Bartender 101: Know the Difference Between the Drinks You Sell

Whether you work a neighborhood bar, a nightclub, a restaurant bar, or anything in between you need to know the difference between certain drinks. Bartenders need to be quick on their feet and have a sharp mind. Bartenders need to know more than just how to mix up a cocktail; they need to know its parts.

Do you know the difference between liquor and liqueur? Simply put, liquor is alcohol and is grain distilled. Liqueur is a spirit that is sweetened and flavored. A lot of liquors come flavored now, but they are not sweet like liqueur.

Distinguishing between what you serve in your bar is crucial. Fewer mistakes will be made in serving, ringing orders, and stock, which will make your job easier.

Breaking into the Bar Business: Learning Drink Differentiation

Of course you have beer: Domestic, Premium, or Imported. A domestic beer would be Budweiser, Miller Lite, Lone Star, and so forth. Premiums are beers like Michelob, Shiner Bock, and MGD (in some cases). Imported beers include the likes of Foster's, Hinano, and Molson. There are also varieties of beer: light, dark (bock), lager, ale, plus many more you will come across over your career as a bartender.

Many bars serve Wine. Unfortunately my bar was limited to Red, White, and Rose so I do not have the wine expertise that some bartenders do. A good starting point would be an article by Linda Miller, Wines for the Holidays and for Celebrations the Year Round (An Introduction for the Novice Wine Aficionado). Should you find employment in a bar that serves many different wines, do some research so you seem like you know what you are talking about when a customer asks for a suggestion.

Champagne may also be served in your bar. Champagne is sparkling wine, bubbly. We served Champagne on New Year's, and kept a small reserve of individual servings for Mimosas, but that was about it.

It is the best practice to open a bottle of Champagne as quietly as possible. A loud pop means that all of the effervescent quality is escaping. To open Champagne, you should remove the apparatus holding on the cork, cover the top with a bar towel, and gently urge the cork out.