Mastering Pouring Techniques in Bartending | Diageo Bar Academy (2024)

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Bar Skills: Essential Techniques Of Pouring

Unlock the secrets of perfect pouring and cutting techniques in bartending and delight your customers with consistent, high-quality drinks.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes.

Part of the allure of the 'performance' in co*cktail-making is the skill and coordination of the bartender's manoeuvres. Mastering pouring technique and applying a swift elegance to cutting with a speed pourer is essential to a bartender's craft.

Explore how to develop your pouring technique to improve service speed, reduce wastage and ensure your customer gets a consistent quality serve every time.

Types of Pouring

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Free Pouring

A bartender pours liquid directly from the bottle, typically spirits or liqueurs, without a measuring tool. It's tempting to do, especially after watching Tom Cruise in 'co*cktail', but free pouring is not a favourable technique. It can lead to:

  • Increased waste of ingredients
  • Inconsistent drinks
  • Unsafe measures of alcohol
  • Less accuracy
  • Poor customer experience

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JIGGERED POURING

A bartender uses a jigger to measure pours. Some of the world's best bartenders are incredibly dextrous and introduce theatre to jiggered pours by utilising long, stylish pours while maintaining accuracy.

Essential Tools for Pouring

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Pour Spouts/Speed Pourers

Pour spouts are used to control the pouring of drinks.

  • Pourers should be stored safely and put on to your most used bottles at the beginning of service.
  • The speed pourer is affixed to the mouth of the bottle to regulate the flow of liquid and ensure a consistent pour.
  • It is an indispensable tool in busy bars when time is of the essence and accuracy needs to be maintained.

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JIGGERS

Jiggers are used to pour accurate amounts of spirit.

  • The maximum legal quantity of each measure varies worldwide, so be sure to check with your manager about your local limit.
  • Rinse all your jiggers between serves to ensure liquids don't mix.
  • Jiggers should be stored together on a drainage tray on the bar top.

Find out more about Speed Pourers and Jiggers in our Tools articles resources.

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3 Steps to Mastering Your Pouring Technique

  1. Practice: Start with an empty bottle filled with water, a speed pourer, a jigger and a glass or shaker. Practice smooth, consistent pours from the bottle to the jigger and from the jigger to the glass.
  2. Consistent Bottle Hold: There are multiple ways to hold a bottle. Explore the various styles and do what feels most comfortable. Grip the bottle by its neck to give maximum directional control. Invert the bottle to between 45 and 90 degrees. This ensures the liquid flows smoothly. Make sure the speed pourer’s air vent is not blocked, as this will disrupt the flow.
  3. Steady Stream: A speed pourer is designed to give a consistent flow. Trust in its design and maintain a steady pour without shaking or wavering.

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Ending the Pour or ‘Cutting’

Cutting refers to the moment the bartender stops the pour.

  • It is a swift pull out of the pour, cutting off the liquid stream and ensuring no additional drops enter the glass.
  • Sometimes accompanied by a "bounce" – a quick down/up motion to disrupt the liquid flow and make a cleaner cut.
  • There are various styles of cutting – start by slowly reducing the bottle's angle to slow the pour's speed as your jigger fills for a clean, easy cut.
  • As you become more comfortable pouring, more elaborate cuts tend to come naturally.

Mastering the art of pouring and cutting techniques is more than just a skill; it's a performance that adds finesse to every drink you craft and ensures your customers consistently receive high-quality service.

Key Takeaways

  • Smooth, dextrous pouring is part of the "performance" of bartending.
  • Free pouring is the technique of estimating un-measured pours. This is usually inadvisable for a variety of reasons stemming from inaccuracy.
  • Jiggered pouring is the technique of measuring pours with a jigger. With practice, these can be as fast and stylish as free pouring.
  • Effective pouring and using tools like speed pourers are indispensable in busy bars and require technique and practice.
  • Cutting is the technique of stopping the pour. It can range from a gradual stop to stylish and flamboyant movements.

Master more bartending techniques and get access to free training and resources when you sign up as a Diageo Bar Academy member

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Mastering Pouring Techniques in Bartending | Diageo Bar Academy (2024)

FAQs

What is the 50 rule in bartending? ›

What's the 50% rule in bartending? The proper time to serve customers the next co*cktail is once they've consumed 50% of their drink.

What are the 5 P's of bartending? ›

"We focus on the fundamentals of training. Everything from why you shake, when you muddle, to the practicalities of the job, and what we call the five 'P's of world class service: pride, passion, preparation, professionalism and presentation.

What is the hardest part of being a bartender? ›

Customers Always Want Your Attention

Despite dealing with multiple drink orders, it's a fact you can't escape – customers always seem to want your attention at the very same moment! This is one of the biggest challenges you'll face as a bartender.

How many drinks do you have to memorize to be a bartender? ›

Some people wonder how many drinks a bartender needs to learn to make when they learn this profession. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) has an official list of 77 drinks. Those drinks are seen as the true drink selection that can be requested at a bar.

How many seconds is a 2 oz pour? ›

To simplify things, most bartenders use the 4 second count where each count equals half an ounce poured. This still, however, varies with the bartender counting speed, degree of the bottle tilt and the actual pourer used. Question: How do the above times relate to what constitutes a shot or serve of alcohol?

What is a dry bartender term? ›

Dry” means less of the dry vermouth. “ Extra dry” usually means just a quick glass rinse with vermouth, but I've heard people order by saying, “introduce the bottle of vermouth to the vodka from across the bar, and leave it on the shelf” (that is, no vermouth in the glass)...

What does POS stand for in bartending? ›

The term POS in "bar POS" stands for point of sale, which refers to the physical place where sales take place in the bar in relation to how much bars make. In the past, a point of sale system would be a cash register, sometimes with a printer or scanner.

What are 3 rules of being a bartender? ›

There are three rules to Bartending. Don't talk about politics, don't talk about sports, and don't talk about religion. Back in my previous life as a bartender, before I traveled around the world and then landed in real estate, these three rules were golden.

What kind of bartender makes the most money? ›

Bartenders have reported that they make the highest money when they work in resorts, hotels, restaurants, and breweries/distilleries/wineries.

What type of person makes a good bartender? ›

Personality: A good bartender is friendly, personable, and able to engage with customers in a genuine and engaging manner. They should be able to read people and understand what they need to create a memorable experience.

What is the highest paying bartending job? ›

What are Top 5 Best Paying Related High End Bartender Jobs in the U.S.
Job TitleAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
Banquet Bartender$34,120$2,843
Gaming Bartender$33,085$2,757
Barista Bartender$32,343$2,695
Restaurant Bartender$29,801$2,483
1 more row

What co*cktails do most bartenders know? ›

  • Aperol Spritz. This wine-based Italian co*cktail is a big trend here in the United States. ...
  • Bloody Mary. A longtime brunch menu staple, the Bloody Mary is a favorite for those that like a more savory drink than sweet. ...
  • Cosmopolitan. ...
  • Daiquiri. ...
  • Dark 'n' Stormy. ...
  • Dirty Martini. ...
  • Long Island Iced Tea. ...
  • Mai Tai.
Mar 24, 2023

How can I be an impressive bartender? ›

Bartending 101: 5 Tips to Help You Become a Better Bartender
  1. Know Your co*cktails. When somebody orders a drink, they expect their bartender to know how to make it. ...
  2. Stay Friendly. Keep a smile on your face. ...
  3. Organize Everything. Making co*cktails during a busy shift can feel like a whirlwind. ...
  4. Clean. ...
  5. Upsell. ...
  6. 1 comment.
Dec 27, 2023

How can I learn bartending fast? ›

How to Become a Bartender With No Experience
  1. Get a Bartending License. ...
  2. Get Hired as a Barback. ...
  3. Start at a Restaurant Bar. ...
  4. Find a Bartending Mentor. ...
  5. Learn How to Pour Drinks. ...
  6. Practice Mixology. ...
  7. Be Patient and Available. ...
  8. Don't Rely on Bartending School Alone.
Feb 14, 2024

What is a dirty dump in bartending? ›

A “dirty dump” in bartending refers to the technique of transferring the entire contents of a co*cktail shaker into a serving glass, without the use of a strainer. This method includes all the ice, as well as any muddled fruits, herbs, and other solid ingredients used in the co*cktail's preparation.

How to calculate drinks for 50 people? ›

For a 4 hour party with 50 guests, you will need approximately 200 drinks: 80 beers, 72 glasses of wine (15 bottles) and enough for 48 individual co*cktails (amounts will depend upon what type of co*cktail you serve). If you aren't serving wine, plan on 120 co*cktails.

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