If you're new to bartending, the sheer number and variety of liquors that you see behind the bar may be overwhelming. You might imagine that there are hundreds of completely different recipes that you would need to learn to be a bartender, and that each would have a trick or unusual garnish that set it apart. You might imagine this, but you'd be wrong - if you only learn to make the highball, shaken cocktail, and stirred cocktail, you'll know the basics of over 90% of all drinks you'd be asked to make as a bartender.

This quick online course is designed to teach you how to be a good enough mixologist that you could get a job or just impress the heck out of your friends.  Like any new skill, some study is required, but the basics of bartending are simple and powerful.  We recommend that you click through these links. And, if you see something interesting, grab a bottle or two and give it a try - reading alone will not give you the individual style that characterizes a great bartender. More importantly, if you aren't having fun, take a break and find an audience.  Mixing drinks for crowds is both fun and satisfying.