Intro to Bartending – Start Here
Are you just getting started in learning how to make mixed drinks? Or, perhaps you’re already familiar with bartending techniques, and just looking to brush up on the basics? Whatever your motivation, our easy-to-use Intro to Bartending primer covers everything you need to get started, including basic terminology, ingredients, tools, and more. If you’re instead looking for something specific or more advanced, simply jump ahead to any of our sections below.
Bar Tools 101
Bartending is a skill that requires quite a few tools, from jiggers to shakers to barspoons and more. Luckily, there are hundreds of great, affordable products out there, and in many cases you can even use stuff you have lying around the kitchen. Our guide shows you what to buy, and how to improvise in a pinch!
- Jiggers 101
- Shakers 101
- Muddlers 101
- Strainers 101
- Barspoons 101
- Mixing Glasses 101
- Cocktail Glassware 101
- Ice Saws and Tools
Bartending Techniques 101
Bar tools are only half the battle—you’ve gotta know how to use them! Whether you’re trying to make some perfectly clear ice like the pros, hone your straining technique, or simply cut a proper garnish, our ever-expanding guide covers the techniques you’ll need to tend bar with the best.
- How to Make Clear Ice at Home
- How to Stir a Cocktail Like a Pro
- How to Double Strain a Cocktail
- How to Cut Perfect Cocktail Garnishes
- How to Smoke Cocktails
- How to Make Savory Cocktails
- How to Batch Punch
- How to Chill Glasses
- How to Make Oleo Saccharum
- How to Oil Wash Spirits and Cocktails
- How to Layer Cocktails
- How to Make Cannabis Cocktails
Cocktail Ingredients 101
And, of course, you’re going to need something to actually go in the drink itself! Our cocktail ingredient guide covers syrups, herbs, bitters, and all kinds of other things that take your cocktails to the next level, and we’re adding to it all the time. We recommend starting with our simple syrup recipe, our mint guide, and our tips on keeping your vermouth fresh as the day you bought it.
- Vermouth 101
- Absinthe 101
- Bourbon 101
- Easy Orgeat Syrup Recipe
- Homemade Simple Syrup Recipe
- Choosing the Right Mint For Your Cocktail
- Homemade Bitters
- Why Cocktails Love Citrus
- How to Spice Up Your Cocktails with Ginger Syrup
- How to Use Egg Whites in Cocktails
- How to Make Gin
- How to Make Vermouth
- How to Make Amaro