Subject: {FIRSTNAME},Tools of the Trade Hello {FIRSTNAME}, I hope you enjoyed the first course on the professional bartender, now we are going to look at tools of the trade. Here is a recap of the e-course schedule: Part 1: The Professional Bartender Part 2: Tools of the Trade Part 3: Basic Techniques Part 4: Bar Tricks Part 5: Being a Great Professional Bartender With that being said... Lets get rolling shall we :) ================================================== Part 2: Tools of the Trade -------------------------------------------------- The last thing you want to have happen is to have someone want a bottle of beer and be lacking a bottle opener. At home or in a business, there are certain tools of the trade that are needed in all circumstances. Commercial Supplies Can Opener- Useful for opening cans of fruit and syrup. Corkscrew- For opening wine and champagne bottles Cloths- Used for wiping surfaces and equipment. These should be damp and not wet. Cutting Board- For slicing fruit and other garnishes – should be heavy and laminated Bar Towels- These are 100% cotton and have sewn edges for durability. Use these along with cloths to keep things clean. Make good use of times where you have no guests to clean bottles and wipe surfaces. Bottle Opener- For opening screw top bottles Bottle Sealers- For keeping liquors and other bottle contents fresh. Cocktail Shaker- A shaker is essential for blending ingredients in cocktails and mixed drinks. There are many cocktail shakers available. Most get the job done. Choose one that’s right for you. Electric Blender- Many cocktails require a blender to blend the ingredients smoothly together. These prove very useful for drinks with fruit pieces or ice cream etc. Grater- To grate spices like nutmeg Ice Bucket- A metal or insulated ice bucket keeps your ice cold and clean. Ice Tongs and Scoops- Use these to add ice to drinks without the risk of passing on unwanted germs. Never handle ice with your hands. Do not use glassware as a scoop lest it breaks or chips and leaves unwanted visitors in your drinks Jigger/Shot Glass- Used as a measurement tool. Juice Squeezer/Extractor- This is needed for getting the most juice out of your fruits. It helps to soak citrus fruit in hot water before squeezing Bar Spoon- A bar spoon has a long handle and a muddler end that will allow you to mix and measure ingredients as well as crush garnishes. Measuring Cups- Normally, these should be glass or chrome with incremented measurements imprinted up the side. These are needed for accurate measurement. They usually come with a set of measuring spoons which are need for some smaller quantities Mixing Glass- A mixing glass is useful for long drinks where it is required to mix the ingredients without shaking. Sharp Knife- For cutting fruit and garnishes Strainer- This removes the ice and fruit pulp from juices. This may come with a cocktail shaker. Glasses and Containers- There are various types of glassware of different shapes and sizes all serving their own purpose. Learning which drinks belong to which glass is beneficial to both you and your customers. They receive a higher quality drink which in turn reflects back on you and your establishment. Insure all glassware is cleaned spotless prior to serving it to your customers. Wash glasses with warm water and a small amount of detergent, but not soap. Rinse them afterwards with fresh, cold water and polish them with a suitable cloth. Hold glasses by the base or stem of the glass to avoid fingerprints. For more information about bartending, please refer to my website Take Care,