According to dictionary.com, a bartender is, “a person who mixes and serves alcoholic drinks in a bar”. This may be true for many bartenders who make your typical assortment of drinks, such as cosmos, mudslides, and pina coladas. However, much to my delight, there are bartenders who are more akin to artists.
I have had the great fortune of knowing such a bartender. I first met Jared a year and a half ago at a local martini bar. Whenever I visited that bar and Jared was working, I was assured that I would receive a delicious beverage. His drinks had excellent flavors and garnishes. Because of his drinks, my boyfriend and I began to frequent that bar for drinks and dinner.
Sadly, one evening last fall we went to our favorite spot, and Jared wasn’t there. Not fully realizing his talents as a bartender, we returned to the martini bar a couple times, but each time we grew more disappointed. This place no longer offered excellent drinks, and the number of patrons began to dwindle.
Luckily, we knew that a new restaurant had opened in the area. Wondering if our favorite bartender had moved to a new location, we ventured there after work one evening. Much to our delight, our favorite mixologist was behind the bar! Since that day, we have a new favorite place to dine and partake in beverages.
Having been to many fine dining establishments with extensive wine and beverage lists, I have decided that there are a few things that make a bartender excellent:
- The flair for creativity. As I mentioned earlier in the article, bartending can be an art. A talented bartender will strive to make new concoctions and research new ingredients.
- The ability to listen. A good bartender gets to know his or her patrons’ likes and dislikes.
- The desire to decorate. An excellent drink should be pleasing to the mouth and eyes.
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