The Wine Bottle

If ordinary bartending does not do anything for you, then you might delight in flair bartending, that can be a feast for the eyes. This is when that cool guy or gal behind the bar counter, maybe someone such as Brian Flanagan (played by Tom Cruise) in the film Cocktail, not only mixes you a drink, but additionally does it in a style that will really astonish you. This is precisely what proficient and seasoned flair bartenders are engaged to do.

Bartending with flair is an individual and specialized art form or service, whereby expert barkeepers entertain guests in the most imaginative and intriguing manner. This includes the handling of easily recognizable bar tools, including cocktail shakers or liquor bottles, in a series of moves similar to, in many ways, to those of a juggler. What is every bit as impressive is the quality of the beverage and the speed with which it is made.

The name flair bartending became common among barmen during the mid 1990′s, with the advent of such movies as Cocktail and Coyote Ugly, and can best be described as any trick employed by a barkeeper to entertain guests, while mixing their drinks. The tossing or juggling of shakers, bottles of liquor and such like. are but a number of the varied techniques practiced by professional flair bartenders. A number of practitioners even have the ability of making use of flammable spirits, as well as being trained to carry out close up magic tricks, commonly referred to as bar magic. At the end of the day, the main objective of this type of bartending service is to entertain, in a special way, while mixing drinks, and thereby, adding value to a clients overall drinking and/or dining experience.

Better known as The Professor, Jerry Thomas introduced the concept of flair bartending to the world over a century ago and is seen as the father of American mixology. The Blue Blazer was a cocktail made by Jerry by combining hot water streams with Scotch whisky. This took place in the 1800′s and became very popular in those days. It was from these origins that this sort of bartending picked up recognition and popularity. The attraction of this exceptional skill is such that today, these master mixologists are hot favorites at all types of parties. Hotels, bars and similar institutions make use of their services to establish and publicize their premises, while new products also use this as a means of promotion. Many leading distilleries and hotels have coordinated special bartending events with flair bartenders, to gain mileage for their products or services. So popular has this profession become today that you can find bartending school tuition and diplomas offered on the subject.

If you are have an interest in flair bartending, why not check one out this evening by calling in at a bar or pub that employs a flair bartender. Discover the joy of being served with flair and showiness. Leave yourself be amazed by the dexterity of these expert barkeeps and you might discover that your cocktail has never tasted so good.

Tags: Bartending, bartending service, cocktails, drinks, falir bartending, flair bartenders, professional bartending