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"What do you mean you don't know how to make that?" These are words you, as a bartender, never want to hear from your patrons. It's awful for you, the bar and for your wallet.

Growing up around and in the tavern "bar" business, I have seen my share of cocktails poured. One thing I picked up on the most, the bartender should know everything. No, not just how to fix your life, but how to fix old standby and new, chic cocktails as well.

Your reputation as well as the establishment's depends on your cocktail knowledge, mixing skills and expertise. There are ways to avoid hearing the dreaded question and feeling bad about yourself as a bartender.

Arm yourself with knowledge! Not only should you know how to make simple cocktails but you should also know how they are served such in terms of "blended" (ice is blended within the drink) or "on the rocks" which means over ice and just how much ice (if any) each drink should have.

The first drink that is a must for all bartenders to know how to make in their sleep is a Gin and Tonic and virtually any mix of spirits and soda.

More complex drinks to add to your bar tending venue should be: variations of Martinis, Daiquiris, Old-Fashioned, Manhattans, Long Island Iced Teas, Margaritas, Grasshoppers, Cosmopolitans, Mojito, and toss in a few ice more ice cream drinks and you should be set.

Ideally, a bartender will want to be ready to suit any patron's tastes. However, this is not always the case. In many bars, they simply offer a smaller scope of drinks and make them well. There will be drink menus readily available at many restaurants and bars. It would serve you well to pick one at the place you would like to work.

For larger eating and drinking establishments, a bartender would be well-served to practice making drinks he or she is less familiar with before happy hour or at slower times in the day or evening.

For all other situations, it never fails to have a bartending guide handy or another employee to bail you out, especially if you are a newbie!

If you are willing to learn the old standbys and some of the new, then you will be a fantastic bartender who is on their way to earning some fabulous tips!

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