#bartender education

[barsmarts]

BarSmarts Advanced San Antonio will be held at: 

Marriott San Antonio  555 S Alamo Street San Antonio, TX 78205 

This is our preferred hotel and there’s a good rate, just let them know you're with BarSmarts. Can't wait!

[barsmarts]

BarSmarts Advanced is Heading to Philly in September

We are VERY happy to announce that BarSmarts Advanced is coming to Philadelphia, PA on September 26 for our 50th event!

BarSmarts Advanced Philadelphia Wednesday, September 26, 2018 Event Location TBD Registration - $75

REGISTER FOR BARSMARTS ADVANCED

BarSmarts Advanced events are open to graduates of the online BarSmarts program only.

So what is BarSmarts Advanced? - BarSmarts Advanced is a full-day of instruction, education, hands-on mixology, testing and certification that takes place in select cities each year.  Hosted by Pernod Ricard USA, and BAR, LLC, these events are a day of challenge, learning, and fun.

The morning session includes an introduction by F. Paul Pacult, a comprehensive blind tasting with Steve Olson and Doug Frost, history and cocktail/punch demos with Dale DeGroff and Dave Wondrich, and a discussion on service/hospitality with Andy Seymour.

In the afternoon, participants will take a 100-question test (includes a blind tasting) and a separate practical exam. The practical exam asks participants to properly make 3 classic cocktails in front of one judge. Tools will be provided for the practical exam, but participants may use their own if they prefer.  To properly prepare for the afternoon testing, we suggest all participants login to their BarSmarts account and re-review the reading/video material. The written test questions and practical drinks will come directly from the online materials.  Participants that pass both exams will become BarSmarts Advanced Certified – our highest certification!

We require all BarSmarts Advanced attendees to take and complete our online BarSmarts program first.  To take the first step in attending BarSmarts Advanced, please register and complete the BarSmarts program.  

Click here for more information on the online BarSmarts program.

If you have already completed the online BarSmarts program and would like to register for BarSmarts Advanced, click here

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BAR 5-DAY SCHOLARSHIP BarSmarts and Pernod Ricard USA are also pleased to announce that the high scorer* from BarSmarts Advanced Pittsburgh will receive a scholarship to the World’s Most Comprehensive Distilled Spirits & Mixology Program: The BAR 5-Day™ Certification Program. The scholarship will cover tuition costs for the January 2019 BAR 5-Day™ Certification Program.

Please let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you at a future BarSmarts Advanced event!

Cheers! THE BARSMARTS TEAM

[barsmarts]

Cocktail String Theory

Some advice on creativity from Chivas Masters Cocktail Competition 2016 winner Ben Rojo via Tales of the Cocktail:

In reflecting on the competition and everything he learned, Rojo says there are three major pieces of advice he would give to bartenders entering the competition this year. First, be yourself.

“Draw inspiration from your experience and surroundings. Speak from your heart — you do it everyday anyway. Everyone has probably made a Manhattan or a Negroni and that’s important, but find your voice within the context of that,” he says. “There’s no one in this world quite like you as an individual. Use that.”

Second, it’s incredibly important to test out your drinks before you submit them.

“So many ideas I’ve had have seemed great in my mind, but it wasn’t until I tinkered with them that they really became great. Take the time to bounce the drinks off friends, coworkers, regulars, your roommates — whoever. Really do yourself the favor of putting forth the best version of your recipe that you can.”

Finally, Rojo says, have fun with it.

“It’s such an excellent opportunity, and it’s given me so much more than I ever could’ve expected. Approach it with the same glee that you do making your favorite drink for your favorite guest. The reason we do this is because it’s rewarding and it’s satisfying to make people happier. Channel that.”

Bartenders have until March 19th to test their creativity and come up with three original cocktails for the 2017 Chivas Masters Cocktail Competition for the chance to compete in the global finals in Japan later this year. Click here for rules and sign-up info!

[barsmarts]

Calling All Milwaukee Bartenders

Pernod Ricard USA is happy to announce that BarSmarts Advanced is coming to Milwaukee on March 29, 2017!

What is BarSmarts Advanced? - BarSmarts Advanced events are a full-day of instruction, education, hands-on mixology, testing and certification that take place in select cities each year. Hosted by Pernod Ricard USA, and BAR, LLC, these events are a day of challenge, learning, and fun.

The morning session includes an introduction by F. Paul Pacult, a comprehensive blind tasting with Steve Olson and Doug Frost, history and cocktail/punch demos with Dale DeGroff and Dave Wondrich, and a discussion on service/hospitality with Andy Seymour.

In the afternoon, participants will take a 100-question test (includes a blind tasting) and a separate practical exam. The practical exam asks that participants properly make 3 classic cocktails in front of one judge. Feel free to bring your own bar tools or use the ones we provide. Participants that pass both exams will become BarSmarts Advanced Certified – our highest certification!

BarSmarts Advanced events start promptly at 9 AM and end around 5 PM. We encourage participants to arrive at 8:30 AM to sign in. Breakfast and lunch are included. If you are traveling to BarSmarts Advanced from out-of-town, we suggest arriving the day before the event. The BarSmarts Advanced registration fee is $75. Travel and lodging costs are not included.  Below is the event location information:

The Pfister Hotel 424 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202

To properly prepare for this event, we require all BarSmarts Advanced attendees to take and complete our online BarSmarts program first. To take the first step in attending BarSmarts Advanced, please register and complete the BarSmarts program.  Click here for more information on the online BarSmarts program. If you have already completed the online BarSmarts program and would like to register for BarSmarts Advanced Milwaukee, click here. Please let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you at a future event! Cheers! The BarSmarts Team

[barsmarts]

How & When To Cut Someone Off

Many of today’s bartenders are equipped with a wide range of skills. From maintaining an encyclopedic wealth of knowledge on spirits both common and obscure, to keeping up with current trends and techniques, to working long shifts and dealing with guests of all temperments. Bartenders must always be ready to make quick educated decisions that can affect a guest or group’s experience inside their venue and beyond. Tales of the Cocktail dives into one of the less pleasant yet most important skillsets required by those behind the stick. Knowing how and when to cut a guest off:

The When

“As bartenders, we are in positions of great importance when it comes to cutting off an overly inebriated guest,” says Rob McShea, owner and lead bartender of Miss B’s Coconut Club and The Duck Dive. “In terms of legality and public safety, the consequences of not cutting off that guest when they have had too much to drink are terrible, even deadly.”

Regarding running a business, McShea says that it’s also important to spot overly intoxicated guests because they affect the rest of your patrons’ experience. Really, nobody wants to spend their night in the bar with the “drunk guy.”

“I tell my bartenders to look for four major physical components when determining if someone has had too much to drink: bloodshot and glazed eyes, slurred speech, decreased motor control and negative or aggressive interactions with other guests.”

When in doubt, it’s the combination of someone displaying all of the above that should throw up a red flag.

Sabrina Mitchell, bar manager at Del Sur Mexican Cantina, says that some other signs to look for is someone who’s overly loud, going through drinks more quickly, swearing or angry or someone who’s gotten too flirty.

The How

Ultimately, cutting someone off is at the bartender’s discretion. In general, though, protocol says that if you spot someone who’s over their limit, you should stop serving that person alcohol, hand over a glass of water, close the tab and call a cab. It’s not always that cut-and-dry when someone’s so wet, though.

“Personally, I have found that the respectful, direct approach works terrific for me,” says McShea. “Essentially, it is as simple as leaning to take their order, but instead letting them know that I think that they have had too much to drink and I don't feel comfortable giving them another.”

You need to deliver the decision softly and with resolve to show you’re serious, but to also avoid embarrassing or agitating your guest. One of the best ways to further soften the blow is to offer an invitation to come back tomorrow.

“A few times we've given the guest a water and they are usually confused at first,” says Mitchell, who co-manages the bar with Natasha Mitchell. “When they ask about the water, we tell them we don't feel comfortable giving them another alcoholic beverage, but we'd love to serve them in the future. It has always gone over well. Additionally, we have given the guest the check before they ask and they usually get the hint. There have only been a few times when the guest becomes angry, but they usually leave understanding why we did what we had to do.”

Another strategy is to enlist the help of the inebriated guest’s friends. McShea says to pull the friend over to the side – out of earshot – and explain the situation. The key is to not make a big deal of it, but to be straightforward, polite, and show that you genuinely care.

In the end, remember that you’re just doing your job. Not only are you looking out for the wellbeing of one of your paying customers, but you’re looking out for the comfort and happiness of your other patrons, as well — not to mention the fact that paying attention and being deliberate can also save lives.

[barsmarts]

BarSmarts Advanced is heading to Tampa & Oakland!!!

Tampa - Oct 15 Oakland - Nov 7

Sign up at barsmarts.com/advanced before all spots are gone!

*Remember that in order to attend BarSmarts Advanced you must first pass and complete the online certification program. All info can be found at barsmarts.com

[barsmarts]

Win a BAR 5 Day scholarship!

DONT FORGET: The 🔝 scorer from BarSmarts Advanced San Antonio - coming up April 2nd - will receive a scholarship to the BAR 5-Day Program! 🥃 The scholarship covers tuition costs for the January 2020 BAR 5-Day certification! 💪 

Head to barsmarts.com/advanced to sign up! #barsmarts52 #pernodshow

[barsmarts]

🙌 Love seeing this from the BarSmarts community! #rp via (Instagram user) @ginandjulep: “@barsmarts graduates! There’s something magical when people who excel in whatever craft they choose, decide to share their knowledge with the world. Forever in gratitude to the people who spent years of honing their craft, doing countless hours of research, and rediscovering lost drinks to create such an amazing program and an undeniable game-changing resource tool. You inspire us to be the best we can be <3 G&J” ❤️🥰 | Click the link in bio ⬆️ to sign up for the upcoming BarSmarts Advanced session in San Antonio! 🤠 #texasherewecome #barsmartsgrads