The Complete Guide to Cocktail Basics
Master the fundamentals every bartender needs
A comprehensive 37-page guide covering essential bar tools, techniques, and the 10 classic cocktails every bartender must know.
"This guide helped me understand the basics before I even started class. It made my first week so much easier!"
Sarah M.
Graduate, Class of 2024
Free Guide
The Complete Guide to Cocktail Basics
37 pages
Inside This Guide
- Essential bar tools and their uses
- 5 core techniques (shake, stir, muddle, strain, layer)
- 10 classic cocktail recipes with detailed instructions
- Common mistakes beginners make
- Bar setup checklist
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction to Bartending
- 2 Essential Bar Tools
- 3 The 5 Core Techniques
- 4 10 Classic Cocktails
- 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 6 Your Bar Setup Checklist
Sample Pages
37
Pages
Format
Free
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Key Takeaways
- Five core techniques cover almost every cocktail: shaking, stirring, muddling, straining, and layering.
- Most sours follow a 2 : 1 : 0.75 ratio of spirit to citrus to sweetener, a template you can riff on endlessly.
- Shake drinks with citrus, dairy, or egg; stir drinks made only of spirits, liqueurs, and bitters.
- Shaking or stirring adds about 1 oz of water from melting ice, and that dilution is part of the recipe.
- About 11 bottles are enough to make all 10 classic cocktails in the guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What cocktails should every bartender know?
When should you shake vs. stir a cocktail?
What bar tools do beginners need?
Is this guide good for learning bartending at home?
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