Bartender Basics for Holiday Parties

As the holidays approach, you may be planning a get together for you and a few friends. Cocktails will liven up the event. Knowing a few basics can make an amateur bartender look like a pro.

Do as the Bars Do

Look into buying a mixing glass set (a mixing glass and a metal tumbler), strainer, and spoon, most mixed drinks require these basic tools. For a party, you probably do not need to worry about fancy glassware and can make do with plastic cups. For a home bar, the basic glassware includes rocks, tall Collins, highball, stemmed cocktail, and a wine glass set.

You will also need a one-ounce shot glass for measuring liquor servings. I will go over details for counting a shot, but until you get it down, you will need to measure. Too much or too little alcohol in a drink can ruin it.

When purchasing your liquor select the 750ml size, also purchase some metal pourers for the bottles. Pourers come in an assortment of styles, but basic metal ones work the best for most bar applications. These not only make you appear professional, they help lessen the chance of spillage.

How to Count a Shot

In the movies you see bartenders throwing bottles in the air, they catch them, and they have a glass in hand ready to fill. Well I can't teach you how to flair. I can tell you how to count a one-ounce shot.

Ensure that you have properly installed your pourer onto the bottle. If it is secure, simply hold the bottle strait up side down over a glass and count 1-2-3-4.

The bottle must be relatively strait up or the liquor will not pour smoothly. The count must be even. Not 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, just 1-2-3-4. Then pull it up and away in one smooth motion. If the liquor pours slow or seems to gulp, there is air in the neck, adjusting your bottle should fix this.

The 1-2-3-4 count is one ounce
1-2-3 is ¾ ounce
1-2 is ½ ounce
1 count is ¼ ounce

You can count up to 6 for a 1-½ ounce shot but I would not go over 6. For anything more, stop and start each ounce over to prevent over pouring. Practice makes perfect. I recommend using the shot glass measure until you feel comfortable with your pour.

Shaking and Rolling Your Drinks

Once you have your shaker in hand, note that the mixing glass is shorter than the tumbler. Play with them a bit and see how the tumbler fits over the mixer. When there is ice and liquid in the glass, the tumbler should be put on to the glass and popped or patted into place to create a seal. Once on, flip the set glass side up and shake. To break the seal hold the glass with one hand, and the tumbler with the other, pop the glass out of the tumbler with a slight twisting motion. Make a mental note: never shake carbonated beverages in the mixer.

Another technique is to roll the liquid. Rolling is simply swapping the liquid from glass to tumbler and back a few times. This method is used for creating teas and some juice drinks that you only want mildly mixed.

Once your concoction is in the metal tumbler it can be strained, or poured with ice, in to your serving glass. Your strainer, spring side down, fits perfectly on the tumbler to retain the ice and free the liquid. Most recipes will tell you what needs to be strained.

Garnishes and Plenty of Ice

Depending on your drink choices you should have lemon, lime, cherries and green olives with pimentos. Some recipes call for celery, oranges, or pineapple wedges. You should have what you need for what you want to serve on hand.

You should also have lots of fresh ice. Smaller cubes of ice, like the bagged ice from the convenience store, works better for cocktails than the ice from your ice-maker or trays. Keep this in mind during your planning.

Be Savvy

You should use caution in the amount of liquor you serve to your guests. Try to limit consumption as much as possible. Appetizers, chips and dips, and perhaps a covered dish or two will help to prevent any over drinking.

Encourage guests to have a designated driver. If there is not a designated driver available call a taxicab or make them sleep it off. It's better to have a guest sleep over one night than to go to a funeral later. Be cautious over the holidays while drinking and serving.