How to hone cocktail-making skills

Having a fully stocked bar is a no-brainer for someone who likes hosting. But it doesn’t have to stop there. It’s important to do something with the collection of drinks, and that’s where professional bartenders for hire come into the question.

Sure, it’s important to have the right liquor. But honing those cocktail-making skills entails a lot more than simply the ingredients to use. The final product is affected by every decision made in the making of the cocktail, right down to the ice in use. In this article there are tips to improve mixology skills and produce drinks matching up to those available at a favourite bar.

Have the right tools

Like in every trade, cocktail making requires the right tools for a start. This does not necessarily mean splashing the cash on sophisticated gear – although choosing a few essentials is sure to make the end product meet those lofty standards every time a cocktail is made. A bar spoon with a long stem ensures ending up with drinks that meet the best standards. It’s even better if it features a muddler, which helps to release vital fruit and herbs flavours.

It is recommended to build the equipment collection over time. While it is okay to use a jam jar for shaking a cocktail, at first, a dedicated shaker is sure to make things easier. This also applies to measurements. It is fine to use an egg cup or a range of spoons when starting, but a stainless steel jigger is the best option for those wanting the correct amounts of ingredients. Once the measurement is nailed down, the rest is smooth sailing. 

Quality cocktail ingredients

It goes without saying that good ingredients lead to superb cocktails. Another tip is to always keep the ingredients simple. Choose one or even two recipes and ensure to have high-quality mixers and fresh herbs and fruits. No cocktail made from concentrated fruit juice or wilted herbs has ever made a mark in history. 

Know the spirits

The simplest way to improve cocktail-making skills is to have a thorough understanding of various spirits. What is the best spirit to mix with gin? Which flavours are best avoided with whiskey? For an idea on where to start, consider drawing inspiration from a favourite liquor. It’s possible to get some inspiration from the classics like Moscow Mule or Old Fashioned Mule etc, then throw in a personal spin after mastering those.

Experiment

To improve mixology skills, it’s essential to take a personal spin on common drinks and be prepared to test. Never shy away from experimenting because some of the tastiest and most famous cocktails were made this way. Also, no one needs to fear messing things up because testing is done in each person’s alone time or even during a slow day on the back end of the bar. Decrease or increase a certain drink and garnish it differently or even switch up non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks that form the ingredients of the cocktail. People should free to also play around with some movements as they work and find ways of being more efficient, faster and productive.

Practice makes perfect

Practicing and experimenting go hand in hand since both of them allow one to hone their bartending skills. Trying something new enables everyone to improve their proficiency on what they already know. After identifying what works, set aside that part of the cocktail-making process and work on it for some time. Alternatively, one can continue until they are pleased with the development. Some people may prefer not to experiment, or if in the early stages where they want to improve their skills at traditional recipes, they may want to keep practicing the basics. 

Every learner should practice being more efficient and faster, or how to orient themselves better in the bar. One can choose their favourite spot to keep the drinks as well as the equipment they use most frequently. They should know where the glasses and garnishes are and also the source of their ice. As top bartenders for hire will explain, knowing the exact thing needed and where it is at all times makes anyone a better bartender. 

Free pouring

For those looking to be more efficient, faster and more interesting while working, they have to learn the art of free pouring. Measuring the ngredients to go into the cocktail takes a lot of time and that’s why it is good to know the liquid that will come out in terms of free pour. The best bartenders don’t look at recipes simply because they have free pouring right down to a science.

They can determine the number of drinks without checking doubly and make educated guesses, therefore they mix drinks faster, appease more customers and get huge tips daily. 

Garnishes for cocktails

As bartenders for hire will tell you, details matter, whether it is fashion, design or drinks. A beautiful garnish can make your cocktail taste and look the part. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a massive statement piece that interferes with drinking. Depending on your preferred recipe, take this chance to be creative. A sprig of mint, plump cherry or sprinkling of spice, all add wonderful finishing touches. 

Conclusion

As they always say, if one cherishes what they do, they will never work a single day. Therefore, everyone should be happy and enjoy their work. In other words, if a person can’t be happy, bartending is probably not a career they want to pursue. They could also suffer from burnout after working for a long time. 

Whatever the case, each learner should do their best to make things look enjoyable whenever they can. This helps to freshen up things.

Contact bar brothers and events for professional bartending services

For anyone looking for dependable bartenders for hire, Bar Brothers and Events are the first guys to call. As the leading bartending service provider, they have experience in delivering, setting up, serving and taking down a bar. Their professional bartenders mix professional presentations with attentive service to give the best quality service. They also bring bar supplies and glasses to every party. Call today to get a taste of their award-winning services. 

The editorial unit