Lesson 1: Glassware

Lesson 1 will teach you about the glassware that you will need to get yourself familiar with. Glassware is one of the most fundamental knowledge you will need to acquire as a bartender, since you will be pouring your drinks into them! Learning about glassware means you will need to memorize the shape of the glass and its name. Later, you will learn what drinks will go into each of the specific glassware.

There are about 15-20 different types of glassware that you'll need to get yourself familiar with. These 15-20 glassware are the fundamental, and there are many variations on the theme. Glassware designers do like to come up with their own little variations to add some flare into a piece of glass. But by understanding the fundamentals, you will have no problems in identifying the variety of glassware you’ll be encountered with as a bartender.

When you are bartending, it is critical that you pour your cocktails in the right glassware. Your customers will have expectations for a drink to come in a certain glass, and if they don't get it, they may feel ripped off. Can you imagine receiving a martini in beer mug? Or vice versa: a beer in a martini glass. It just wouldn't feel right. When you're bartending in real life, you'll be encountered with more subtle and less obvious glassware decisions to make. An example will be pouring a frozen strawberry margarita in a hurricane glass or a margarita glass. The decision will be yours, but you'll need some fundamental knowledge to make an intelligent decision at that point.

So, the glassware portion of the bartending lesson is a game of memorizing. It might suck, but you need to do it. Good luck pulling out some flashcards, and doing what it takes for you to memorize the glassware and its names. You'll later learn what drinks will be paired with a certain glassware. Good luck!

Below are some of the most basic glassware that you’ll need to get yourself familiar with. Take a look at it and memorize its shape and the name. I used the Amazon links since they had great pictures that I can use for free. I think it works out really well.

Glassware Memorization Game

Fluted Whiskey

Jigger

Cordial

Tall Dutch Cordial

Brandy

Red Wine/Burgundy Wine

Martini or Cocktail

Sherry

Margarita

Wine Glass (White)

High Ball

Rocks

Pilsner

Champagne

Hurricane

Beer

So here they are. Be sure to get a good understanding of each of its shape, feel, and size to be able to make it second nature to know its name. Knowing your glassware is a critical part about becoming a great bartender so, please take a little time to get it under your belt. Spend some time at your nearest Crates and Barrel, or Bed Bath and Beyond to check it out for yourselves.

Good luck, and till my next lesson, cheers!

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Next - Lesson 2 on Basic Bar Tools.