Ideas for a new bartender?

Question

I have just been hired as a bartender. I was one before but not with liquor (bible belt). Now I have to learn a bunch of drinks and what not. Any ideas on how to help?

Answer 1

Learn them by your "base liquors" (vodka/gin/rum/tequila/whiskey).  When you make your drinks, work one group of drinks at a time.

Also, go out and get yourself a good "bartender's bible."  You can buy one in any major bookstore.  This will have all kinds of drinks by many different names.

Last resort if you don't know what a drink is: smile, admit that you don't know that one and ask what's in it.  Customers often get a kick out of teaching the bartender a "new one."  Make the drink per their request and write it down so you have it for next time.

Hang in there.  It'll take some getting used to, but you'll get comfortable quickly and do just fine.  Good luck!  :)

Answer 2

Anyone can make a drink from a recipe.  What turns a new bartender into a great bartender is a ready smile and friendly attitude.  What people hate most about bars is when they have to wait to get the bartender's attention.  Keep your eyes moving and if you're busy, but see somebody trying to get a drink, just give them a nod or a gesture to let them know you'll get to them as soon as possible and they'll love you forever.

Answer 3

I have been in this situation.  Being the new bartender is tough but the best thing you have is your own personality and flair.  Some bartenders are bitchy, some are super sweet it depends on their flair.  As for recipes, I relied on acronyms to remember.  eg. pog   pineapple juice, orange juice, grenadine.  And learn the basic liquor first, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon/ whiskey.  Familiarize yourself w/ what your bar has as far as brand names, types and flavors.  Anybody can make a vodka cranberry, a bartender knows that the only difference w/ that and a sea-breeze is the addition of grapefruit juice.  The info is out there all over the web, just do some searching.

Answer 4

http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/0rec/12...

i know this looks like a lot but it has been my bible from day 1 and its never failed me, I work and an up scale downtown Houston bar, and with the exception of the extremely weird drinks some guys dad came up with =), I have never had to stray far from this list. Good luck!

Answer 5

You can get all kinds of recipes from this site.

Answer 6

I went to bartending school where they teach ya, that is where I learned all of mine. Since you are all ready hired; try some sites:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Drinks/Coc...

http://www.barnonedrinks.com/

http://www.whattodrink.com/

HERE this one has 32,000 you can learn BY TOMORROW, just kidding:

http://www.idrink.com/

Answer 7

There are several websites and books where you can get drink recipes.  If you've dealt with alcohol much, including drinking it, you'll start to get a handle on what goes with what well.  My suggestion is this: don't be afraid.  When someone orders a drink and you don't know how to make it just ask them what's in it.  Most people generally know what ingredients are going into their drinks.  If they don't know, tell them they'll have to be patient while you try to figure it out.  A lot of new bartenders are scared about making new drinks, but it's simple.

Answer 8

at work i have a black book..but basically do research online..i did that..