How to Protect your Drink from Spiking

It’s an unfortunately reality that drinks-spiking is showing no signs of retreating from the dance floor. It’s a reprehensible crime that has been facilitating date-rape for many years now. Rohypnol, ketamine and GHB are the most commonly used “black out” drugs, which are designed to make targets lose consciousness and control of their critical facilities.

These substances are colourless and taste-free, making them very difficult to detect once they ...

Drinking Etiquette from Around the World

In this globalised world, we’re more inclined to share our grog with people from other countries. Indeed, fun, responsible drinking is a marvellous way to bond with other nationalities. It’s the ultimate social lubricant and can pave the way to great intercultural friendships.

This is where drinking etiquette comes in. Each country and culture has its own way of toasting and imbibing. For some, a simple “cheers” suffices. For others, the rules are a little more ...

Brandy for Bartenders

A love of brandy can verge on obsession. Just ask the brandy-aficionados – their eyes mist up at the mere mention of a particularly good Cognac or Armagnac. Their appreciation of good brandy is a sacred endeavour that is never pursued casually. The day will come when someone like this will walk into your bar. And if they do – good luck! Your tips will be reliant on a sound knowledge of all aspects ...

Whiskey Facts for Bartenders

Some people say that whiskey isn’t simply a spirit – it’s an obsession. It’s easy to see why – the practice of whiskey-making is steeped in centuries of tradition. Subtle differences in grain, processing and ageing give rise to startlingly complex results, and have produced some of the world’s most renowned whiskey brands. As a bartender, you’ll be expected to know a little more the basics. Here, then, are whiskey facts for bartenders ...

Vodka Cocktails All Bartenders Should Know

Vodka is the best selling liquor in the world. It is also the most versatile, boasting thousands of cocktail variations ranging from the experimental to the timeless. Popular brands like Absolut and Smirnoff have further contributed to the Russian legend that is vodka. Indeed, no bar can exist without it. Here are some of the most important vodka cocktails for bartenders to know.

Moscow Mule

This dry and light ...

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Whiskey

Are you aiming for that enviable bartending job? Sure, you’re energetic, friendly and hard-working – all of the characteristics of a great bartender. But, can you tell the difference between Scotch and Bourbon? Well, if you can’t, you’re in a little trouble. If you want to get your foot in the door at a good establishment, you need to know your swill. Here, then, are some basic whiskey facts that all ...

Gin Cocktails All Bartenders Should Know

This versatile derivative of the juniper berry has been inspiring bartenders since the Middle Ages. It is now one of the most essential white spirits in bartending, and features in a range of timeless and innovative cocktails. As a bartender, you have to know the difference between a Gin Rickey and a Gin Fizz. Here, then, is a list of some of the most essential gin cocktails.

Martini

This ...

How to Get a Job on a Cruise Ship

Have you ever dreamed of a life at sea? Imagine a career that allows you to spend your day surrounded by breath-taking seascapes across the world; that grants you access to some of the most thrilling port cities of the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Pacific. If that sounds like your dream job, then consider a career on a cruise ship. Not only does cruise work provide you ...

The Best Mojito Recipe in the World

This is the ultimate Cuban highball. It whisks you to the steamy streets of Old Havana, pulsating with the frenetic rhythms of an infectious Mambo. If you can’t catch the next flight out to Cuba, a refreshing Mojito (and some Buena Vista Social Club) will do just the trick. It’s a palate-cleansing harmony of sweet lime, tangy mint and punchy rum, refreshingly low in alcohol. Here is some of the ...

The Best Tom Collins Recipe in the World

This timeless gin cocktail is an exercise in sophistication and refreshment. Nothing conjures nostalgia quite like a Tom Collins. It evokes the swinging 60s, complete with smoky bars and jazzy Manhattan nights. The combination of gin, lemon, sugar and soda is experiencing a revival of late, with the popularity of retro-classic TV shows like Mad Men. It’s related to the equally enlivening Gin Fizz and Gin Rickey.

Origins

Continue Reading →