It has been said that a bartenders best friends are the bar accessories that he uses (second only to his loyal customers, of course). Simply put, a bartender could not do much of his job without them. What makes bar accessories so valuable is the way they make the harried bartenders job a bit easier. Here is a list of the top 10 bar accessories that a bartender couldnt live without.
Bar Accessory #10: The serving glass. Yes, shocking as it may be, without the serving glass, the bartender would wipe up an awful lot of alcohol from the floor, being that without serving glasses, everyone would have to take turns looking at the ceiling under a keg spout to drink. Serving glasses are much nicer and extremely cost effective.
Bar Accessory #9: The mixing tin. The mixing tin is bigger than the serving glasses (though smaller than the keg, see Accessory #10) to allow for the mixing and shaking and straining of the drinks. Being able to use a mixing tin to mix instead of using the serving glass makes nice, neat drinks, and happy patrons to boot.
Bar Accessory #8: The towel. With the fast pace that bartenders have to operate under, a towel is one of the most indispensible bar accessories. Also, as the night grows late, bartenders may become not the only ones to spill drinks here and there see Accessory #10 above.
Bar Accessory #7: The corkscrew. Whether it be for synthetic corks or natural corks, the corkscrew opens the door to the liquor literally. Without the corkscrew, corks might have to be pushed into the bottle to make the booze accessible, and lets face it, once there is a cork floating in the bottle, its all over.
Bar Accessory #6: The cutting board and knife. This one may seem out of place to non bartenders, but often for a drinker, a highlight of a drink is the delicious slice of fruit that sits on the edge of the serving glass. As much as people love their fruit on the edge of the glass, it would probably somehow lose some of its effect if an entire uncut lemon was smashed into the drink (insert puckered lips here).
Bar Accessory #5: Holders. Whether they are napkin holders, stirrer holders, or condiment holders, when it comes to bar accessories, bartenders need all the help they can get holding things. They only have two hands, you know.
Bar Accessory #4: The salt & sugar rimmer. It is another great one of the bar accessories that makes doing the little jobs easier. Bartenders strive for perfection, and quick perfection, at that.
Bar Accessory #3: The pour spout. No bartender has time all the time to slowly and meticulously pour drinks from the bottles to the glasses. Pour spouts are bar accessories that again save time and reduce clean up and stress.
Bar Accessory #2: Pourers. Whether they are plastic pourers or store and pour containers, to be a great bartender, you just gotta pour stuff. Bar accessories that help pouring help the bartender keep his focus on the drink instead of on not spilling and splashing or missing the cup!
And the #1 bar accessory that no bartender should be without is the strainer. The glorious strainer keeping fruit pits and chunks of ice out of smooth drinks for years. The strainer allows the bartender to create the perfectly smooth alcoholic beverage every time, which makes the beloved drinkers happy, not swallowing the hard stuff as they enjoy their spirits.
Bar accessories, both traditional and modern, prove to be invaluable to the bartenders that work so hard to serve the rest of us the perfect drink. From napkins to rimmers to strainers, these are just a few of the many bar accessories that no bartender should (or could) do his job without. So the next time you are out for a drink, looking at the goodies that are on the shelf at the bar, take a look at all of the little gizmos and utensils that are behind the bar, and thank your friendly bartender for using such great little things to make you your favorite good for the soul drink.
So what do they know that the rest of us don't? Here's the short list.
1. ATTITUDE ? Make people feel welcome. A warm, genuine smile and friendly attitude give people the impression that you're glad they came.
2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT? Greet your guests as soon as possible, introduce yourself and learn the guest's name through conversation. People appreciate being noticed and referred to by their name. It's a valuable connection.
3. ACCOMMODATE ? Within reason, all requests should be filled regardless of the hassle. People appreciate being catered to, it's at the heart- of great hospitality.
4. LOOK YOUR BEST ? Appearance affects the impression you make aid speaks volumes about your degree of professionalism. Looking your best will be rewarded by guests.
5. PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE ? You should be able to accurately answer any guest's question regarding the menu or a specific product. Looking for someone else to provide Information diminishes your standing with guests.
6. SUGGESTIVE SALES ? Your suggestions .and recommendations enhance the guests' overall experience. It also boosts your ticket average, from which your gratuity is calculated.
7. COMMUNICATE ? Vague and imprecise information can lead to miscommunication and guests' expectations going unfulfilled. Effective listening and communication skills when handling guests' questions and complaints is extremely effective when it comes to keeping the guests experience positive.
6. ANTICIPATE? Service excellence requires anticipating a guest's need before it arises. Offering a second, drink or cocktail, refilling water glasses or breads baskets, even supplying condiments without being asked are all good examples. It's a much appreciated consideration.
9. STRESS-FREE SERVICE ? It may be busy and you're in the weeds, but It's not the guest's responsibility to perceive your plight. People seem to be most demanding when you can least afford It. but transferring that stress onto your guests dampens their evening. Challenge yourself and raise the bar.
10. TEAMWORK ? Cooperation and teamwork will inevitably bail you out in a time of need. Providing support to fellow employees improves the working environment and leads to a consistently higher standard of service.
Tips and techniques learned at bartending schools such as the National Bartending Institute should not be forgotten when working at the bar. When remembered, a bartender can double income instantly.
Both Phoenix Delray & Jeff Beale are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Phoenix Delray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Hair Styles, Cars and Hair Styles. To know more about finding the right , please visit our website.. Phoenix Delray's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.
Jeff Beale has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing, SEO Search Engine Optimization and Marketing. The National Bartending Institute is a private hospitality school devoted to the training of personnel for the bartending profession in the Atlanta Georgia area. More about the school can be found at. Jeff Beale's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.