In the vast majority of jobs, you must know many details that you need to know if you want to work properly. On the other hand, in some specific cases, such as bartending. There are factors that seem not be so important. Still you have to take them into account when you are exercising this profession.
The standard is not easy to measure but there are certain things to keep in mind that will help.
The bartender must know a number of things, from which are the most popular co*cktails. How mixes should be prepared, what utensils to use when you are at the bar. What ingredients each drink or co*cktail has. To know how to handle the relationships with customers. However, sometimes it happens that the bartender does not handle some important information such as.
What is the standard of drinks that every bartender should know but tell himself that he is a good bartender?
This question is important, since on many occasions bartenders do not know exactly how many drinks they should know and also how to prepare them. Which although it may not seem like it, is an important detail no to overlook.
Some people wonder how many drinks a bartender needs to learn to make when they learn this profession. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) has an official list of 77 drinks. Those drinks are seen as the true drink selection that can be requested at a bar. Those 77 beverages have been classified as the classic originals around the world. However, in every region there might be a slight modification based on their preference or special touch.
That is why it is important that every bartender knows which drinks are on this list and obviously. Know the differences according to the country, state or city where they work since possibly some of these vary. This will be depending on the ingredients that can be find in that area, the climate, among other factors.
Mixing the most popular drinks
While, there are many bars in the world that only have a handful of these drinks in their selection. The main thing to keep in mind is that a professional bartender should know how to make each one. Regardless of how unpopular some of the drinks may be. In fact, most of the new popular beverages are reconstructed based on the originals.
This detail is very important since knowing the basic drinks is something that is totally essential. However you can never overlook the others that are on the menu of the bar or restaurant. Those that are not so popular or common. With that said, every bartender you have to know how to prepare if someone asks you for it.
This list contains very simple drinks that are easy to make for any occasion. For example, the margarita. Which only contains 3 simple ingredients. Yet, it is known worldwide, and is quite loved around the world. However, some of the more exotic choices can be a bit difficult for your average bar to handle. Especially packed with many customers. It will become harder to craft several of the more complicated co*cktails to a bigger crowd. Not to mention the 77 choices. Those that do have a few ingredients that are very difficult to find. For that reason, bars simply do not offer those kinds of beverages.
All you need to know about drinks
As we all know, a bartender must first of all be an excellent co*cktail creator. This person must be an expert in making mixes. They must also be familiar with a lot of things including the utensils you must use, the tools and the ingredients.
The ingredients are an essential part of every co*cktail, drink or mix, and as mentioned before, there is a standard of drinks that every bartender should know, but it is not enough to know them, it is also important to know their ingredients and what utensils they are going to use to prepare it.
The reality is that there are endless ways in which each of these drinks can be prepared, adding a bit of creativity to be able to create a novel co*cktail that is like a new experience for customers.
When it comes to these standard drinks that every bartender should know, there are a number of ingredients that each one needs to prepare properly, if any of those elements or ingredients is missing, without a doubt the co*cktail will never have the same result, neither, nor much less is going to taste the same.
But what are those most common ingredients in co*cktails and drinks that bartenders prepare regularly?
- Basil: This is an aromatic herb whose origin is from some regions of Africa and has acid, citrus and fresh flavors. Basil works for various dishes, but also, because it is extremely versatile, and it looks perfect as a garnish in a co*cktail or just to accompany it. A drink that can be perfect with basil is the Gin and Tonic.
- Mint: It is one of the herbs that is perhaps most used. This herb comes from the Mediterranean and being basically a fresh leaf it is capable of being used in mixology. Some bartenders use it in several of these drinks that they must know. Others simply use it to give a view to the co*cktail and also give it a fresh and delicious touch.
- Citrus fruits in general: Citrus fruits are undoubtedly an essential ingredient in a large number of drinks. The same goes for co*cktails in mixology because it is actually quite easy to combine them with other ingredients and in various drinks. The most used are lemon, grapefruit and orange. Some bartenders use citrus as an ingredient in co*cktails or simply cut it into slices to serve as a garnish on the glass or glass.
- Egg white use is common. You have probably seen that some co*cktails have a foam on top? Well, in most cases that foam is simply egg white.
Essences are also an important part of every drink
Essences:
In all these drinks, beyond the ingredients and liqueurs included. The essences are just as important. In the world of bartending there are a large number of essences in different mixes and mixtures, some of those essences are:
- Grenadine: A necessary ingredient especially when a bartender starts in mixology. It is so popular because they use it in most cases to sweeten drinks. They also come in different colors such as blue or red or even transparent.
- The varied liquors: Another essential ingredient in all those standard drinks that every bartender must know and know how to prepare. These liqueurs can have different flavors such as: Some are fruity, others with a flavor of herbs or even spices.
Questions and Answers
How important is it to know these drinks?
If you want to be a good bartender, you have to know all these basic drinks that you should know how to prepare without thinking, simply because without a doubt they will be the ones that your customers will ask for the most. Obviously everything is a matter of practice and as they say, practice makes perfect.
How important is it that every bartender knows how to prepare them?
The preparation of all these drinks is the most important thing since you must know the ingredients with which you prepare them and at the same time, the utensils you use to prepare them, all these are details that cannot be overlooked and that are more than relevant.
In all countries and areas is the amount of drinks the same?
Although there are drinks and co*cktails that are known all over the world such as the Martini or the daiquiri, the truth is that in each country, due to the diversity of ingredients, some cannot be prepared or in the opposite case, there are some co*cktails that only in You can ask for that specific place because they have a local ingredient.
Why is it important to know everything about ingredients and flavors?
The basis of every co*cktail is in its ingredients and flavors, since to be able to make a mix or an appropriate mix for a drink or co*cktail, you must know all the flavors, essences and the ingredients in general that it has
To conclude
As far as expanding this list, the IBA has not mentioned that this list is not definitive. Right now many bars offer less than a quarter of the official drinks, but some also try to have as many of the listed drinks available. Even though they may not have most of these drinks on their menu, for sure they used some of them and modified them to their liking. Making their own version of the beverage.
At Party Shakers LA, we have a tea of bartenders that are aware of the process that is needed to create each of those official drinks. We know that nothing is more valuable than being able to ensure that our bartenders are going to be ready for action when anyone requests to make a very complex drink.
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