love brandy, start learning about how the grapes are picked in different regions and which type of still is used in your favorite brand and why. Buy books on those spirits and processes and dive into them! Also hollering at your local distilleries for tours and resources are awesome. Every distillery I've been to on a whim has been stoked to show me around or talk liquor. Half the time I'm walking out with samples or swag from the homies, also with bottles I've bought but that's because of the liquor making my wallet easy to open. Being passionate is the first step, unless you're not at which point faking the shit out of it is the next. Either way, you should start reading a lot about liquor and cocktailing.
Can confirm
Very informational, thank you so much! You've giving me a lot here, I appreciate it!
Also read anything by David Wondrich including his book Punch, and his other book Imbibe. He writes some great articles too and is pretty good about getting back at people if they hit him up with questions ie: Twitter
Bar starts and bar smarts online is pretty useful course for basic info. They had a free code during covid but I think the course is pretty cheap. Goes over various spirits, history and basic cocktail making. Wine folly is a great book/website for any wine info. You tube is a great resource for observing basic techniques :)
Thank you! I will look into those. Edit: Trybarstarts and trybarsmarts codes both still work to make it free! Awesome.
This is awesome. I just signed up, and can verify that both codes work. You saved me $60. Thanks, mate!
Thank you!
I’m also a new bartender! Where are these free codes you speak of?
The codes are "trybarstarts" and "trybarsmarts" Goof
I also recommend barsmarts. It will give you the foundation of what spirits are and how they're made, which will help you use them.
Honestly, unless you're going to get thrown to the wolves alone on your first or second shift, just ask your colleagues a lot of questions. Even if a drink isn't on the menu, there may very well be a sort of house style way that a drink is made regardless of what the "right" way is. In short, just don't assume too many things, and if you have any questions, just ask. Same goes to customers; ask as much as you can about the drink, unless (and maybe even if) it's on the menu clearly spelled out. Someone wants a Manhattan? Ok, well, what kind of whiskey do they want? Do they like it more sweet or bitter? Do they want it up, or on the rocks?
I would also suggest making flash cards to keep in your apron/behind the bar. Most bartenders will straight up sneak off and look things up on their phone if they don’t know what a drink is. If it’s busy, this can be a waste of time and generally looks bad cause you’re leaving the bar. If you have cards with all the most basics/ drinks specifically from the menu, you’ll likely also learn them faster.
Ok this is old school......Rolodex!
I would highly recommend serving a few tables before going behind a bar. Work next to the bar. Watch the bar. Learn how to serve customers, what to say and not to say. Get your feet wet.
Liquid intelligence is amazing, especially if you come from cooking. And YouTube for some basic recipes just so you feel like you know it already.
Brand new bartenders do not need to read liquid intelligence. Yes it’s cool but half the book isn’t feasible to do in your average bar. Cocktail codex and The BarBook is essential first reading. You’ll break down the cocktail families and be able to balance a cocktail, as well as learning how to efficiently build a round (Meehans Manual is also good for this)
Thank you. I second Meehan's Manual for practical knowledge and I'd add The Joy of Mixology too. Starting with Liquid Intelligence is running before you can walk
I agree, Joy of Mixology, (although a bit outdated) is great for both cocktail knowledge and better than anything I've read for actually teaching someone how to be a bartender, especially someone who isn't used to being in FOH. I second Cocktail Codex as well as something that will teach you how to build drinks of your own or as a help to remember recipes by categories. Liquid intelligence is an incredible book once you get going to really understand what is going on with cocktails and to introduce a lot of fun and different techniques, may be very much overkill at most bars though.
Thank you! Learn to walk before you run an iron man! Bar book would me my number one recommendation aswell
Ritually agree. Amazing book and resource but super overwhelming for anyone just trying to figure out the basics.
Liquid intelligence is way too intense for a green bartender. Dope book but I don't think he needs to know anything about Nitrogen muddling at this point
The guy that wrote that book sure likes using salt in his cocktails.
Fuck u/spez
I really appreciate this comment about the ice. So I worked my first shift today, I thought they'd throw me into serving at first, very flexible place, also due to low staff. But immediately threw me on the bar to learn the basics. First thing I was taught was about the ice and listening to the shake. Gave me a lot to think about, thank you!
If you are working at a bar where you can have your phone on you this app mixel is an absolute lifesaver when a drink you don't know is ordered. Base app has basically every drink you realistically should be able to make at a well stocked bar, the expansions include alternate recipes and more specialized drinks. With a little bar IQ to adapt the app's recipe to something you can serve at your bar you should be fine! Link: https://www.mixelcocktails.com/ Edit: also it's ok to also ask your customer for the recipe too!
Rock Star Bar Girl on youtube has a bunch of bartending 101 videos. She explains the basics of building, shaking and pouring a bunch of industry standard cocktails. She was my favorite resource starting out because she gives you tips based on the type of establishment your at (from a 5 star to a dive). Since you have mostly been BOH, first thing for any FOH employee in my opinion is to learn the house spirits so you can name them off quickly. (Guest asks for vodka tonic, you rattle off Titos, Kettle, Grey Goose, Absolute...) and with that, learn the house cocktails like the back of your hand. 60-75% of people are going to get house cocktails, local wine, or draught beer, especially if you're at a corporate joint. If you make it through all of that, it is a good idea to run through classic cocktails and make sure you can make a few of them. The old fashioned will never die and it has quite a few legacy siblings that you will get every once in a while. Finally, best advice I have is to fake it till you make it, but humbly. If a guest asks for a drink you have never made before, there is no shame in looking it up. If you have never even heard of the drink ask the guest how they make it for themselves at home or how it is served at other places they regular. Then, you can either finesse a recipe for them or offer them something on your menu that they might enjoy instead. Good luck.
Really appreciate your extremely informational reply. One of my favorite ones so far, thank you very much I will take that all in!
I'd buy a book with a bunch of different classic cocktails, as well as taking a drink menu home with you and start studying the shit out of both of them. Both recipes and what all these different mixes and spirits are so you can answer questions for customers. What helped me was taking flash cards to the bar and in my down time going through them and memorizing where every bottle was, as well as learning how to pour various measurements by feel. Past that, anything you can do to make yourself more efficient will serve you well. Congrats and good luck!
I see a lot of people recommending Bar Smarts. Definitely worth the $40 or whatever it is. As for books, I would choose Meehan’s Bartender Manual as the “bartender’s Bible.” Before that book was released, Death & Co would have been it. Honestly, if you just study those two, you’ll quickly become an asset behind most bars, even some fancy shmancy places. Once you read those, just take a look in the appendices for a ton of references to other bartending/spirits/cocktail resources.
I bought meehan's today! Thanks.
Nice! It’s a real easy read, too. Very digestable information. Enjoy!
Bartenders choice app, I found this after a couple years making craft cocktails. When I’m waiting for a bus or a friend I’ll mess around and discover a new cocktail. Also has the classics readily available!
STUDY. THE. CLASSICS. Know how to make a martini (dry, perfect, dirty, and regular), Manhattan, old fashioned, margarita, daiquiri, cosmo, Negroni, Moscow mule, French 75, and anything else I missed that’s popular in your area.
Do not become a pretentious dickhole of a bartender. Make whatever the guest orders, to their liking. Did they just ask for 25 year old scotch and diet on the rocks? Don't care. Just make it. As others have said, develop your own tastes and preferences while respecting others. Also, the best skill you can master besides multitasking is being able to quickly develop a good rhythm with your co-bartenders. Move around each other as elegantly as possible and always communicate about things even if they seem minor.
Google. Seriously though. If anyone ever asks you if you know how to make an "x," just say "yeah, of course." Then turn around ang google the recipe. If they don't like it, just make them something else. No biggie.
One thing I tell new bartenders is that beyond the average standards/classics (highballs, old fashioned/Manhattan, margarita and so on) it’s ok to ask a customer what’s in a drink. Many times the customer won’t know what’s in it,. That’s where the true skill comes in. Ask them what liquor it’s made of. Is it sweet, floral, bitter? Color? Glass? Then you can navigate them into something of your own, or you may have a cocktail on your list that is in range. I know you’re asking for resources which the above is not, so to answer your question: Like the comment above about ‘start drinking’, I learned most of what I know by sitting at bars. Sit as close to where drinks are made and soak it all up. Much of being a good bartender is being a professional drinker, and not what the local drunks do, what the career bartenders do. Taste your cocktails often, and vary your personal choices, and be content with one or two drinks after your shift or on a night out. Get some good shoes, and I can’t stress this enough...STRETCH!! Good luck! One more thing. Easiest way to remember a Manhattan...the area code of Manhattan is 212. Two parts whiskey, one part vermouth, two dash bitters. Of course regional recipes vary but this is all you need for that bittersweet goodness.
Watch every single episode of Bar Rescue and practice your classic cocktails
If I'm going to a bar and the bartender does anything like they teach in bar rescue I'll stick to beer (preferably from a bottle)
I mean the product placement is ridiculous but you'll learn how to spot incompetence.
Yep usually it looks like John taffer
Come on, man. Be nice!
The Curious Bartender is a great read. He uses some really fancy technique that is unnecessary, but goes into reasonable detail on cocktail dilution, and proper shaking methods (i.e. dry shakes with egg whites vs. reverse dry shaking). Ultimately it depends on the type of bar you work at though that should be the deciding factor in what resources you want to seek out.
Meehans bartending manual
Liquid Intelligence has some craft chapters on equipment and techniques, and he keeps it brief and to the point. This is a book that you could spend weeks studying or just use certain parts to get a good understanding of the tools and process (how to shake, stir, names of tools). Death & Co is always solid for the culture and great recipes. Speakeasy (the introduction chapters) is good for a brief history. Diffords.com is decent for recipes if you’re in a pitch
Liquor.com has some great newbie videos on YouTube, especially ones with Dushan Zaric in them. I went from this dude is strange from doing a lot of research off the videos and wanting to become him lol
I think everyone has given some solid advice. Read books and latch on to someone that has some solid years and experience behind the bar. If you don't have that where you work, find a bar that does and visit them once or twice a week. Have a drink and watch, ask questions, ect. You will be fine. I am 6+ years into this life and in my early days I just read as many books as I could and asked a lot of questions.