Every journey begins with a single step…

And so it begins with your journey into the world of flair bartending. I know you’re excited to start flipping bottles and getting crazy behind the bar – and I’m excited for you – but we’ve got to start small. Real small. In Lesson #1, we’re learning how to drop. Maybe that seems silly, like teaching someone how to play baseball by teaching them how to strike out, but I stand by the importance of this lesson. We’re not just learning how to drop – everyone can do that fine on their own – but we’re really focusing on two things: 1) learning how to practice and learn flair safely, in a safe environment with the proper tools, and 2) gaining confidence from accepting the fact the learning to flair bartend takes time. If it was easy, every bottle-jockey would be doing it. And it wouldn’t be as fun to watch. Get comfortable with the fact that, as you learn each new move, you will be dropping the bottle, tin, etc., more often than not. Don’t sweat it. Pick ’em up and try again.

Let’s talk real quick about the tools you will be using. While you can – and will – be flairing with just about everything you find behind your bar, your most common and basic flair bartending tools are going to be:

1) the bottle you’re using to mix a drink

2) a standard cocktail shaker (otherwise known as a Boston shaker, a 28oz. tin, or a Mako shaker – for simplicity sake, I usually just refer to this item as a tin.)

Them’s the basics. When I first started flipping bottles 10 years ago, I borrowed a tin and some empty bottles from my bar. They worked just fine for a few months until I shattered two glass bottles into a million pieces all over my living room. Five minutes later, I purchased my first plastic practice bottle online. They cost roughly $25/bottle and I promise you they are worth every penny. I’ve had mine for years and the only time I order new ones is to replace ones that I’ve given to friends.  I highly recommend you get one or two when you start out. Check out my review of the FlairCo practice bottles, if you’d like. They can be shipped just about anywhere in the world.

However, I’m practical and realize that not everyone will pick up a FlairCo bottle, so let me try and help you just the same. If you absolutely have to practice with real “live” glass bottles, try using a Malibu bottle. The plastic wrap around the bottle will hold the glass together somewhat WHEN you break it. Otherwise, use whatever bottle you can get your hands on and wrap it entirely in packaging tape. It’s not perfect, but anything you can do to minimize what happens when the bottle shatters is better than nothing. Sooner or later you will want to get some plastic bottles for practice. I promise you will be happy you did.

As we progress and the moves get more difficult, it may take you 100 attempts before you actually land a move. Do it another 100 and you may land it twice. Another 100 and maybe three times. Becoming an awesome flair bartender takes practice, persistence, and passion. But I promise you, it will pay off in the end. After nearly 15 years behind the wood, I absolutely love what I do. I’ve had more fun at my job than most people have at their past-times. I wish you the best of luck as you begin flair bartending and I’m here to remind you to not only “Practice, Practice” but to practice safely.

Also, a few months from now, when you’ve mastered every flair move you’ve seen, and you’re inventing moves of your own, or when someone threw you a $50 tip because you absolutely blew their mind, or when the guy/girl you thought was out of your league leaves you their number on a cocktail napkin – upload a video of you doing what you do to YouTube and send me a link. It took a lot of time and effort to put this website together – I want to see that it paid off for you!