Bartending: Expert Guides and Resources

Want to be the life of the party? Learn how to make a margarita that’s sure to be a hit! This margarita recipe is easy to follow and will have your guests coming back for more. Whether you’re a professional bartender or just want to impress your friends, this classic drink is a must-have in your repertoire. Ingredients1 oz.

All bartenders should be familiar with beer. The beer-brewing process begins with pure water, corn grits, and malted barley. Malted barley is the basic ingredient and is often referred to as the “soul of beer.” It contributes to the color and characteristic flavor of beer. Malted simply means that the barley has been steeped or soaked in water and allowed to germinate, or grow.

Bartenders should definitely know about Scotch whisky. Scotch whisky (spelled without the e in whiskey) has a distinctive smoky flavor that's the result of both the choice of ingredients and the method of distillation. Scotch whisky must be distilled and matured for at least three years in Scotland — but not necessarily bottled in Scotland.

Cocktail names seem to get more creative every year. But back in the cocktail’s heyday, drinks were often just named after the person who concocted them or the place where they were invented. What follows is a short list of traditional cocktails and how they came to be called by their familiar monikers: Bellini: Invented in Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, around 1943.

It’s completely appropriate that bartending is also known as the art and science of mixology. As a bartender, you need to know who to mix and measure not only a jigger, or shot, but how much to add when a recipe calls for a dash of bitters or how many bottles of wine to send out when a customer orders a jeroboam.

Enjoy one of your favorite holiday treats, cocktail-style, without the effort and stress of slaving away over an oven all afternoon! It's sure to be a crowd-pleaser at your next holiday party. 1-1/2 oz. Irish cream liqueur 1-1/2 oz. coffee liqueur 1-1/2 oz. peppermint schnapps Pour Irish cream liqueur, coffee liqueur, and peppermint schnapps into a cocktail shaker with a generous handful of ice.

A quick and easy drink to make for your next holiday party, this refreshing shot tastes much better than it sounds! Just remember to stay away from the yellow snow outside! 1 oz. citrus vodka 1 oz. pineapple juice Combine citrus vodka and pineapple juice in a shot glass. Sip or shoot to enjoy.

The Grinch may be a mean one, but these shots aren't! Whether you shoot or sip to enjoy, these are sure to amuse at any holiday party. 1 oz. melon liqueur 1/2 oz. citrus vodka Combine melon liqueur and citrus vodka in a shot glass. Garnish with a toothpick and a maraschino cherry for extra Christmas flair. Enjoy!

Rum is produced throughout the Caribbean and beyond. There are several different types of rum, bartenders should know. Rum is required in different cocktail recipes, and is a very popular alcoholic drink. Here are several popular brands: 10 Cane (Trinidad) Admiral Nelson Spiced Rum (Puerto Rico) Angostura (Trinidad) Appleton Estate (Jamaica) Bacardi (Puerto Rico) Brinley (Saint Kitts) Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum (Puerto Rico) Castillo (Puerto Rico) Cavalier (Antigua) Cockspur (Barbados) Cruzan Rum (U.