Getting the right mix in drinks and service is the essence of a bartender’s job. Sam Saimon shares some insights.
What's In Bartending
‘Bartenders have to run the bar, take care of stocks and customers and train newer bartenders. When I was younger, I thought bartenders had charisma and charm. When I became one myself, I realized it’s not as easy as it looks. There are a lot of cocktail recipes to remember and you need to have leadership skills.
Training
‘F&B Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training helps equip aspiring bartenders with the necessary competencies. Where I work, we also have in-house training to familiarize all with our procedures and how to mix drinks.
Bartending Experiences
‘Usually, we are very popular at parties. People will ask questions like, how do you mix this drink? Or what’s the recipe for that cocktail. But mostly I get, what’s the drink with the highest alcohol percentage or the strongest drink for $5?’
‘Ours is not necessarily a profession for wild kids and party animals. This is a safe job. There is security in the clubs and transportation to take you home after work.’
‘If I could, I would bring in more foreign talent. We can learn so much from them. My Taiwanese bartender friends are experts at cutting garnishes – they can cut apples into butterflies! Japanese bartenders make snowballs from ice, which they serve in whiskey on the rocks.’
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