In establishments where cocktails are served, bartenders are expected to be able to properly mix hundreds to thousands of different drinks.  A mixologist is a term for a bartender who specializes in the creation of cocktail recipes; the term usually implies special expertise and professionalism.  Bartenders also usually serve as the public image of the bar they tend, contributing to as well as reflecting the atmosphere of the bar. In some establishments focused strictly on the food, this can mean the bartender is all but invisible. On the other extreme, some establishments make the bartender part of the entertainment, expected perhaps to engage in flair bartending or other forms of entertainment, such as those exemplified in the films Cocktail and Coyote Ugly. Read More...

A bartender (barman, barkeeper, barmaid, or tapster, among other names; a particularly experienced bartender specializing in cocktails is sometimes referred to as a mixologist) is a person that serves beverages behind a bar in a bar, pub, tavern or similar establishment. This usually includes alcoholic beverages of some kind, such as beer, both draft and bottled, wine and/or cocktails, as well as soft drinks or other non-alcoholic beverages. He/She “tends the bar”. A bartender may own the bar they tend or be simply an employee. Barkeeper carries a stronger connotation of being the purveyor, i.e. Owner.  Critical to getting a job as a bartender is bartending school.  Bartenders earn a salary and tips. Bartending jobs are available full or part time. No knowledge of drinks is necessary to complete our bartending school. Read More...

When a person decides to go into bartending, the first thing that comes to their mind is on-the-job training.  Although many good bartenders began that way, it is much more difficult to secure employment.  Also, training this way can create bad habits and ultimately, the bartender will have to relearn much of what he was taught.

If you decide to go to a bartending school, which by the way is an excellent decision, you should do research to find out what is taught, how much the bartending school charges and how long the courses last.  One important factor when investigating which bartending school to attend is who is teaching the course?  Because new drinks are always on the horizon, making sure that the instructor is either a working bartender or someone who stays current in the world of mixology is imperative. Read More...