How to Set Up a Speed Bar for Bartenders

A speed bar helps bartenders work more efficiently.

Professional bartenders must be masters at multitasking, often making dozens of drinks every hour. One of the secrets of quick bar service is having a correctly set speed bar at hand. This handy railed shelf contains the most commonly used bottles in the bartender's arsenal, all within easy reach for quick use. Set up your speed bar the right way and you can increase your speed significantly---and likely raise your tip count as well.

Things You'll Need

• Liquor bottles
• Mixer bottles
• Speed pourers

Instructions

1. Open all of your bottles and insert speed pourers into the top of all the bottles. These plastic or metal devices fit into the opening in a bottle and control the speed at which the liquid comes out. Some speed pourers stop pouring when a shot has been poured, and others regulate the speed of the liquid.

2. Study the order in which your bar has their speed bar set up. There is a basic speed bar or speed rail setup that many bars employ, but your place of business may have a variation on the order. Don't rearrange a speed bar bottle order if it is already in place.

3. Place your bottles from right to left, beginning in the first row and finishing in the back row if you have one. Start with grenadine and lime juice first on the right. Move on to the dark liquors like scotch, whiskey and bourbon. Continue on with the flavored liquors like sweet and dry vermouth, and finish with the clear liquors including tequila, gin and vodka.

4. Stock your speed bar with house quality liquor bottles instead of top shelf ingredients. If a customer wants a premium brand drink he will ask for it by name. If he asks for a generic drink, mix it with the less expensive ingredients.

Tips & Warnings

• If your bar has a drink special on certain nights, add the ingredients for those drinks into your speed bar lineup.

References

• FreeBartendingSchool.com
• 90 Minute Bartending School: Setting up Your Bar