What Does it Take to Be a Bartender?

Series Summary

Alcohol has been a cultural staple of the West for thousands of years. As many as six and a half years ago, wine was a large part of Greek culture and religion. Beer is probably equally as old, being brewed by royalty and peasants since the birth of European civilization. Monasteries were early producers and distributors of beer during the Dark Ages. By the eighth and ninth centuries, Muslim alchemists had produced distilled alcohols and “spirits” that became popular beverages. The American tradition of alcohol is centered on the bar, known in England and English-speaking countries as a public house, or pub. Descendants of the rowdy mead halls celebrated in Beowulf, bars are a focal point of social life and the various mating rituals of American adults. In this free bar tending video series, professional and award-winning bartender Babz Zerillo teaches the skills any bartender must know. Zerillo covers bar terminology, tools, sections behind a bar, jobs and tasks, and service tips. From how to control a pushy customer, to knowing which buttons to push on the bar gun, Zerillo gives practical tips for any aspiring bartender. She also talks about popular liquors and liqueurs used in making the drinks bar-goers love.

Video Transcript

"In this series, I am going to show you some bartending tips that you will need to know if you want to be a bartender. First off, we are going to start by showing you how to measure, whether you are using a jigger or whether you are pouring it free-hand. In addition to that, I am going to show what garnish to use, and what types of drinks you will want to use different garnishes on. Also, basic types of liqueurs and basic types of liquors, and the difference between the two. I am also going to talk about the basic alcohols that you will need for a home bar, bartending terminology, what you should use for alcohol substitution if you have to substitute one alcohol for another, how to handle a spill or a mistake that you make, and what beverages can typically be found on the gun behind the bar. Also, I am going to show you the technique of how to layer a drink, and basic stuff you might want to have behind the bar. In addition to that, I am going to show you the proper procedure for rimming a glass with either salt or sugar, and how to know your way around the bar. Also, I will show you how to prepare a drink by stirring it versus shaking. And the final thing I am going to show you is bartending secrets."