Masters of Bartending

Okay, so here is something to check out. Go to MSN on line and find the video clip "Things bartenders want you to stop doing" it's from the buzz feed link. Pretty funny, and very accurate.

From our "Did you Know Dept."......
Did you know that wine is the oldest alcoholic beverage in the world. As a matter of fact people discovered wine several thousands of years ago. So why does wine go back in history long before other adult beverages? It's in the the skins man! No aging needed. With beer and wine it is the yeast that converts it to alcohol. Beer it has to be added with the grains. But wine is made from grapes and guess what is in the skins of grapes.......you guessed it, yeast. Thus, before the world knew what yeast was, people discovered that crushed grapes would turn to wine, complete with alcohol.

And there you have it. The first alcoholic drink!

So I have long been wondering something. People that ride bicycles and called cyclists and people the ride motorcycles are called bikers. Yet bikers go to a cycle shop and cyclist go to a bike shop??
Any thoughts?

I know, I know, what does that have to do with bartending......

Time for a "Recipe of the Week"..................

Long Island Iced Tea For some of you that know me well, you might know that I am originally from the metro of New York City. Over my years behind the bar, I always took great pride in making an excellent L.I. Tea. The concept here was to throw a bunch of different liquors in a glass, add some sweet mixer, and see what it tasted like. The original recipe used the 5 white or clear bottles in the well. Vodka, gin, rum, triple sec and tequila. The problem here is the tequila. Outside of the triple sec it does not mix well with these other liquors. So the recipe has evolved into vodka, gin, rum and triple sec. Add sour mix for sweetness and it taste very similar to iced tea. Thus, Coke was added for color. If the tequila is added, it is called a Texas Tea. So the traditional recipe now calls for 1/2oz. of the four liquors listed here then about 2 or 2 1/2oz. of sour mix and the about 1oz. of coke on top. Serve this in a tall glass 12oz. up to maybe 16oz. max, though 12 is about the standard. Garnish this with a lemon wedge or slice. In the mixing method for this you must remember to shake this drink, and do so before you add the coke. This is primarily because of the Sour Mix. That much sour mix in a recipe always requires to shake it. So use the shaker tin and give it 2 or 3 good shakes. You know it will be enough when the sour mix will create a little foam on the top. Now, let me give you a special variation I have created in this mixture. I have figured out that I can vary this recipe to improve the flavor.

The main problem here is the gin. Too much gin makes it taste too dry, but we need the gin for the dry flavor of the tea. So, what I did was use 1oz. of triple sec, 3/4oz. of vodka and rum, and then 1/4oz. of the gin. The other issue I had was too much sour mix made it too tart. No tea has that much lemon in it. So I would use about 1/2 the amount of sour mix and then add more coke on the top. Just an option you might want to try to compare. So there it is. The #1 from the NYC metro.

Cheers,
Flipper

Thoughts for a Monday.............
As we begin another week and enjoy the last warmer days before we sink into the depths of winter, this comes to mind........
"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. Creeps at this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time. And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle!! Life is but a walking shadow. A poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the STage! And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot. Full of Sound and FURY!......signifying nothing.

Shakespeare's Macbeth

So it's time for a "Joke of the Week"................
A Neutron walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender sets the beer down and the Neutron says "How Much?" And the bartender says "For you, no charge!"

Thank you, thank you very much.
I think I love you.........

Time for a "Recipe of the Week."............actually I thought I had posted this yesterday, but I guess it didn't go through. So here we go

B-52
The B-52 is a classic example of a good tasting layered cordial. Always remember that the ingredients go in heaviest on the bottom to lightest on the top. This is where your specific gravity chart will come in handy. In addition to its good flavor, a B-52 is good practice for spoon floating. Kahlua will be on the bottom and Bailey’s will easily float on top of it. However, more care will be needed to float Grand Marnier on top of the Bailey’s. You will need to use a taller, more narrow shot glass, such as the one pictured here. Ideally, the glass for layered cordials is called a pony glass and looks like a narrow tequila shot glass with a stem. The glass that you use should be between 1 and 1 1/2oz. Remember that the three ingredients will be even parts of each. So just use a good eyeball look.

Cheers,
Flipper

Thoughts for a Sunday.............

So I am sure that there a good deal of people out here as excited as I am for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. And what a performance they displayed in the Big Ten Championship against Wisconsin, while fighting through all the adversity that they had to deal with. So with all that in mind............

"I have yet to be in a game where luck was involved. Well prepared players make plays. I have yet to be in a game where the most prepared team didn't win."
Urban Meyer

So as many of you know, Masters of Bartending offers both training for bar staffs as well as classes for people learning to bartend from scratch. That is 3 classes a week for 3 weeks and covers all aspects of bartending.

For the next month I am offering training for Bartending with free financing or a reduced rate for paying in advance. With the skills you will learn and the contacts I have, anyone taking the classes will be well in their way to making good money and having fun Bartending. Check out the website: themastersofbartending.com or reply back here for more info

Flu

The Masters of Bartending themastersofbartending.com

Here is one way to make shopping at WalMart fun!

Time for a "Recipe of the Week!"

For this week, I have chosen an old classic whiskey cocktail. There are really two very traditional whiskey cocktails. The first is the Manhattan, which is essentially a whiskey drinker's martini. And then we have the "Old Fashioned." For people that would like whiskey on the rocks, but don't want the pure whiskey flavor, maybe something sweeter without using the standard sour mix, this is the best option. The "Old Fashioned" has been making a comeback in recent years as people are having fun rediscovering old traditional drinks like this.

Old Fashioned This is a classic old cocktail when done right has a great taste. The idea is to offer a whiskey drinker a sweetened drink on the rocks. In the drink you will be muddling fruit, sugar and bitters in one step. Then add the ice and then pour the whiskey. The customer can have their choice of blended, bourbon or maybe even scotch. Don’t forget the bitters or the fruit on top. It is not same without them.

So we use a rocks glass for this 4 1/2 to 6oz.). There is also an actual old fashioned glass created for this drink. So in the glass you first place a cherry and an orange slice. I like to use just half the slice unless you are using the old fashioned glass which is larger. On top of the fruit, you use a bar spoon or 1 pack of sugar and a dash (2 shakes) of angostura bitters. Add a splash of club soda to help dissolve the sugar and then use a muddler to mash the fruit and dissolve the sugar. Next add the ice (remember, this is after the muddling). Then add 1 1/2 to 2oz. of whiskey. Then top with about 1/2 oz. of Club Soda. You can garnish with the other half of the orange slice and another cherry. Serve with a sip stick. And there you have it. The Old Fashioned.

Cheers,
Flipper

Thoughts for a Sunday...............

So it is the end of November, and every football game becomes very important from here to January. As I have watched a big Buckeye win over their rival, I have also viewed various interesting games this weekend. My thoughts in all of this turn to great motivation and efforts in the will to win at any costs........

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.

Vince Lombardi