Monday, December 21, 2009

Drinks Of the Week


Hey everybody,

Back with a couple of drinks recipes, from my trip to New York a couple weeks ago. First one is the Ice Cream Soda. Had this at the Sweetwater on 139th in the South Bronx. This is a custom drink from their menu..Im usually skeptical when it comes to real sweet, blended drinks but this def is the exception to the rule... It wasnt too too sweet, but it had alot of kick on the backside..So here it is...Pic anbove is what it should look like...

Ice Cream Soda
2oz Captain Morgan
1oz Baileys
3/4oz Grenadine
10z Coca-Cola

Place all ingredients in a mixing cup, Shake then blend with Ice...

Put a Cherry on Top and Enjoy!


On to the Next one..

California Car Bomb
This one is for those of us who enjoy Jager Bombs, Lunchboxes and all other drinks with a shot dropped. It was a refreshing drink, not too strong, but def tasty. I enjoyed this at McFadddens on 40th and 2nd ave in Manhattan...

California Car Bomb
1oz Stoli Orange
1 half glass of Red Bull
Dash of Cranberry Juice

Drop the shot of Stoli into the Red Bull and Chug away!!!


Hope you guys enjoyed these two new drinks that i will def be making, and drinking in the near future.

Until next time

J.O.

Follow me on twitter.com/MrMixologist
Facebook.com/MrMixologist

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

A Bartenders Weekend in New York City

Hey everyone!! Well I'm back from New York City and I must ay it was quite an expierence. I went up there to Bartend at Southern Hospitality( which for all my twitter friends is @BBQNYC). It was a nice bar with very personable bartenders, and staff. They really made me feel at home. My night started off a little slow but as the clientele picked so did I. This was an expierence I think all bartenders should get to have at least once. To get to travel to a different state and see what trends, and different cocktail infussions work and what customn drinks other bartenders will share, will do nothing but enhance your skills behind the bar and give you something to bring back to your bars/clubs to enhance your clientle.

Satuday and Sunday of my trip was spent bar hopping with my frends. This as another expierence. New York has a wide variety of different bars with sme bartenders who have tons of personality. No 2 spots I visited this weekend were alike. From Mid-town, to the Bronx, ll the way back to the Village...All areas present a completely diferent Bar expierence. I also have some custom drink i brought back for you all, but that will be in the next post for some Drinks of the Week. Gonna upload the pics so you can see the drinks, and know what they should look like if you ry to make them at home.

So all in all New York City is a wonderful place to be. Great Bars, Great Mixologists, Great City...If you havent been, please make your way there..

Until Next Time
J.O.

Follow me on Twitter @MrMixologist
Facebook.com/MrMixologist
Skype me @ Mr.Mixologist

Friday, November 20, 2009

Drink of the Week for 11-21-09


Hey Hey Hey everybody!!! Well ya boy was at work, and came up with a new concoction!!!

Everybody loves Martini's!! I know i do. But the ladies enjoy not so much the traditional Martini, but a fruity, sweet drink in the Mold of the Appletini, and the Cosmo.

So I'm standing at the bar and a couple ladies walk up. Neither one know what they wanted to drink, so i immediately went into Mixologist mode. I asked what they wanted and both replied something sweet but something strong, but in a pretty glass(LOL)...At this point its a million options..So i went into my head and came up with a drink...So since my good friend on twitter Ms. Bree(follow her on twitter.com/breeworld) loves a good martini, this shall be named after her. So here is the "Breetini"


1oz Absolut Pear
1 1/2oz Grey Goose Citrus
1/2oz Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum
1/2oz Triple Sec
1/2oz Peach Schnapps
1/2oz Pineapple Juice
1/2oz Cranberry Juice
1/2oz Orange Juice


Place ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds. The drink should turn an Orangeish/Pinkish color depending on how long you shake it and how much juice you use...

Pour into a chilled Martini glass and enjoy!!!!


Ladies this is def a drink for you all. Something you can make at home when you having girls night...Fellas this is something you can make ya girl, trust she will love it. All the ladies in the spot were asking for this drink all night. Every time i work it is a staple on the drink specials.

The pic is the first 2 ladies to get to enjoy this drink, and a pic of the first 2 Breetini's ever made!!!

So drink responsibly and enjoy. Cheers everyone!!!


Until next time

J.O.

Follow me on twitter @MrMixologist
myspace.com/drinks_on_me_inc
Skype me at Mr.Mixologist

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Art of Flair Bartending


Flair bartending is the practice of bartenders entertaining guests, clientele or audiences with the manipulation of bar tools (e.g. cocktail shakers) and liquor bottles in tricky, dazzling ways. Used occasionally in cocktail bars, the action requires skills commonly associated with jugglers. It has become a sought-after talent among venue owners and marketers to help advertise a liquor product or the opening of a bar establishment. Competitions have been sponsored by liquor brands to attract flair bartenders, and some hospitality training companies hold courses to teach flair techniques.

Sometimes referred to as "extreme bartending", the word flair became popular among practitioners in the mid 1990s. The word refers to any trickery used by a bartender in order to entertain guests while mixing a drink. Flair can include juggling, flipping (bottles, shakers), manipulating flammable liquors or even performing close-up magic tricks (also referred to as "bar-magic").

Flair is showmanship added to bartending that enhances the overall guest experience. The ideas behind mixology and drink-oriented or service-minded bartending can still be upheld with the correct application of working flair. Recently, there is a noticeable rise in bartenders combining prominent mixology knowledge and working flair skills all over the world. Working flair and Exhibtion flair are very similar on the grounds that they both require precision and practice, however the use of exhibition flair has become a competition oriented style where significantly greater risks are being taken. Working flair, which is much more common, focuses more on delivering drinks to customers while still ensuring visual entertainment.


I love this art form in Mixology. Flash, Showmanship, Swagger, and Creativity all play important roles in this. I truly have the utmost respect for some of the flairer's that i have met, and will meet in the future. Very soon, with enough practice, I will join the ranks of being a 'Flair" Bartender.

Until next time
Mr.Mixologist

Follow me on twitter @MrMixologist

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Drink of the Week for 9-26-2009


Whats up everybody?? The mixologist been gone for awhile , but im back!!! I used to do this on my myspace page every week, so now im going to incorporate it into my blog. The "Drink of the Week" concept. Every Fri. I will post either one of my special concoctions or something one of my bartender buddies share with me..Something to help you get your weekend started..So here is the first entry.. Hope you enjoy..

Strawberry Long Island

This was made by my good friend Miss Robin at the 7 10 lounge in Hyde park Chicago. She took a traditional long Island and added Strawberry Daquiri mix. At first I thought that wouldnt be a good idea but it turned out great!!! Here are the ingredients and instructions to make it....

1/2 Vodka
1/2 Rum
1/2 Gin
1/2 Tequila
1/2 Triple Sec
1oz Sour Mix
1 1/2oz Strawberry Daquiri Mix

In a Collins Glass, Muddle 2 lemon wedges and the Daquiri Mix. When that is nice and crushed add a little ice, then pour the Long Island ingredients. Top it with some Sour Mix and a dash of Sprite.

Take all that and pour it into your shaker, to get a good mix. Shake and then Pour and serve!!

There also is a picture enclosed to show you what it looks like.


Enjoy!!!

Along with my posts starting back up more regularly, this will become a staple every Friday. Any of my fellow Mixologists who would like to have their personalized specality drinks published, send me an email @ masta_mixologist6379@yahoo.com

Until next time

J.O.
Follow me on twitter.com/MrMixologist

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Ever wonder who's sitting at your bar


Whats up people. I'm sorry I haven't been blogging lately but your favorite bartender has crossed over into the world of promotion and event planning as well. Things have slowed down and I'm back to posting on a regular basis. I also once a week will let it be readers choice..You have anything you ever wanted to ask a bartender I will pick the best subject and post something about it. This post is strictly a small vent session, but will have some helpful hints for my fellow mixologists. In this line of work, customer service is the key. The bartenders service and attitude will determine #1 How well his/her night goes as far as tips and, #2 how well the party/club/bar operates for that evening. One bad bartender who couldn't leave his/her attitude or issues at the door could ruin the evening for everyone. Here is an example...


Last month I was able to go to New York for the annual Bar Show. It was a great experience and I certainly will be back next year as well as visiting Tales of the Cocktail too. But myself and my buddy, who also is a trained mixologist(shameless plug for you Ramon...lol) were hanging out in Times Square the day before the actual show. We stopped at a bar(which shall remain nameless) and decided to have a few drinks. The bar decorum was nice, and they had a happy hour special that ran all day long. Needless to say we were excited about that. So we sit at the bar. Its 2 bartenders and a barback working. We wait about 15 minutes before the bartender even greets us. Then this cat acts as if he has somewhere better to be. We try to make small talk, since neither one of us really knows that much about the happenings in New York that night, and he completely ignores us. I was pissed and it showed in his tip.


So, as i was preparing to fly back to Chicago, me and my buddy go into the same bar to have some lunch. Different bartender there and the service was great. Small bar talk at the bar with another patron, turns out he has an artist that is looking for a record deal. Now, I have a family member that is artist development rep for a large record company and is always looking for more talent. So we exchange info, and guess who his artist is??? The same bartender who treated his 2 customers like garbage. Needless to say he has been calling and emailing me like crazy.


So the moral of this post is, to all my bartender buddies, treat every customer as if they are your only customer. You never know who is on the other side of the bar when you are serving. If you having a bad day, you have to check that at the door before you start your shift. Our profession is Customer Service. We are not only bartenders, we are marriage counselors, a shoulder to lean on, big brothers/sisters, and sometimes just a get a way from the everyday stress for our customers. SO always have your gameface on and be prepared to give it your all, Because you never know who is on the other side of the bar.


Ok ill be back to my regular posts later this week, but i had to get that vent session out.


L8tr


J.O.

Drinks On Me, Inc

Follow me on Twitter.com/MrMixologist

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Part #1 My rules at the Bar

Whats up everybody? I finally got this whole blog thing going. So bear with me as I'm getting used to this. So Ill start by giving a little background info about myself. I have been a bartender for over 3 years professionally. Before that i was the bartender at all the parties and I was in Retail management. Bartending is a passion that i have had for many years. I remember watching "Cheers" with my grandmother when I was younger, and telling her I want to do that one day! So lately I've taken the moniker " The Black Sam Malone". lol I've worked in a few different environments from a nightclub, a neighborhood sports bar, to now I work at a banquet hall. All of these different locales have given me an interesting perspective to the nightlife industry.

Now that you have a little background about me, I feel the need to let you all in on a few secrets to making your bar experience a great one. Whether you are at a busy club, sports bar, or a wedding reception there are a few rules that you should always apply.Your bartender should always remain even tempered and always place customer service at the top of his/her priorities but here are a few things you guys(patrons) can do to make the night go a little easier on us and help to keep the party going... SO without any further adieu here is part #1 of my rules at the bar.


1. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.

Most bartenders are working a long bar. So if we have 10 customers on one end, and you are standing at the other end, if you make eye contact we will come down there to you. No one outside of the bartender can really understand how disheartening it is to leave customers just to go to the other end of the bar(usually running with 2 or 3 bottles in your hands) just for you to say you don't want anything.

2. You offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.(...which means: STOP TRYING)

Fellas take it from me, most women come to the bar to hang out just like we do. It doesn't always mean an open invitation to bug her the whole evening. I once saw a guy go down the whole bar, with the same rap offering to buy all the ladies a drink. All refused!! He gave up and tried to get the female bartender that was working with me with the same game!!! Trust guys, everybody likes free, so if she refuses, just pick up your pride and WALK AWAY!!!!!

3. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.

Self explanatory...Its been many nights I've worked a patron to death, answered all his questions, made the drink he had at his buddies house 2 weeks prior, and still only got a very small tip for a very large bill. Gratuity is a part of the game, so if your bartender takes care of you, take care of him/her.

4. Don't tell us you bartend too!

Yet another self explanatory one here. If you do bartend, Great!! But for the most part, making drinks at your friends house does not constitute as bartending. We don't come to your job and tell you how to be a banker, construction worker, accountant, etc.. So please don't give us mixology tips.

5. Don't string-order your drinks.

Please try and give me all your drinks at once. Don't tell me "2 sex on the Beaches" then i make those and you ask me for 2 more then after that a rum and coke. If its you and a few of your friends, have your order ready when you step up. I guarantee you will get the drinks faster and wont piss off the bartender either!

6. Do NOT lean as far as you can over the bar, in case I didn't see you. I see you.

I see you, and you leaning or standing on a chair or waving and yelling won't get me to you any faster. If anything it will get you ignored and just irritate you and me!!

7. Don't start the order off with, "GIVE ME A STRONG DRINK!"

Any respectable business has costs. And those costs stay down when the bartender measures the liquor and uses the right amount in each drink. A " Strong Drink" really doesn't exist. You want it stronger, order a double.

8. Don't COMPLAIN ABOUT PRICES!!

See Rule #3. If you got Hornitos money don't order Don Julio. Well and Call liquor are not as expensive as premium. And domestic beer is cheaper than Imported. So check your wallet before you get there. Complaining about the price is not gonna change them!!

9. Our names are NOT "Hey" or "Yo", nor do we respond to whistles, psst, or banging your bottle, glass or hand on the bar!

See Rule #6. This is a surefire way to get ignored, and then when i do get to you, I can guarantee the weakest drink EVER!!!!!

10. Last call is LAST CALL!

Please don't hang around the bar continuously asking for one more drink. Or sipping your drink slower. There is alot that goes on in the bar after hours. And the longer you are there that's the longer we are in the bar. Inventory, clean-up, glassware, money, trash, all need to be taken care of. We cant start until the bar is clear. So please respect the Last call and exit. 9 times outta 10 you'll be right back at the bar the next evening.

So I hope this gives you a little insight on how to keep the night going smooth for you and the bartender. We are the party starters and want you all to have a good night!! But we want a good night as well. So remember these tips and be sure to TIP YOUR BARTENDERS!!!!

Follow me on twitter.com/mrmixologist
myspace.com/drinks_on_me_inc