When you attend a bar for your drinks or cocktails, what do you call the person who mixes the drinks for you? Do you say Bar Attender?
A person who is skilled in mixing drinks, and knows the essential ingredients and the right combinations in making a cocktail is referred to as a mixologist. They follow the right recipe in making different mixtures or signatures of drinks that keep the customers coming and increase the sales of a bar.
They work closely with the bar manager or beverage director in a hotel, relaxation center, or hospitality setting.
A mixologist uses a mixology set like a cocktail muddler and cocktail strainer to serve drinks, beer, and cocktails that satisfy their customers. They learn the act of mixology, and hospitality to effectively carry out their duties.
What Does a Mixologist Do?
The responsibilities of a Mixologist are:
- They play a vital role in bar inventory management. They order drinks, and alcohol and keep track of the bar inventory.
- They understand the age eligibility for drinks and ensure not to give drinks to underage customers while maintaining the phrase “Drink responsibly” They also coordinate the financial transactions from customers.
- They make sure that the bar does not run out of drinks and ice for cocktails, and sustain bar supplies and instruments.
- They keep the bar clean and organized at all times. They are always prepared for their daily activity and know the right drink for each food or snack. They also recommend drinks that suit their customer’s tastes
- For a start-up bar, the mixologist can help in ensuring all checklist for a bar is met.
Is a Mixologist the same as a Bartender?
Do not get it twisted. Both deal with the same instrument which is drinks. But their roles are different. A Bartender is in charge of serving drinks to their customers’ satisfaction while a mixologist knows how to mix different or make new drinks with existing drinks. Many thriving bars, relaxation centers, luxury resorts, and hotels have both professionals.
Practical steps to become a mixologist
To become a mixologist requires time and dedication. Here are 5 practical steps to become a mixologist.
Training
Mixology goes beyond reading books. You need to be trained to understand the concept of mixology. The fun fact is that You can learn to be a mixologist from the comfort of your house by taking an online course from skilled instructors. You can start by attending the beginner’s class before proceeding to the advanced class. What you need is to be committed to your lessons. You can also go to a local training center around you where you have one-on-one experience with a mixologist or attend a bartending school to get licensed and certified. While learning, be inquisitive.
Experience
To gain the experience of being a mixologist you need to go out and apply to places where you can find professional mixologists. You start from scratch as a server, and hostess then keep moving to be a barback, or bartender before you start getting opportunities as a mixologist. Learning from the beginning is essential to your journey as a mixologist. You can also volunteer at friends’ parties or freelance at events.
Tools
What makes a mixologist is the tools he uses in his craft. Having your tools helps your learning process. You can get basic tools at home and use them for your lessons and practicals. Tools used by Mixologist are:
- Peeler
- Jigger
- Cocktail shaker
- Bar spoon
- Blender
- Mixing glass
- Juicer etc.
Professional Organization
There are professional organizations or gatherings of mixologists. Find the ones around you and associate yourself with them. Through them, you can learn more about mixology, new tricks, and trends, and get opportunities for better work experience.
Practice
As a mixologist, you need to keep practicing to master the art of mixology. The right drinks mixture. The right ingredients for cocktails. Practice they say makes perfection.
You can also follow professional mixologists online and learn from them or get a mentor around who will put you through the profession.
