There
are a lot of bartending tricks out there, for bartenders, and
even those that have never bartended before in their life. Bartending
secrets can make a world of difference, when they are used in
the right ways.
An
good example of a bartending trick would be frosting a glass.
To
frost a glass, dip it in water then put it into the freezer for
an hour or so. After you take it out, the glass will have a frosty
appearance.
This
is excellent to use with beer (on tap or bottle/can). Always remember;
never pour a hot drink in a frosted glass. With the glass being
somewhat frozen, it could shatter.
Another
bartending trick is making crushed ice. If you have ever ordered
a drink at a bar or restaurant that calls for crushed ice, then
you know what I am talking about.
When
you get the drink, the ice looks almost like a slushy. The thing
about this type of ice, is knowing when to crush ice, and knowing
when to blend it can be difficult.
A
lot of drink recipes call for crushed ice, in terms of making
it slushy, while others call for ice in terms of adding slivers
of ice to the drink. If you blend a drink into a slushy drink,
break the cubes up before adding them to the blender – this will
save your blender much wear and tear.
If
you are expecting to make slushy drinks at a party, break the
ice up prior to your guests arriving. Salting a glass is another
bartending technique. To salt the rim of a glass, rub a fresh
cut wedge of lemon or lime around the rim.
Keep
a shallow tray about 1 cm (3/4 inch) deep with salt, and invert
the glass then dip gently into the salt. Move the glass gently
from side to side, but do not spin quickly or the salt will simply
absorb the citrus and fall off the glass. Use rock salt or sea
salt for the best in flavor.
I personally use a 3/2/1 Boston Shaker & small shaker cup system:-
1. 3 mixing glasses for mixing
cocktails.
2. 2 regular shaker cups:- 1 for
shaking the cocktails, & the other in the ice well as a large ice
scooper
3. The small shaker cup for shaking
individual cocktails in their own containers
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The
following bartending tricks are from fellow 'tenders:-
1.
One of the keys to becoming an exceptional bartender is having
a very good short term memory, it allows you to serve 3-4 people
at a time AND serve them in order.
Whilst
making drinks I quickly look up at all the people lined up on
the other side of the bar and make a mental note of the position
they are in. I divide the bar into sections in my head so I know
which section I have served and which is next.
If
you try and remember faces it gets really hard. It is possible
to improve the short term memory using a variety of techniques
listed in many self help books. The average is 7 +/- 2 items.
A
bartender should be able to hold at least 12 items in their STM
(inclusive of drinks and total cost of each round).
Working
in a nightclub is easier because the drinks are simple to make
and if you pour too many or the wrong drink someone will ask for
that drink within a minute or two anyway.
Start
by trying to serve 2 patrons at once see if that helps cut through
the crowd. --- Flash
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2.
Well, my way is when I get the order; if it includes any beer
I knock that out, first, than I mentally note when the drink is
mentioned.
I
think of the base spirit first in that I will use it for double
pours, I lay the drinks up and do them all at one time instead
of finishing a drink at a time.
Another
bartending trick is that when called I make an image of the glass
the drinks go in for than I lay that glass out so if I get sidetracked,
seeing the glass will remind me whether it’s a rocks, martini,
or etc.
If
I have to Shake a drink I instantly scoop the tin in the ice bay
so its ready for the liqueur. Blended drinks get a cheater tin
instantly and load the blender as they are calling out the other
drinks.
One
thing though, big clubs do have a flow pattern in regards to multiple
stations, I have recorded this at my club now, certain stations
always do better than others in regards to its money.
Also
you need a good team effort. I tell my bartenders to bail each
other out when they need help, it should never be about you against
the other bartenders, everyone sinks or swims as a team. ---
Rumrunner
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3.
Crazy C's bartending trick is to look at your routines. When are
you NOT doing anything that is directly related to the selling
of drinks? Are you spending time refilling your ice well?
Are
you spending time waiting for bottles to arrive? Are you ever
waiting for glasses? Sometimes proper preparation allows you to
focus on just one thing; making drinks.
Make
sure your bar is well stocked for the rush hour. Also, as mentioned,
wandering around in the bar looking for things is a big time consumer.
Make sure that you have an opener nearby all the time.
These
often get lost, and this costs time (I have mine dangling in a
retracting key-chain, so it's never more than 15 cm from my hand,
works faster than anyone I've seen using a speed opener.)
A
final bartending trick which was not mentioned I think: USE BOTH
HANDS! If possible never let one hand do nothing. If you're pouring
a beer, use the other hand to set up glasses, clear the bar, empty
ash-trays.
When
pouring rum'n'coke, use right hand for speed-gun, and left hand
for the bottle.
4.
Many bartenders today tend to subscribe to the belief that standing
behind the bar looking good and making middle of the road drinks
is all it takes to be successful.
These
same bartenders tend to believe that they are supposed to get
a tip for everything they do behind the bar. How wrong can you
be? Bartending is about excellent customer service.
Give
the customers what they want, and you will give them a reason
to tip well. Knowing how to make good drinks is essential. Every
bartender should be a good mixologist.
And
what happened to lighting your patrons cigarettes? Making your
customers feel good about being at the bar is a major tip to success.
Don't forget product knowledge.
The
more you know about the products that you sell, the better sales
person you will be. Credibility can help a good bartender gain
lots of respect while behind the bar. Remember, bartending is
about hospitality and making your customers feel welcome. Give
them a reason to come back to the bar and they will. --- A bartending
trick from Brian Cortese
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5.
For hotel bartenders in particular, this bartending trick works
well for increasing customer service:-
Have
cards made up with your name and contact phone number at the bar/restaurant.
Stay
abreast of local events, interesting places to visit, good nearby
restaurants, special local places that the locals love and/or
local ticket brokers.
Get
to know the owner/managers of the places that you will refer to
guests. Let those owner/managers know that you can send guests
to them.
Even
as the concierges and desk help will refer guests to other places
you also will have that opportunity as guests stop by the bar
and chat.
When
the guests will be staying for several days they just won't eat
at the hotel every night. Stay on top of local events. As guests
ask for suggestions make them aware of the places you think they
will enjoy and of the owner/managers names.
Have
maps and directions readily available to any and all of these
places. Your hotel will have directions and maps available as
will many other sources.
As
you make the recommendations give them your card (or several cards)
to present to the managers or owners whom they will visit and
have them keep the extra cards to give to people who might also
visit your hotel.
The
other managers will reciprocate, sending you guests. If your hotel
guests enjoy the stay, they will suggest your name and hotel to
friends, family, and associates, who will also use your hotel
and visit your bar.
When
you give them more than one card, you may be surprised to see
new visitors, referred by their friends stopping by your bar.
---- THE PROFESSIONAL BARTENDING SCHOOL
Here are some
further tricks to helping you be the bartender that you want to
be:-
And,
if you are looking for quite a bit of cocktail recipes, just enter
the name of the cocktail that you are interested in, into the
search box on Your Free 25000 Recipe Guide
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There
are many, many more bartending tricks out there. You could watch
a professional bartender in action, and probably learn more tricks
than you ever thought possible.
The
next time you are at a bar, pay attention to the bartender. Watching
him will help you get an idea of just how many methods there are
to bartending.
Another
bartending trick is making crushed ice. If you have ever ordered
a drink at a bar or restaurant that calls for crushed ice, then
you know what I am talking about. 
