Flair Bartending Lesson 79: Misdirection
This week’s move is good basic exhibition flair. Like the Stall or the Shadow Pass, it works fine on its own but mostly it looks more impressive when used as part of a bigger sequence or routine.
Remember, exhibition flair means that the level of liquid in the bottle is less than 1/4 full. While you’re first learning, start with an empty bottle or a practice flair bottle. Once you are comfortable with the move, begin adding just an ounce or two to the bottle and be sure to put a pour spout on it. Practice it until you can get the move without spilling, then add another 1 or 2 ounces. Note: while most exhibition flair moves can be done with a 1/4 full bottle, some of them – especially the Misdirection – are best performed with as little liquid in the bottle as possible.
Keys to learning the Misdirection:
1) Grip the bottle so that the pour spout is right in the center of your palm and so your fingers extend firmly down the neck of the bottle.
2) Give the bottle a single rotation flip. You don’t want it to be fast and stay in one place; rather, practice getting a nice little lift to the bottle as it rotates.
3) Just as the bottle is about to complete its rotation, rather than catching it, use your first and middle finger to hit the neck of the bottle. The goal is not only to reverse the direction of the bottle
4) To catch the bottle, simply turn your wrist so that your palm is faced down and/or away from you. Keep your thumb and fingers extended so that when the neck of the bottle hits your palm, your fingers will naturally close around the bottle.
5) Practicing this move can hurt your fingers a bit. Practice it for 5-10 minutes, practice other moves for a while, then come back to practicing this for another 5-10. You’ll get it down in no time.
The Discussion...
