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If you have ever thought about working as a bartender full or part time, here is some basic information.

Bartending jobs can be very profitable. According to Indeed.com a national job listing web site, the average bartender can earn up to $66,000 annually. Bartenders work for a salary and tips. The tips can often be substantial. One of the great things about bartending is that in a short time you can professionally trained and ready to work.

Bartending requires public contact. The best bartenders like to deal with people. A major portion of a bartender’s income comes from the tips from customers and good customer service skills are important.

Where Bartending Jobs Are

Every establishment serving alcoholic beverages needs a bartender. Bartending job opportunities exist in many different types of businesses including:

* Bars

* Casinos

* Caters

* Convention centers

* Country Clubs

* Cruise Ships

* Golf Clubs

* Hotels

* Meeting and special event venues

* Night Clubs

* Private clubs

* Private Parties

* Pubs

* Restaurants

* Resorts

Bartending Job Qualifications

Age

In many states you have to be 21 years or older to purchase alcoholic beverages, many states allow bartenders to be 18 years old to bartender. In New York and New Jersey it’s 18.

Schedule

There are many different work schedules for bartenders. Bartenders are needed anytime an establishment is open for business, Evening and weekend schedules are the most frequent but day schedules also exist. If you’re looking for a part time job, there are many weekend opportunities.

Physical Demands

Bartending can be hard work. Bartenders stand for extended periods of time, and sitting isn’t allowed during shifts. Bartending can involve lifting and stocking cases of beer, wine, and liquor.

Learn More on how you can start your new successful career in bartending

If you are looking to start a new career in Bartending, then attending a qualified bartenders school is a must.

Learn how to bartend at our American Bartending Schools with locations in New York, New Jersey and Palm Springs.

The most popular drink recipes change every year and 2009 was no exception. New liquors cocktail drink recipes are introduced and promoted by the distilling companies every year. At American Bartending Schools our batending course always teachs the most popular drink recipes . These are the top 10 most requested cocktail drink recipes of 2009. We have over 300 more cocktail drink recipes at bartenders guide drink recipe pages. Many of the recipes have how to videos that are available for your bartending pleasure.

Apple Martini or Appletine

• 2 oz Vodka

• 1 oz Apple Schnapps

• Cherry garnish

Long Island Ice Tea

• 1/2 oz Vodka

• 1/2 oz Gin,

• 1/2 oz Rum

• 1/2 oz Triple Sec

• Fill with sweet/sour and coke

• Garnish with a lemon wedge

Mai Tai

• 1/2 oz Rum

• 1/2 oz Triple Sec

• 1/2 oz Crème de almond

• 1/2 oz Dark Rum floated on top

• 1 oz each sweet/sour, pineapple and orange juice

• Garnish with cherry

Cosmopolitan

• 1oz Vodka

• 1/2 oz Triple Sec

• 1/2 oz Roses Lime Juice

• Splash cranberry juice

Jolly Rancher

• 1 oz. vodka

• 1 oz. Midori or melon liquor

• Splash of cranberry juice

Chocolate Martini

• Rim cocktail glass with coco power

• Coat inside of cocktail glass with chocolate syrup

• 2 oz Vodka

• 1/2 oz Chocolate Liqueur

Amaretto Sour

• 1½ oz. Amaretto

• 2 oz. Sour mix

Sex on the Beach

• 1 oz Vodka

• 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps

• Fill 1 oz each of orange juice and cranberry juice

Zombie

• 1/2 Rum

• 1/2 oz Triple Sec

• 1/2 oz Crème de almond

• 1/2 oz Dark Rum floated on top

• 1 oz each of sweet/sour, orange juice and pineapple juice

• Garnish with a cherry

Vodka Martini

• 2 oz vodka

• dash dry vermouth

• olive garnish

Go to your local club and you’ll see the recent shot craze, the bomb shot. This is the hottest craze of cocktail alcoholic mixed drinks since prohibition. This new cocktail drink trend offers a variety of enticing options for shot lovers. Try out these new and old recipes to find your favorite. Although Red Bull is the most mentioned energy drink in recipes, any energy drink will work.

Warning, these drinks are powerful and drinking and driving after a few of these can be dangerous. Best to be sampled when you’re not driving.

Bombs. The energy drink, shot of liquor combination that will keep you up all night and never let you down. Which one is your favorite? The Irish Car Bomb? The Jager Bomb? The Obama? No matter what you like, there’s bound to be a shot out there for you. The concept of the bomb shot is a no brainer. Take a shot of liquor, and drop it into a cup filled about half

way with a “wash.” Shots can be taken either “clean,” dropping the shot into a cup, or “dirty,” pouring the shot directly into the wash.

New glassware has been invented to make the shots easier for bartenders to make and more fun for you to drink. Plastic bomb cups, or bombers, are as cheap as other plastic cups, and now there are companies that sell a plastic bomb shot glass that separates the two main ingredients by pouring one on top of the other. This type of glassware is easier to use but more expensive to purchase.

The Jager Bomb

The grand daddy of bomb shots is the Jager Bomb. It gets its name from the German liquor Jagermeister which is made from 56 different ingredients. Many describe as tasting like cough medicine. You decide.

The recipe is simple. A shot of Jagermeister dropped in half a glass of Red Bull, this shot is famous worldwide.

• Can of Red Bull

• 1 shot of Jagermeister

Pour Red Bull into a glass. Drop shot of Jagermeister into glass.

The Obama

Named for the president of the United States. Smother and better tasting than the Jagermeister.

• Can of Red Bull

• 1 oz of Bacardi O

• Splash of Orange Juice

Combine Red Bull and splash of orange juice into glass. Drop shot of Bacardi O into glass.

Irish Car Bomb

A hearty bomb that is guaranteed to give you that good feeling. Especially popular on St. Paddy’s Day or at Irish funerals.

• 3/4 pint Guinness Stout

• 1/2 oz Irish Creme

• 1/2 oz Jameson Irish whiskey

Pour the Irish Creme into the shot glass first and then slowly add the Jameson Irish Whisky. Fill a pint glass ¾ with Guinness. Drop the shot glass into the Guinness.

Fruit Flavored Bombs

Fruit flavored bombs come in a wide variety of flavors. Pick your favorite fruit flavor and there’s probably a liquor flavor. Cherry seems to be the most popular, but any flavored liquor will work.

Cherry Bomb

• 1 oz Cherry vodka

• Can of Red Bull

Pour Red Bull into a glass. Drop shot of cherry vodka into glass.

Pouring Beer Basics

Draft beer is a big seller in bars and it’s important that bartenders pour correctly. Bartending is not only about mixing

drinks because beer sales are a substantial part of customers request. Draft beer drinkers are typically aware of how their drink is poured because it affects the total draft beer drinking experience. If you like draft beer, pay attention to the presentation and how the bartender pours it. To the uneducated eye, pouring a draft beer appears simple. Place a glass or pitcher up to the tap and pull the handle. Although it appears simple, these are a few things be aware of.

1. Always use a beer clean glass

When a glass hasn’t been cleaned properly leftover residue can leave an off-taste and ruin the beer drinkers experience. A dirty glass not only can affect the taste but also affects the carbonation.

2. Hold the glass at a 45 degree angle

When pouring a beer, from the tap, bottle or can, hold the glass at an 45 degree angle. When pouring from a the tap, pull the tap quickly and fully and allow the beer to flow freely. The beer will hit the middle of the glass and this method will allow the beer to flow down to the bottom of the glass. This method guarantees the proper head. When the glass is 2/3 full of beer, straighten the glass out and hold it upright.

3. Look for the right amount of foam

A good head on the beer helps a beer drinker notice the flavors and aroma. Aim for a half inch of head in a glass. Create more of a foamy head. by adding distance between the tap and the glass,

4. Take your time

Some beers require more time for the perfect pour. Guinness is an example. Guinness experts suggest using the two-part pour or double-pour method for this thick and nitrogenous stout. Pour the beer about 2/3 of the way up the glass and wait 30 seconds. this helps the nitrogen bubbles in the beer settle.

American Bartending School’s bartending class teaches these important points on beer. Keep these things in mind the next time you want a great tasting draft beer. If you’re interested in what’s happening in the bar industry, check out creative bartending.

Thanksgiving is coming and if you are having a dinner party try some special cocktails to please your guest. Our master bartenders at American Bartenders School have worked over time to come with these taste tempting mixed drinks recipes. Do something different and offer these delicious drinks that will complement your Thanksgiving or other holiday feasts.  Try them as an after dinner dessert drink at any of your holiday or winter gatherings. 100’s of other cocktail drink recipes  and bartending videos at our bar guide and drink recipe sections of our website.
Pumpkin Delight

1. ½ oz vanilla vodka
2. ½  part Kahlua
3. ½ part Irish Crème
4. A dash of pumpkin pie spice
5. Shake with ice and serve in stemmed Martini glass

Turkey Trot

1. 1 oz Grand Marnier
2. Splash of  Cherry Sprite
3. Fill with cranberry juice
4. Serve in tall glass with ice

Turkey Shooter

1. ¾ oz Wild Turkey
2. ¾ oz Peppermint Schnapps

Cranberry Surprise

1. 2 oz cranberry juice
2. ¾ oz  Chambord
3. ¾ oz light rum
4. 2 oz canned cranberries
5. Blend ingredients and garnish with mint leave

Baked Apple Treat

1. ¾ oz whisky
2. ¾ oz apple schnapps
3. 3 oz warm apple cider
4. Garnish with a Cinnamon stick
5. Warm the apple cider in a cup or glass mug.

Hot Apple Pie

1. 1 oz light  rum

1. ½  Chambord or raspberry schnapps
2. 2 oz cranberry juice
3. 2 oz apple juice
4. Slice of  a piece of apple and hang it on the side of the glass. Mix all ingredients, except for the sliced apple in a tall glass and heat in the microwave for about 20 to 30 seconds, or until warm.

Thanksgiving Punch

1. ½ oz  apple schnapps
2. ½ oz ginger schnapps
3. ½ oz dark run  spiced rum
4. 2 oz eggnog
5. Shake with ice and strain into stemmed cocktail glass

Hundreds of cocktail drink recipes and drink recipe videos are available for you at our website American Bartending School Bartending Guide

This is a question that most people who are thinking about becoming a bartender ask.

Bartenders work for a salary and tips. The salary is between $8 and$10 per hour plus tips in most areas. The hourly salary may be higher or lower depending minimum wage laws. One

of the most attractive things about bartending is the potential for tips. According to the “CNN Summer Tipping Guide “2009, a patron should tip $1 a drink or 15%-20% of bar bill before tax. Some customers may tip more or less depending on the level of service and the demeanor of the bartender. On a busy shift a bartender can serve several hundred drinks. A good night’s salary for a busy bartender may be between $300 and 400 in tips and their hourly salary. This is one of the primary reasons bartending is attractive to people who like night life and don’t mind hard work.

What each bartender earns depends on numerous factors. The most important is good customer service skills. Other important things are

• How busy the establishment is.

• What shift they work.

• What days they work.

• Do the servers tip out the bartenders at the end of the shift and share 15% of their total beverage tips with the bartender. This is a practice where the bartender works the service bar and primarily makes drinks for customers sitting at tables and not at the bar.

• How good is their customer service skills

• Do they acknowledge customers when they arrive or want another drink?

• Do they greet customers with a smile and a friendly hello?

• Do they ask how there drink is after the customer has had a chance to taste it.

• Do they say good bye and thank them for coming in

Customers want to have an enjoyable experience. A friendly, polite bartender that takes care of customers is an important part of the success of every establishment. This is why at American Bartenders School the dos and don’ts of customer service are important parts of our bartender training. Good customer service skill can’t be over emphasized. Especially, if the bartender want to rake in the tips.

Have you ever wondered where do all those crazy alcoholic drink names come from? Every time go out to a restaurant, I  see a drink menu that has a long list of alcoholic drink names that have the word martini or the ending tini in the name. Their ingredients little to do with an actual martini recipe. How did this happen? Where do bartenders find these names like Appletine or Chocolatetine? Other examples are the class of cocktail drinks that have sexual connotations like Sex On The Beach, Leg Spreader, or Dirty Red Headed Slut.  We teach many of these drinks at American Bartenders School.

The origin of most cocktail drink names are unknown or based on vague legends and myths, but some follow patterns. These are some of the ways mixologist come up with interesting names.

Alcoholic drink names with Sexual Connotations

They are usually related to a class of alcoholic drink recipes called shots or shooters.  Most of these alcoholic drink recipes use multiple liquors and mixes.  They are drank in one swallow and are meant to create a quick alcoholic buzz. The largest group of new alcohol drink names have to do with sex or profanity.  While many of the alcohol drink names appear to be juvenile, they continue to be popular with young customers according to bartenders in New York City.  Bald Pussy, Blow Job, Absolut Sex, are only a few.

Alcohol Drink Recipe Ingredients

There’s the Sloe Comfortable Screw, that uses Southern Comfort, Sloe gin and orange juice (thus the “Sloe” and “Screw,” as in Screwdriver). Then there is the spin off the Sloe Comfortable Screw Up Against a Wall, which includes Galliano (the “Wall” is short for Harvey Wallbanger that uses Galliano).

Liquors’ Name

Sometimes the liquor determines the name. The Bacardi cocktail was invented by the Bacardi Rum Company. Another example is the shot Absolut Sex . It’s named after the one of the key ingredients Absolut Vodka.

News Events

In the past bartenders often used special events as an excuse to name new cocktails. A example is the Japanese Cocktail, named in the mid-19th century for the first Japanese delegation to arrive in the United States. The Obama Mama, a drink that was advertised in a few Washington D.C. bars after the 2008 victory or President Obama.

Interesting People

Alcoholic drink recipes are named after famous people. The Gin Rickey was named after Colonel Joe Rickey,the Negroni after Count Camillo Negroni and the Ramos Fizz named after a well know New Orleans bartender Carlos Ramos. The Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic drink that became popular in the 30’s and was drink parents ordered for their children.

Places

The Manhattan a famous classic cocktail was named after the Manhattan Club in New York in the late 1800’s where it was first served. Rumor has it that the Russians had a drink called the Chernobyl made from chilled vodka and shard of dry ice.

Another group of names are derived from sequenced numbers name or a variation of the original name. Snake Bite 1, 2 and 3 are good examples. Red Headed Slut and Dirty Red Headed Slut are another.

Now that you have some basic guidelines on naming drinks you need to put on your thinking cap and come up with the next great cocktail name.

Halloween is coming and we have some ghoulish recipes are for your sipping pleasure. These bone chilling cocktail drink recipes are guaranteed to make your Halloween a night to remember. Exercise your bartending and mixlogoy skills to create these scary and devilish drink recipes.

Garnish the drinks with fake spiders, bloody vampire teeth, plastic small skulls and plastic spider webs to terrorize your guest.

Vampire Kiss Martini Drink Recipe

1 ½ oz vodka
1 oz champagne
Float ½ oz Chambord

Rim glass with sugar with red sugar, use food coloring to color sugar. Shake with ice and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.

Vampire Elixir

1 oz vodka
½ oz apricot brandy
2 oz sweet and sour

Shake with ice and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.

Float ½ oz Grenadine on top

Cyptini

1 oz coffee liquor
1 oz vodka
1 oz freshly brewed espresso

Shake with ice and serve in a stemmed cocktail glass and garnish with two coffee beans

Red Death

Cooler, blend or shake
1 ½ oz Vodka
Southern Comfort
Amaretto
Sloe 1 ½ oz Gin
Fill with 1oz each of sweet/sour and orange juice
Dash of Grenadine Syrup

Grim Reaper

4 oz of Guinness Stout
¾ oz espresso flavored vodka
¾ oz white chocolate liquor

Mix vodka chocolate liquor in a shot glass and then pour into pint of Guinness and shoot the entire glass.

Frankentini

1 ½ oz vodka
½ oz green crème de mint
½ oz white crème de cacao

Shake with ice and serve in a stemmed cocktail glass garnish with mint leave

Ghostly Goblin

1 ½ oz vodka
¾ oz Chambord
1 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Orange Juice

Shake with ice and strain. This drink may be served in a stemmed cocktail glass or over ice.

Vampira

1 oz tequila
1 oz passion fruit nectar
1 oz sweet and sour
2 oz blood orange juice

Fill tall glass with ice and stir all the ingredients except the orange juice. Carefully pour the blood orange juice last, allowing it to filter down.

Devil’s Punch

½ oz tequilia
½ oz triple sec
½ oz lemoncello
1 oz sweet and sour
2 oz orange juice

Shake and strain into tall iced glass

Garnish with a cherry and skull’s head

Werewolf’s Delight (non-alcoholic cocktail drink recipe)

1 ½ oz sweet and sour
1 ½ oz orange juice
1 ½ oz pineapple juice
2 oz lemon lime soda

Fill tall glass with ice and float ½ oz grenadine syrup on top.

For more information about bartending in New York, New Jersey or Southern California, please visit or bartending school locations.

A hot new trend in bartending is “molecular mixology“. Molecular mixology is a new funky bartending term used to describe the use of creating drink recipes with non-traditional ingredients. Molecular mixology is the art of taking flavors we are used to ingesting in liquid form and turning them around so we get solid cocktails and alcoholic foams, sprays, and smoke—sensations we don’t typically associate with happy hour. It’s more like cocktail hour at a haunted house.

The name is taken from the cooking term molecular gastronomy. A term that was coined by Hervé This, a French scientist who wrote a book explaining the scientific interaction of food ingredients. He believes it’s important to understand the application of scientific principles to cooking and apparently drink recipes. Mr. This was the attraction at a symposium that Bols Liquors, held for bartenders from around the world on the subject in Paris.

Many of the new drink recipes, don’t make much sense. They may be fine for a bartender tasting competition but don’t ask your local bartender to make it for you. They’re kind of like concept cars, look good at the auto show but are impractical for everyday driving.

This example “molecular drink recipe,” was taken from the L.A. Times. Although this recipe may appear extreme – most molecular cocktail recipes are equally as difficult to make.

The Pickled Pig Molecular Cocktail Recipe

Cucumber simple syrup
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar

Place the chopped cucumber in a heat-resistant bowl and set aside. Place the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Pour the simple syrup into the bowl over the cucumbers. Cool the mixture, then strain. This makes about 1 cup syrup, which will keep for about 1 week, refrigerated.

5 strips slow-cooked bacon
1 teaspoon tri-color peppercorns
1 (750-ml.) bottle Hendrick’s gin

Place the bacon and peppercorns in an open-mouthed container with the gin and set aside for 6 hours to allow the gin to steep. Remove and discard the bacon and peppercorns, then freeze the gin overnight. The next day, remove and discard the frozen “fat cap.” Store the gin in the freezer until needed.

While this new trend in mixology is interesting, I doubt many bartenders will be mixing them.  The ingredients are difficult to find and the drink recipes are labor intensive.