"I’ve met many people that started working at the bar because they needed some extra money for their studies," says Carrozzi, "or they wanted to travel and they thought that bartending would be the best solution to earn some money. Jonathan Pogash - aka the Cocktail Guru Reap The Rewardsīy continuing to educate ourselves and further our careers, we, as bartenders, can start to reap the benefits. Bartender’s Guild, United Kingdom Bartender’s Guild (USBG, UKBG), the IBA (International Bartenders’ Association), and, of course, WSET. (Beverage Alcohol Resource), Diageo World Class, The U.S. Among some of the best training resources in our industry include B.A.R. An entry-level job, such as a barback, will almost certainly allow one to learn the basics: what liquor is what, how to open and close a bar, how to layout one’s mise en place, how to work as a team, and most importantly, how to be one with Hospitality.Ĭlassroom training runs the gamut, from cheap bartending "schools" to certified, professional training facilities. A well-rounded combination of the two are integral. There are two types of training when it comes to bartending: On the job and in-classroom. WSET educator and owner of UK-based Mixology & Beyond beverage consultancy, Claudia Carrozzi agrees: "Education is one of the main pillars for (one’s) career." To Train Or Not To Train Along with books and magazines, real live training courses reinforce early bar skills and will help advance our careers. Subscribing to industry magazines like Cheers and Difford’s Guide are key, as well as keeping a journal (does anyone use those anymore?) of thoughts and ideas. Boston Bartenders’ Guide (full disclosure: I edited the 75 th Anniversary Edition) and the Joy of Mixology (by gaz Regan) are both clear choices for the budding Mixologist. To perfect one’s early bar skills, reading is fundamental in the practice of technique, recipes, and history. You ask them for advice, you lean on them for support, and sometimes you take them out for cocktails. They are the ones who can help guide you along. If you’ve been able to find a mentor, keep them close. This is a person you can count on, a person you can trust and follow in the footsteps of, a person who is willing to share ideas and life lessons with you. The importance of mentorship now became crystal clear to me.Ī mentor comes in all shapes and sizes – it could be a family member, a fellow bartender, a teacher, spouse. It was gaz who trained me during his Cocktails in the Country courses on proper bar technique, bar tools, classic cocktails, and creating and maintaining a relationship with the customer sitting on the other side of the stick. When I first started, I was introduced to an ex-pat Brit named Gary "gaz" Regan. For those who dedicate themselves to gaining knowledge and experience, there are a great deal of rewards in a job that offers a huge amount of creative growth. It’s easy to be trained at any old bartending school, but for those with the bartending "force", there is a recommended path to follow. Lyan (Tales of the Cocktails’ Spirited Awards 2015 Bartender of the Year) says that "Bartending has become much more of a job choice for people who are looking for a creative, social, and fulfilling career."īartending tends to attract those who may have an artful eye, a creative mind, a flair for performing. It was Dale’s smart business sense and creative mind that gave us the flexibility and opportunity to spread our wings and become career bartenders. Dale DeGroff, a mentor to many of us, brought us out of the dark ages of the cocktail and into our modern cocktail resurgence. Bartending was never a modern-day career option for anyone up until the turn of this century.
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