Flair Bartending Lesson #76: Shadow Pass into Tin
The Shadow Pass into Tin is one of my absolute favorite flair bartending moves. Like a lot of Shadow Pass variations, this one just feels good when you get it down. Also, with the catch into the tin, it provides a nice pause in your movement, giving you a chance to smile at guests or give high-fives before flowing into the rest of your flair routine.
You should already be comfortable with the Shadow Pass.
Tips to getting the Shadow Pass into the Tin:
1) Use the right tools. This move requires a 750 ml bottle and a 28 oz. tin. A 1 liter bottle might technically fit into the standard cocktail shaker, but you will drive yourself absolutely nuts trying to learn this move with that miniscule of a margin of error.
2) Just like when we learned the original Shadow Pass, start small with your throws. In fact, don’t even throw it. For the first 20 times, simply move the bottle behind your head and place it into the tin. Rinse, repeat. This will help establish your hands’ muscle memory for what angles to hold the both the bottle and tin.
3) Use a good “lead-in” that will help flow into the Shadow Pass. I like to use the Circle Swipe Thru with a slight variation on the bottle-grab: as you change your grip on the bottle, grab the bottle by the neck instead of the body. Using this to build momentum for your Shadow Pass into Tin is not only helpful but also adds more of a mini-routine that is fun to watch.
4) “Cheat” a little if you need to by using your shoulder/neck to cradle the bottle a little bit. Eventually you’ll want to move past this but when you’re learning, this can be an effective crutch.
5) Practice this move a lot, trying to get further and further apart with your throwing hand and your catching (tin) hand.
6) The first time you land this move, celebrate like a boss. Then get back to work and do it again.