13 Crucial Tools Every Successful Bartender Must Have

By: Jeremy Sherk

“A man is only as good as his tools” is a phrase I’m sure you’ve heard before and it applies to bartending as much as anything else.

You’ll only ever be as good as your tools, so make sure you’re not without them. The quality of your tools can make or break your experience behind the bar so it’s important you take this lesson seriously.

There are countless bartending tools out there. Will you use them all? No. But there are certain tools that every bartender must have. In this first lesson, we’ll be taking a look at those ‘must-have’ tools so pay close attention.

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Bottle Opener
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Now whether you’re working in a low or high volume bar, a bottle opener is not only crucial to your speed, but also your hands!

Imagine opening every bottle of beer ordered with your bare hands… you wouldn’t last the night without seriously doing damage to your palms.

There are many different types of bottle openers out there on the market… everything from a simple ‘key-chain opener’ all the way to a ‘butterfly bottle opener’, you know, like a butterfly knife? Pretty cool.

Find out what works for you. I’ve used the same stainless steel ‘speed opener’ for years now, it does the job (with style) everytime so I’ve had no reason to switch.

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Wine Opener/Corkscrew
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The best, most versatile wine opener is known as the ‘waiter’s wine opener’. It’ll always do the job, even on the most difficult and the most stubborn corks. Compare this to many others out there that often break the cork or have you struggling in front of the customer to get the damn thing open.

A waiter’s wine opener includes a corkscrew (worm), a sharp blade to cut the seal of the wine and also a bottle opener device if you’re desperate for one.

I recommend a ‘two-level’ lever on your opener as well, that’s what I personally use. Mine has never failed me in opening a bottle of wine.

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Cocktail Shaker
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This is the stainless steel thingy you see bartenders pour ingredients into for a martini or shooter and shake vigorously. This is a must-have for all bartenders.

A good rule of thumb for cocktails is, the colder it is, the better it tastes. Why else would bartenders concoct a drink by pouring pre-chilled ingredients into a shaker with ice, shaking like crazy and then serving it in a chilled glass? Because you want every part of the process to be ‘chilling’ to prevent any ‘warming’ of the cocktail.

There are two types of shakers out there:

1) Standard Shaker

This is a three-piece stainless steel shaker that has the strainer built into it. I find the Standard Shaker is not as common among professional, working bartenders.

It consists of the shaker tin, lid with strainer and cap. Perhaps it’s more complicated design with smaller parts discourages working bartenders from using this more often. But it will do the job just as well as the…

Bartender Tools

2) Boston Shaker

From my experience, the Boston Shaker is actually more standard among professional bartenders. This one is simply a shaker tin with a separate mixing glass that’s slightly smaller in size. It’s a two-piece device that you simply seal together to shake the cocktail.

The tendency is seal it as tight as you can and proceed to shake, although this is not necessary as you can often seal it too tight, and then not be able to open it when you’re done shaking and ready to pour the concoction.

If you’re ever in this situation, use the edge of the bar and clip the overlapping metal lip (which will always be on the outside, as the glass is always smaller and fits inside) against the edge of the bar. You can also ‘twist’ them apart, that will often break the seal too.

But avoid all that by fitting them together nice and snug instead of as tight as you can.

You can purchase shaker sets in all types of different sizes and styles, but they pretty much fall into one of the two types listed above.

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Strainer
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Again, you’ll find many different types of strainers on the market. But the only kind I’ve ever used and would want to use is the Hawthorn Strainer.

You know, it’s that real funny looking stainless steel thing with the handle and the spring coil. The purpose behind the spring coil on the strainer is so you can fit it into all types of different shaped glasses. So it’s a very versatile tool.

I should mention that when using a shaker I often do not use a strainer. I use the Boston Shaker and simply crack a tiny opening in the seal between the two and pour out the concoction ‘cracked egg’ style.

If you’re more of a visual learner like me, Tom Cruise does this when pouring his ‘Turquoise Blue’ Martini for Gina Gershon in the two floor NYC nightclub in the movie Cocktail.

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Coasters
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Not every bar uses coasters. But it’s a good thing to have. They’ll prevent a lot of unnecessary wet spots or ‘rings’ on the bar from moisture off the side of the glass.

I’ve worked in slower, classier places where using them is mandatory. I’ve also worked in higher volume nightclubs where you don’t use coasters because you’re wiping the bar down every five minutes anyway, so why bother? Which leads me to…

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Bar Towel (Rag)
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A fresh, clean set of bar towels is something every bartender needs. In high volume places, the bar is constantly needing a wipe down from spilt drinks, drink rings, sticky shooter glasses, etc.

I like to have a minimum of four, strategically placed wet bar towels in my working area at all times.

One thing I teach you in Bartending Secrets Exposed is to have everything systemized. You want things as seemingly insignificant as location of your bar rag to be the same every night. You don’t want to think about where it is everytime you need it, you want it to be second nature, you want to be able to grab it without even looking!

The party can often get sloppy so you must have your bar rags close at hand.

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Ice Scoop
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Forcefully cutting through and scooping your ice with an actual glass is a very stupid thing to do. Yet I see bartenders do it all the time. I don’t even recommend you ‘gently and carefully’ scoop the ice with the glass. There’s just too much margin for error.

If you chip the glass, and you know it, you’re spending the next ten minutes emptying and refilling your ice well. If you don’t know it, and you happen to serve a customer a drink garnished with glass shavings you could be in some serious trouble.

Using a metal ice scoop is mandatory as a bartender. It really doesn’t take more time to scoop ice with a separate scoop. You can also do some fancy tricks once you get good too.

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Jigger/Measuring Glass
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If you work in a bar that allows free pouring, you won’t be needing this handy tool. But in most regions of North America free pouring is illegal and you’re required to use some sort of measuring device, whether it’s an automatic or manual device all depends on where you work.

While I’m not a believer in the automatic devices you see nowadays, using a shot glass or jigger (manual device) to measure the amount of alcohol you pour into each drink is what I’ve always done as a bartender.

For those of you who work at places with extremely tight inventory control. I offer you an amazing ‘overpour fake’ technique in Bartending Secrets Exposed to keep the ‘tip friendly’ relationship with your customers while keeping your integrity with the boss. Click here to get it now!

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Garnish Picks
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Skewers, plastic swords picks, arrow picks… or whatever you want to call them… are for those exclusive garnishes like olives and cherries. They really add to the presentation of a drink and are a must-have for those customers you want to really impress.

Whether it’s giving the customer three olives with their martini or an orange slice and a cherry with one of my seductive martinis, I always have a supply of garnish picks close at hand.

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Pour Spouts
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Whether you free pour or not, a bar that deals with any type of volume and has any interest in inventory control should have these on all of the high moving liquor bottles. There are many different styles of pour spouts out there:

-plastic
-metal
-neon
-glow in the dark
-slow pour (3 seconds per ounce)
-fast pour
-screened
-flapped
-measured

All have some associated benefit or gimmick. But I like things simple so I use the metal ‘slow pour’ spouts on all my liqueurs and the metal ‘fast pour’ spouts on all my well liquor which I’m using a shot glass for anyway. Why wait three seconds when you’re measuring with a glass already?

Time truly is money in this industry.

Now at this point you might be thinking, “Jeremy, you’re talking about the kind of tools and supplies the bar should be supplying, you’re making it sound like I have a choice on what kind of pour spouts I use.”

Realize I don’t want you to go out and start buying pour spouts and garnish picks. Those expenses should be left to the bar you’re working for. But remember that YOU’RE the one working the bar, not the manager. If the bar where you work has crappy pour spouts and doesn’t even use garnish picks, it’s up to you to suggest it!

I believe it’s your choice. After all, you’re the one using it, right? Managers will always be open to suggestions if it will improve your speed and performance, thus, increase sales.

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Straws
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This is obvious, but you should always have straws close at hand. The bigger or more you give the customer, the better. You control the speed at which your customers drink by how many straws you give them. Make ‘em drink fast so you increase your sales (which equals more tips).

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Lighter/Matches & Pens
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Ask any bartender out there and they’ll agree that besides ‘a drink’, you’ll be asked for ‘a light’ or a pen more than anything else.

So what’s the best thing you can do??? Have them close at hand!

Have a ton of pens to lend, because you may not always get them back and you always want to have enough. Also, always have a load of matchbooks to give to customers in need.

I also recommend you have a sleek butane lighter of your own for customers needing a light right at your bar and also when flaming drinks are necessary.

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Tip Jar
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Last, but certainly not least is to have your own tip jar.

While I go into extreme detail in Bartending Secrets Exposed on the true art and science of the tip jar, what I’ll tell you here is that having one is a must! You’re losing tips without one!

Have your own, preferably a wine carafe. The tapered neck of a wine carafe means once a tip is in the jar, it’s in. You won’t have any hands dipping in to swipe your hard earned tips, which can often happen in a busy nightclub.

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The author of this article, Jeremy Sherk, is an expert, world-class bartender who has helped

thousands of bartenders land their dream job and explode their level of cash tips.

Rather than hitting your head against a brick wall trying to succeed on your own, let him take

you by the hand and show you exactly how to land the bartending job of your dreams making

hundreds in cash per night! 100% Guaranteed! Click here now for all the details!

For a great selection of Bartender Tools, check out the Tip20! Bar Store!

The 3 Biggest Lies Of Bartending

By: Jeremy Sherk

In my time as a bartender, I’ve come across what I like to call the “3 Biggest Lies of Bartending”.

A long time ago before I set foot into this industry, I was convinced by others that the following were “requirements” in order to become a successful bartender.

Well, I’ve had great success in this industry as a bartender, and let me tell you, I got there without any of the so called “requirements”listed below, and you can too.

So here they are…

Bartending Lie #1 – You need to know hundreds of drink recipes to be a great bartender.

Nothing could be further from the truth! I make the same twenty drinks every night at the nightclub I currently work.

Sure, there are drinks other than those twenty that get requested once in awhile… but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

…if I get “stumped”, I’ll ask the bartender I’m working with, look it up in the recipe guide, or ask the customer.

Yeah, that’s right, if all else fails, ASK THE CUSTOMER how to make it. There’s no need to have an ego around this. If the customer doesn’t know, I’ll try and narrow down a color/flavor and make them one of my specialties. (which they end up liking better anyway)

No matter what type of establishment you work or want to work at, they’ll have a base of twenty or so drinks that are asked for, not hundreds.

Sure, it’s nice to have a some killer drink recipes up your sleeve when someone asks “make me something good”. But you don’t have to know hundreds of drinks before you step behind the wood. There’s no need to numb your brain studying recipe books in order to become a money-making bartender.

Bartending Lie #2 – You need a Bartending “Certificate” or “License” to bartend.

I’m not sure where this concept came into existence (although it sure benefits bartending schools). But there is absolutely, positively NO LAW that requires you to have a license or certificate to bartend.

Now, many states and provinces require an alcohol awareness certification to ensure responsible service. But this is required by all service staff in the industry and is issued by the government for a fraction of the cost of a bartending school tuition.

I’ve got nothing against bartending schools, they are a great way to get your foot in the door and get confident behind the bar… but their “certificates” aren’t mandatory in order to bartend.

Bartending Lie #3 – You need to “pay your dues” and work as a bar back for years in order to bartend at a hot spot raking in the big bucks.

This is absolute bull! I know so many bartenders that got behind the bar faster than you can imagine… including myself.

If you think it takes years, it will take you years. If you believe there’s a better and faster way, you’ll find one. Either way, you’ll prove yourself right.

If you’re looking for proven strategies for landing your dream job as fast and easy as possible, then check out my highly acclaimed Bartending Secrets Exposed program.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, saying you’d like to become a bartender “someday”. Then I hope the truth revealed here will inspire you to get up and get going to make it happen.

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The author of this article, Jeremy Sherk, is an expert, world-class bartender who has helped

thousands of bartenders land their dream job and explode their level of cash tips.

Rather than hitting your head against a brick wall trying to succeed on your own, let him take

you by the hand and show you exactly how to land the bartending job of your dreams making

hundreds in cash per night! 100% Guaranteed! Click here now for all the details!

Becoming An Extraordinarily Fast Bartender – Part 2

By: Jeremy Sherk

ef·fi·cien·cy [i-fish-uhn-see]
n. pl. ef·fi·cien·cies

1. accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with a minimum expenditure of time and effort.
2. The ratio of the effective or useful output to the total input in any system.
3. The ratio of the energy delivered by a machine to the energy supplied for its operation.

As a bartender, if you can churn out drinks with minimum expenditure of time and effort… you will make ridiculous amounts of cash and have the option to work at virtually any establishment you like.

In Part 1, we spoke of ways you can increase you speed. All speed requires is the decision to… well… move fast. However, increasing efficiency requires more time and preparation than simply deciding to turn it up a notch… and that’s exactly why many bartenders collapse under the pressure of being thick in the weeds… because they fail to take the time to prepare their bar for maximum efficiency.

Be Organized and Efficient

So how do you become more efficient?

1) Contemplation

Look at your bar surroundings:

Is there anything that can be improved?

Is there a certain action you hate doing, because it eats up so much time?

Now, while you may not be in a position to start reconstructing shelf and fridge space to suit your needs, such a minor change, like the location of your shot glasses, can make a drastic difference to the amount of effort you expend in during a shift.

And if you are in a position to influence bar reconstruction, do it if it will increase your bar’s efficiency! The bottom line is, become aware of your bar’s environment and make changes if necessary.

2) Preparation

Showing up 30 minutes earlier to prepare for your shift can make a world of difference to your night. Extra preparation time BEFORE your shift will result much less time and effort expended DURING your shift.

3) Systems

Systems allow you to execute without thinking, and that’s exactly what you want as a bartender. You shouldn’t have to “think” about where to reach for your grapefruit juice when someone orders a Seabreeze. It should be automatic. It should be second nature.

Have you ever seen a bartender buckle under the pressure of a mob of customers all screaming for a drink? Well, it’s not a pretty sight.

When every action is second nature, you can keep your cool easily, even when it gets crazy. Systems mean you follow the same procedure each time. You don’t do things randomly and sporadically, you do them the same, everytime! Everything from the way you set up your bar, to the sequential order you make drinks, etc.

4) Organization

While organization is a requirement of a good system. It’s important to stay organized throughout the night. Especially if your work alongside other bartenders.

Put things back in their place. Make sure you’re on the same page as your co-workers. It drove me nuts when I used to work with bartenders who didn’t put things back, or worse, because of their lack of preparation, have to come to my well/work area and grab a bottle.

As an efficient bartender, you will pull in the highest sales, and create the most enjoyable experience for your customers. Instead of dreading “the weeds”, you will welcome the craziness of working in a busy establishment because you know you can handle it.

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The author of this article, Jeremy Sherk, is an expert, world-class bartender who has helped thousands of bartenders land their dream job and explode their level of cash tips.

Rather than hitting your head against a brick wall trying to succeed on your own, let him take you by the hand and show you exactly how to land the bartending job of your dreams making hundreds in cash per night! 100% Guaranteed! Click here now for all the details!

Becoming An Extraordinarily Fast Bartender – Part 1

By: Jeremy Sherk

Your speed and efficiency behind the bar is crucial to your level of tips as well as the quality of bar you can work at…

So, how does one become a faster bartender?

Speed and efficiency are the two primary ingredients of a “fast” bartender. Efficiency is working “smarter”, exerting raw speed is working “harder”.

With that said… please do not underestimate the importance of speed. Both efficiency AND speed are crucial to becoming a fast, money-making bartender. Just because you’re efficient doesn’t mean you can slack it behind the bar, being efficient simply means you won’t be wasting any effort.

If you’ve ever been “in the weeds”, you know that there’s no time to waste… you’re flying and moving as quickly as possible! Having a systematized, efficient bar setup will allow your night to flow… you’ll be able to effortlessly stay in the zone without hitting any unnecessary “speed-bumps”. Being “in the weeds” will no longer take you over. You’ll actually find yourself relishing the opportunity to be behind the bar when it gets crazy!

Increasing your actual speed, like anything, comes with practice. If you’re concerned about your speed, try practicing pouring shots over your kitchen sink at home.

Does this sound crazy? Well, in my early days I did exactly that. I would fill up an empty liquor bottle with water, stick a pour spout in it, and just crank out shots as fast as possible.

Doing this for just 10 minutes a day will drastically increase your shot pouring speed in as little as a week!

You can also try setting up a few different bottles with water to more closely resemble an actual behind-the-bar experience… where you’re moving back and forth, grabbing different bottles, etc.

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The author of this article, Jeremy Sherk, is an expert, world-class bartender who has helped thousands of bartenders land their dream job and explode their level of cash tips.

Rather than hitting your head against a brick wall trying to succeed on your own, let him take you by the hand and show you exactly how to land the bartending job of your dreams making hundreds in cash per night! 100% Guaranteed! Click here now for all the details!