Dare to Flair

Here is the concept.

The MORE ice you get, the STRONGER your drink will be.

I know this is a tough concept to grasp for most people.

Your glass should be filled with ice in order for the cocktail to taste the way it should.

A proper tasting cocktail such as a rum and coke should have 1 oz of spirit, and 4 oz of mix. With a full glass of ice, the proper proportions are met. If there is little ice, you will end up with 1 oz of spirit to 6 or 7 oz of mix, making your drink appear watered down.

So remember, next time your bartender puts a load of ice in your drink, he is doing you a favor!

Are you one of those people who go up to the bar and treat the garnish tray like a buffet table?

Do you enjoy the odd dirty martini?

A dirty martini is a classic Gin or Vodka, with the addition of olive brine.

The fact is that a lot of people come to the bar and pick olives out of the garnish tray…with their fingers.

Then, some unsuspecting person will stroll up to the bar and ask for a dirty martini, so essentially they are about to drink something that 50 odd people have had their fingers in throughout the evening. MMMM.

That’s why they call it Dirty!

For a not so dirty, dirty martini, check out some ideas here. http://www.olivelovers.ca/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=74&=SID

I’ve been training bartenders how to flair for four years now, and the most recent venue I’ve been working with is Avalon at 230 Richmond St. W in the heart of Toronto’s club district.

I’m there as a part of their Thank God it’s Monday industry night promotion.

The staff was ready and eager to learn a few new tricks, and it didn’t take long for them to get the hang of it. From martini waterfalls and bullet passes, to garnish tosses and tin splits, Avalon’s bar team looked exceptional during their first training session.

I’ll be there next Monday to continue staff training and to help promote Avalon’s industry night party- Thank God it’s Monday!