How to Bartend for an At-Home Cocktail Party

Bartending for friends and family is a good way to get experience if you are looking for a bartending job. Mixing drinks itself isn't hard; a large aspect of a bartender's job is to serve everyone quickly, to anticipate their needs and to keep the bar well-stocked. The only differences between serving at an at-home party and at a real bar are that guests won't be running a tab at a private party and your bar will have a more limited selection than the selection at a restaurant.

Things You'll Need

• Vodka
• Gin
• Rum
• Triple sec
• Tequila
• Whisky
• Scotch
• Sour mix
• Tomato juice
• Orange juice
• Cranberry juice
• Pineapple juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Milk
• Soda water
• Tonic water
• Water
• Cola
• Sprite
• Ginger ale
• Red wine
• White wine
• Bottled beer
• 2 bags of ice
• Wine glasses
• Chimney glasses
• Club glasses
• Martini glasses
• Shot glasses
• Lemon wedges
• Lime wedges
• Orange slices
• Cherries
• Salt
• Napkins
• Stir sticks
• Metal shaker
• Mixing glass
• Long spoon
• Bottle opener
• Cork screw
• Drink recipe book

Instructions

1. Stock your bar well. You need liquor (vodka, gin, rum, triple sec, tequila, whisky and scotch), mixers (sour mix; tomato, orange, cranberry, pineapple and grapefruit juice; milk; soda water, tonic water and plain water; and Coke, Sprite and ginger ale), wine (red and one), bottled beer (two choices), 2 bags of ice, glassware (wine, chimney, club, martini and shot glasses), garnishes (lemon and lime wedges, orange slices, cherries, salt), napkins, stir sticks, a metal shaker, a mixing glass, a long spoon, a bottle opener, a cork screw and a drink recipe book.

2. Appoint someone as an errand boy to run to the store to get refills of ice, liquor, soda or garnishes if you run out.

3. Remember the basic recipe for most mixed drinks. Drinks that need one kind of liquor: Use 1 oz. of liquor and fill the rest of the glass with the mixer (or equal amounts of the mixers if there are more than one). For example, a rum and Coke would need 1 oz. of rum and the rest of the glass would be filled with Coke.
   Drinks that need two kinds of liquor: Use 1/2 oz. of each liquor and top off with the mixer. A creamsicle would require a 1/2 oz. of vodka, a 1/2 oz. of triple sec and equal parts of milk and orange juice.
   Drinks that need three kinds of liquor: Use 1/3 oz. of each liquor. An Uncle Sam needs 1/3 oz. of Avalanche Peppermint schnapps, 1/3 oz. of Rumplemintz and 1/3 oz. of Aftershock Cinnamon Schnapps.
   Drinks that need four kinds of liquor: Use a 1/4 oz. of each and fill the rest of the glass with the mixer. A drink called Pure White Evil consists of 1/4 oz. of vodka, 1/4 oz. of Everclear, 1/4 oz. of rum and 1/4 oz. of whiskey with a dash of lemon juice.

4. Ask your guest what a drink contains if you don't know how to make it, and improvise the drink following the recipe guideline in Step 3.

5. Always put the ice in first when serving a drink on the rocks, and always either stir or shake the drink to make sure it's properly mixed.

6. Present your drinks neatly. Wipe them off if the liquid overflows, put a stir stick in each one and serve each drink with a fresh napkin. Keep the bar clean and dry.

7. Make drinks two or three at a time to keep people served in a timely fashion. You can pour an ounce of vodka into a glass the same time that you're pouring in the orange juice for a screwdriver.

8. Wait on ladies first when a couple or group of people come to the bar.
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9. Try to remember what people are drinking so you can anticipate their order when they return to the bar.

10. Don't make drinks too strong. If someone is getting too drunk, suggest water instead of alcohol. Do not keep serving someone who has clearly had too much to drink, and do not serve any minors.