Any time you're hosting a party, it's nice to be able to serve your guests mixed drinks and look like you know what you're doing. Being good at mixing drinks means knowing the names, the types of drinks and each drink's ingredients. Learning how to mix drinks like a bartender takes practice, but if you are interested and dedicated, you can be mixing drinks like a pro in no time.
- Skill level:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things you need
- Alcohol (bourbon, rum, tequila, vodka)
- Mixers
- Glassware (martini, shot glass, collins, highball and coupette glasses)
- Recipe book
- Mixing equipment (pour spouts, ice scoop, shaker, strainer and stirrers)
- Ice
- Garnishes
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1
Purchase the proper supplies. You will need a few different types of alcohol, such as vodka, rum, bourbon and tequila, as well as mixers such as orange, pineapple and raspberry juices, ingredients to make margarita or daiquiri mixes, and sodas such as Coke and Sprite. You will also need equipment such as pour spouts, an ice scoop, a shaker, a strainer, stirrers and the appropriate glasses such as martini glasses, shot glasses, highballs, collins or wide-rimmed coupette glasses.
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2
Purchase a book with drink recipes or research recipes online. Study the recipes for the most popular drinks such as rum and Coke, martinis, margaritas, daiquiris and screwdrivers. Learn the names of the drinks as well, so you are not stumped when someone orders a bloody mary.
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3
Practice using your equipment. Fill the glass you are using with ice to measure the appropriate amount for the drink. Most bartenders fill the glass to the top with ice to reduce the amount of liquor and mixer they will need to use. Pour the ice into your shaker, then add the liquor and other ingredients. For example, to make a margarita on the rocks, fill a wide-rimmed coupette glass with ice and pour the ice into the shaker, then add 4.5 ounces of the margarita mix you made from your recipe book and 1.5 ounces of tequila. Secure the lid on the shaker, shake up the mixture and pour it back into the glass. To spice it up, add a slice of lime as a garnish and insert a stirrer into the glass.
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4
Practice mixing drinks for friends. After learning several recipes and purchasing your liquors, mixers and equipment, invite a few friends over. Make a variety of drinks to show off your knowledge and skill with the ingredients and equipment. Every bartender has had to practice to perfect each drink, and many have gone to bartending school. The best way to mix drinks like a bartender is to practice.
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5
Ask a bartender if he has any tips for you. Some bartenders might even hold classes at their bars. They may teach you how to make certain drinks, flip bottles and let you in on the secrets of perfecting mixed drinks.
Tips and warnings
- Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age.
