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urbanmixologist

Bar Knowledge: Tools.

urbanmixologist

A bartender without his/her tools is like a soldier without a rifle. Make sure to keep your equipment clean and ready to use. Here we will cover different types of tools that you will find behind the bar. A great bartender finds pride in his tools and believe me when I say this, that when you start buying, this gets worse than stamp collecting. I started with one jigger and one shaker. Now I barely find space at my station for a new bar gadget.

1. Cocktail Shakers- I know that you know what cocktail shakers are used for, so I will jump right into the different shakers out there.
(From left to right) Cobbler shaker is a three piece shaker with a built it strainer underneath the cap, it is great for making singular cocktails, but sometimes a pain in the ass, as the cap gets stuck and it’s hard to take it off. The second shaker is a two piece Parisian shaker, it is rare, but now more and more bartenders use it. The last shaker is the most practical and common to find, the Boston shaker. It is the easiest to open after shaking and quick to clean. I do recommend using a tin on tin instead of the glass.
2. Jigger- Precision is a must when wanting to be a professional bartender. Obviously it is used to measure out the ingredients before pouring them into your shaker/mixing glass. The most common jigger used has two sides, one being 2oz (60ml) and the smaller being 1oz (30ml), or if you’re in the UK, 50ml/25ml. I highly recommend getting a jigger that also has inside lines giving you more measurements such as ½ oz, ¾ oz, 1½ oz.
3. Hawthorne Strainer- The basic and most commonly used strainer. It’s made to perfectly fit on top of a cocktail tin.
4. Fine (Double) Strainer- A second strainer used to filter out any smaller particles that you don’t want in your drink, such as ice shards or fruit pieces.
5. Bar spoon- Used to stir clear cocktails in a mixing glass. Some of them have a flat end on the other side, which is great for gentle muddling and dissolving sugar with bitters in drinks such as the Old-Fashioned and the Sazerac.
6. Mixing Glass- Altough the fastest way to chill a cocktail when stirring is to use a metal tin, many bartenders use mixing glasses. One simple reason is that it’s appealing to look at. The customer can see all the ingredients mix right in front of him. Mixing glasses are made from thick glass so they don’t shatter so easily and have a pouring spout. They come in different sizes, shapes and designs.
7. Lemon/Lime Squeezer- Wether you squeeze the citrus fresh while making a cocktail or prepare a bottle at the beginning of the shift, the hand held squeezer is a vital tool behind the bar.
8. Muddler- There are many muddlers out on the market varying in shape, material it’s made from and size. When buying a muddler see which one is comfortable for you.
9. Waiter’s Friend- Used to open wine bottle and bottles of beer. Always handy and should be with you at all times.
10. Pairing Knife- Every bartender needs a good, sharp cutting knife behind the bar. Used to cut garnish and make peels.

11. Measuring Spoons- For more precise and smaller measurements that a jigger can’t help you with, get yourself some measuring spoons. They usually measure out 2.5ml, 5ml, 7.5ml, 10ml, 15ml.
12. Fruit Peeler- Used to make thin peels without the pith from oranges and lemons. A definite must for a serious bartender.
13. Julep Strainer- A strainer that is used better for throwing cocktails like ‘sours’, and with mixing glasses. It rests on the ice and not on the edges of the tin/mixing glass, that helps to make a more precise pour.
14. Garnish Tongs- Want to look more professional? Bar tongs are a great and sanitary way to place you garnish on your cocktail without using your hands.
15. Bitters Dasher- Wether you make your own or put in made bitters inside, the bitters dashers are more precise, and look really beautiful on the bar. You can use them for absinthe when needing to coat a glass for a Sazerac or even for Tabasco if you feel like it.
16. Grater/zester- Need to zest a grapefruit skin to make grapefruit bitters? Or maybe you need nutmeg shreds on the surface of your Brandy Alexander? Look no further, and get a mini grater, it will come in useful.
17. Ice Fork- For more advanced bartenders. Ice forks are used to cut ice blocks into any given form. Spheres for a cocktail in a rocks glass or various sized blocks for mixing a drink in a mixing glass.
18. Mallet- Used in professional bars to make crushed ice on the go. I used hand machines to make crushed ice and I can tell you that they suck! It is much easier to put some ice in a canvas bag and crush it with a mallet.
19. Smoke Gun- Now we get to the fun part. Most famous brand being the PolyScience, these guns are made to infuse cocktails with smoke. You place the type of shredded wood you desire into the receptacle, light it on fire, and the machine will suck out the smoke and come out from the rubber pipe. You can store the smoke in a jar, and then infuse it with your ready cold cocktail.
20. Cream Whipper- iSi Cream Whipper brand being the pioneers. This is a tool used to make foams for cocktails and carbonating drinks.
Nitrous Oxide chargers are for foam and infusions and Carbon Dioxide chargers are for carbonating. Try a carbonated Negroni. It’s Amazing!

If you enjoyed this article share it with people and hit that like button! Also if you have any questions or want to share your thoughts please comment below. - UM. Thanks guys!

urbanmixologist

Bar Knowledge: Glassware.

urbanmixologist

You can’t serve an Old fashioned in a coupette glass and you can’t serve a Mojito in a margarita glass. Don’t be an ass, and know you glass. Here is a list of the glassware you have or should have in the bar you work in or your own home bar. Let’s start with the basics…

1. Martini Glass- Used to serve drinks straight up without ice. Most common would be a Martini where the name comes from or the Manhattan.
2. Margarita Glass- A glass stylized like an upside down sombrero should only be used to serve the margarita or any type of margarita variation and nothing else.
3. Pint Glass- Beer and Beer/Cider based mixed drinks. example Black velvet, shandy or Black’n’Tans.
4. Rocks Glass/ Old-Fashioned- Used to serve liquor like good quality vodka or whisk(e)y, and cocktails with ice or neat. Examples of different drinks that go into a rocks glass: Negroni, Old Fashioned, Margarita on the rocks, Sazerac (Neat).
5. Shot Glass- The name itself says it. Used for shots! I imagine everyone knows this and at this point I’m just covering basics for the sake of it.
6. Highball Glass- Used to serve long drinks, aka spirit and mixers, aka highball drinks. Examples are: Screw Driver, Cuba Libre, G&T.
7. Collins Glass- Slightly shorter and wider than the Highball glass, this one is used to serve a good Collins, Fizz, or Rickey.
8. Brandy/ Cognac Glass- Used to serve Brandy/Cognac. Just make sure to swirl hot water inside it before pouring in the spirit. It should be served in a hot glass.
9. Wine Glass- There are different types for white or red wine but this is the standard everyone should be familiar with.
10. Champagne Flute- Used to drink sparkly wine, champagne or serve the following cocktails: French 75, Champagne cocktail.

11. Hurricane Glass- For blended frozen drinks and exotic drinks.
12. Irish Coffee Glass- Thick Glass with a handle used for hot drinks such as the Irish Coffee, Hot Toddy or Hot Buttered Rum.
13. Coupe Glass- The coupette is another great glass with a stem used for ‘straight up’ cocktails like the martini glass. I like to use this one for cocktails containing egg whites.
14. Grappa Glass- Used to enjoy Italian grappa.
15. Absinthe Glass- Thick and beautifully designed glasses used to drink Absinthe. Served with the iconic Absinthe spoon for the sugar.
16. Tiki Glass- There are many types of these glasses around and this is just one of them. They are ceramic and usually depict imagery from Melanesia, Micronesia or Polynesia. They are especially used for ‘Tiki’ style exotic cocktails based on rum blends and fruit juices.
17. Buck Mug- Copper mugs used for Buck style cocktails, the most famous being the Moscow Mule.
18. Julep Cup- Iconic metal cup used only for the Kentucky Mint Julep.
19. Sour Glass- These are not used that much anymore, but they were the official ‘Sour’ glass for sour style cocktails.
20. Tasting Glass- Used by spirit connoisseur’s for tasting fine Scotch or Gin for example.

If you enjoyed this article share it with people and hit that like button! Also if you have any questions or want to share your thoughts please comment below. - UM. Thanks guys!