Practical Bartending course

Prerequisites

Setup: Ideally you’ll have a computer with a webcam and microphone, capable of online meetings; I would recommend Google Meet for ease of use, but Zoom & Microsoft Teams are perfectly OK as well.

In a pinch, a tablet or smartphone with a webcam could be used - this will be approached on a case-by-case basis.

Tools: You will need some basic bar tools such as a shaker tin & mixing glass, bar spoon, cocktail strainer, and ideally a bar cloth or something similar. Later in the course, you’ll need a few cans or bottles of beer, and a bottle of wine (affordable/cheap is fine!) for practicing pours and general learning.

For a small additional fee, a bar tool essentials kit can be provided.

Glassware: To avoid unnecessary running around and too many extra costs on your part, we will work with whatever glassware you have at home - but, ideally, you would have a standard beer glass (14~16 oz), a smaller rocks-style glass (~8 oz), a martini glass, and a highball glass (~12~14 oz). 

For those keen to have the fullest experience possible, I may be able to source a glassware combo kit to suit.

Intro & handling bar tools

The first session focuses on an introduction of what it means to be a bartender. You’re not just there to pour drinks - you’re there to provide an experience!

People love sitting at the bar because they expect to be taken care of by the bartender; This obviously requires someone that at least cares somewhat in the first place, but this can be honed and amplified with some good training! 

It’s also important to learn how to handle bartending tools and understand what they’re all for - from your shaker tin and mixing glass, to shot glass & jiggers, to hawthorne strainer and fine mesh strainer - you’ll want to understand and respect which situations to use each tool in, and why!

Bar lingo, best practices, and workflow

The second session focused on learning bar and general restaurant lingo. You gotta talk the talk to walk the walk!

Guy walks up to the bar asking for a Glenlivet, neat - and the next guest wants a martini stirred, not shaken - you’ll want to understand what that means and why it matters. 

Also, you’ll learn how to be proactive and responsible in regards to building drinks, cleanliness, conversing with customers, and more!

Beer

The third session is about the ever popular beverage: Beer! 

From lagers, to IPAs, to sours, to stouts - understanding the difference between them and appreciating that there’s a beer for everyone is paramount in most bar settings! We’ll go over how beer is made, the most popular styles, how to pour it from all the usual vessels, and more!

Wine

Is there a finer, more elegant beverage than wine? 

This widely consumed beverage is great on it’s own, but it’s also very well known for being paired with food! The fourth session is all about vino!

You’ll learn about the most common varietals and how they differ from one another, how to taste wine, some basics of wine pairing, and of course - how to handle and pour wine! When’s a good time for wine? That’s a trick question - it’s always a good time!

Spirits

Ah, spirits… The distilled, flavor-packed backbone of highballs, shooters, and of course - cocktails! 

You’ll learn about the basics of each common spirit, what their background is and where they come from, when to use what spirit, and different methods of serving them.

Cocktail basics

The coveted cocktail. The culmination of amazing ingredients, the end result of finesse and inspiration… A whole experience in a glass. 

You’ll learn the basics of cocktail making, some classic and must-know recipes, and best practices for drink crafting! And if you’d like to learn more, there’s always my Mixology Course!

Bringing it all together

So you’ve learnt a little about a lot, in a short amount of time - let’s put it to the test! 

Spencer doesn’t believe in a pass-or-fail mentality, which could leave you feeling like you need retake the course if you ‘fail’; We’ll simply review what you’ve learned and run you through some realistic case scenarios in which you’ll pitch your responses and will learn to adapt as you go! Believe me - much more excitement awaits you as a bartender! 

You can expect to receive a signed certificate from me indicating that you have completed my Bartending Course! While you may still have much to learn - and should always keep an open mind in regards to that - I know you’re ready for prime time!