The Bartender's Handshake made for a super fun date night even with a tiny girl in hand. She tried the Karate Kid with ginger, carrot, ancho chili, & mint and had a blast. The waitstaff were extremely kind to both us and her and she loved the food too. The most famous 'bartender's handshake' is, by now, pretty well known: Fernet-Branca, the mid-19th-century Italian liqueur.
The Bartender's Handshake is a blog that aims to make the world of craft bartending accessible and interesting to the home cocktail enthusiast. It distills the expertise of people who have worked in the industry for years into simple, accessible, informational posts by offering lessons, tips, advice, reviews, comparative drink recipes, and much more.
The site is the brainchild and labor of love of Nathan Robertson.
- Fernet Branca Practically synonymous with the term, Fernet is the handshake of choice for many a bartender — and some non-industry laypeople might say that the taste is not for the faint of heart, but then again, neither is the bartending industry.
- Lesson 2.1: The Bartender's Kit: Jiggers and Measuring Devices Lesson 2.2: The Bartender's Kit: Mixing Vessels Lesson 2.3: The Bartender's Kit: Strainers Lesson 2.4: The Bartender's Kit: Other Essential Tools Lesson 2.5: The Bartender's Kit: Optional Tools. Lesson 3.1: Glassware: Beer Glasses Lesson 3.2: Glassware: Stemware.
- What is the 'bartenders handshake' in your town? I've worked and drank, all over the United States. Each region seems to have it's own take on what is usually poured when a bartender buys a shot for another bartender. From my experience; Chicago = Malort, St. Louis = Jameson, Charleston =.
Nathan has 15 years of bartending and industry experience that have culminated in his current position as Bar Manager of a busy 139-seat, underground, speakeasy-style craft cocktail and wine bar. Along the way he has learned directly from master bartender Raffi Jergerian and, through seminars, from industry titans like Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich, as well as indirectly, through books and videos, from past and current experts in the field such as 'The Professor' Jerry Thomas, Dave Arnold, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, to name a few.
All photos on this site were taken by Nathan Robertson, Ty Fulcher of Social, or PHOCO unless otherwise attributed.
Lesson 2.1: The Bartender's Kit: Jiggers and Measuring Devices
Lesson 2.2: The Bartender's Kit: Mixing Vessels
Lesson 2.3: The Bartender's Kit: Strainers
Lesson 2.4: The Bartender's Kit: Other Essential Tools
Lesson 2.5: The Bartender's Kit: Optional Tools
Lesson 3.1: Glassware: Beer Glasses
Lesson 3.2: Glassware: Stemware
Lesson 3.3: Glassware: Tumblers and Chimney-style Glasses
Lesson 3.4: Glassware: Other Serving Vessels
Chicago Handshake Drink
Lesson 4.1: Ingredients: Ice
Lesson 4.2: Ingredients: Fruit Juices
Lesson 4.3: Ingredients: Sweeteners
Lesson 4.4: Ingredients: Bitters
Lesson 4.5: Ingredients: Eggs
Lesson 4.6: Ingredients: Other Ingredients
Lesson 5.1: Bartending Techniques: Measuring Ingredients
Lesson 5.2: Bartending Techniques: To Shake or To Stir? That Is the Question
Lesson 5.3: Bartending Techniques: Shaking
Lesson 5.4: Bartending Techniques: Short Shaking and Dry Shaking
Lesson 5.5: Bartending Techniques: Stirring
Lesson 5.6: Bartending Techniques: Muddling
Lesson 5.7: Bartending Techniques: Building and Rolling
Lesson 5.8: Bartending Techniques: Choosing a Serving Glass
Lesson 5.9: Bartending Techniques: Straining
Lesson 5.10: Bartending Techniques: Garnishing
Lesson 6.1: Advanced Techniques: Free Pouring
Lesson 6.2: Advanced Techniques: Cutting Ice Balls and Gems
Lesson 6.3: Advanced Techniques: Shaker Tin Whipped Cream
Bartenders Handshake Cocktail
Lesson 7.1: Cocktail Creation: Flavor Matching
Lesson 7.2: Cocktail Creation: Proportions
Lesson 7.3: Cocktail Creation: Balance
Lesson 7.4: Cocktail Creation: Creation Methods
Lesson 8.1: Behind the Bar: Cost of the Home Bar
Lesson 8.2: Behind the Bar: Setting up the Home Bar
Lesson 8.3: Behind the Bar: Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Lesson 8.4: Behind the Bar: Staying Healthy
Lesson 8.5: Behind the Bar: Hospitality and Service
Lesson 8.6: Behind the Bar: Bartender Accreditations
Lesson 9.1: Making Booze: Fermentation, Beer
Lesson 9.2: Making Booze: Fermentation, Wine
Lesson 9.3: Making Booze: Distillation Part 1
Lesson 9.4: Making Booze: Distillation Part 2
Lesson 9.5: Making Booze: Imparting Flavors into Spirits, Maceration, Infusion, Distilation
Lesson 10.1: Bar Terminology
- Fernet Branca Practically synonymous with the term, Fernet is the handshake of choice for many a bartender — and some non-industry laypeople might say that the taste is not for the faint of heart, but then again, neither is the bartending industry.
- Lesson 2.1: The Bartender's Kit: Jiggers and Measuring Devices Lesson 2.2: The Bartender's Kit: Mixing Vessels Lesson 2.3: The Bartender's Kit: Strainers Lesson 2.4: The Bartender's Kit: Other Essential Tools Lesson 2.5: The Bartender's Kit: Optional Tools. Lesson 3.1: Glassware: Beer Glasses Lesson 3.2: Glassware: Stemware.
- What is the 'bartenders handshake' in your town? I've worked and drank, all over the United States. Each region seems to have it's own take on what is usually poured when a bartender buys a shot for another bartender. From my experience; Chicago = Malort, St. Louis = Jameson, Charleston =.
Nathan has 15 years of bartending and industry experience that have culminated in his current position as Bar Manager of a busy 139-seat, underground, speakeasy-style craft cocktail and wine bar. Along the way he has learned directly from master bartender Raffi Jergerian and, through seminars, from industry titans like Dale DeGroff and David Wondrich, as well as indirectly, through books and videos, from past and current experts in the field such as 'The Professor' Jerry Thomas, Dave Arnold, and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, to name a few.
All photos on this site were taken by Nathan Robertson, Ty Fulcher of Social, or PHOCO unless otherwise attributed.
Lesson 2.1: The Bartender's Kit: Jiggers and Measuring Devices
Lesson 2.2: The Bartender's Kit: Mixing Vessels
Lesson 2.3: The Bartender's Kit: Strainers
Lesson 2.4: The Bartender's Kit: Other Essential Tools
Lesson 2.5: The Bartender's Kit: Optional Tools
Lesson 3.1: Glassware: Beer Glasses
Lesson 3.2: Glassware: Stemware
Lesson 3.3: Glassware: Tumblers and Chimney-style Glasses
Lesson 3.4: Glassware: Other Serving Vessels
Chicago Handshake Drink
Lesson 4.1: Ingredients: Ice
Lesson 4.2: Ingredients: Fruit Juices
Lesson 4.3: Ingredients: Sweeteners
Lesson 4.4: Ingredients: Bitters
Lesson 4.5: Ingredients: Eggs
Lesson 4.6: Ingredients: Other Ingredients
Lesson 5.1: Bartending Techniques: Measuring Ingredients
Lesson 5.2: Bartending Techniques: To Shake or To Stir? That Is the Question
Lesson 5.3: Bartending Techniques: Shaking
Lesson 5.4: Bartending Techniques: Short Shaking and Dry Shaking
Lesson 5.5: Bartending Techniques: Stirring
Lesson 5.6: Bartending Techniques: Muddling
Lesson 5.7: Bartending Techniques: Building and Rolling
Lesson 5.8: Bartending Techniques: Choosing a Serving Glass
Lesson 5.9: Bartending Techniques: Straining
Lesson 5.10: Bartending Techniques: Garnishing
Lesson 6.1: Advanced Techniques: Free Pouring
Lesson 6.2: Advanced Techniques: Cutting Ice Balls and Gems
Lesson 6.3: Advanced Techniques: Shaker Tin Whipped Cream
Bartenders Handshake Cocktail
Lesson 7.1: Cocktail Creation: Flavor Matching
Lesson 7.2: Cocktail Creation: Proportions
Lesson 7.3: Cocktail Creation: Balance
Lesson 7.4: Cocktail Creation: Creation Methods
Lesson 8.1: Behind the Bar: Cost of the Home Bar
Lesson 8.2: Behind the Bar: Setting up the Home Bar
Lesson 8.3: Behind the Bar: Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
Lesson 8.4: Behind the Bar: Staying Healthy
Lesson 8.5: Behind the Bar: Hospitality and Service
Lesson 8.6: Behind the Bar: Bartender Accreditations
Lesson 9.1: Making Booze: Fermentation, Beer
Lesson 9.2: Making Booze: Fermentation, Wine
Lesson 9.3: Making Booze: Distillation Part 1
Lesson 9.4: Making Booze: Distillation Part 2
Lesson 9.5: Making Booze: Imparting Flavors into Spirits, Maceration, Infusion, Distilation
Lesson 10.1: Bar Terminology
Bartender's Handshake Dsm
Lesson 11.1: General Cocktail History
Lesson 11.2: Cocktail Taxonomy
