Many bartenders are wondering how to hire a mixologist. Bartending has grown into a massive industry; however, it’s also growing exponentially. The majority of bartenders don’t have any formal training and basically learn on the job. It’s important to be able to handle a customer’s order quickly, offer some drink wisdom and keep them happy.
Bartending has become an art form. Most bartenders want to impress their customers by offering the best beverage experience possible. If a customer isn’t satisfied with your beverage, they are going to tell someone; which means you’re going to be getting bad reviews and potentially losing a client forever. It’s important for a cocktail mixologist to not only know what drinks they should make but also how they should make them based on the type of customer that they’re serving.
If the customer isn’t a regular customer, you don’t want to waste their money or aggravate them by pouring the wrong kind of drink. The key is to focus on making the perfect cocktail for the customer and taking the time to learn as much as you can about the beverage they request. A great bartender always keeps notes and references which allow them to refer to the right recipe if they run into the same problem again. This gives both parties a better chance of getting it right the first time.
When hiring a cocktail mixologist it’s important to consider the length of time they have been in the business. It’s easier to hire someone who has been in the business for a while because they’ve probably had plenty of experience. However, it’s also smart to hire a new mixologist who hasn’t worked too much because they may be more likely to come up with something new or innovative than someone who’s been doing this a long time.
The next thing to consider when hiring a cocktail mixologist is how experienced they are. There are some mixologists like spin and shake that have been working for many years, mastering the art of mixing drinks for fun and profit. While these bartenders have achieved vast success, you should be wary. They may have taken years to become the master of their craft but that does not mean they are any less capable of producing a good cocktail. This is why hiring a mixologist is so important.
Finally, you should also consider what type of cocktails you prefer to make. Some people love to blend Scotch and gin while others prefer a smooth vintage style drink. Ask your cocktail mixologist which types of drinks make the best memories for them. The memories come with the mixing of course and not only with the drink itself. A professional mixologist will be able to take all of these factors into consideration before compiling a cocktail menu for you.
Once you have narrowed down your list to a handful of possible candidates, you can then contact each potential mixologists to see who you want to hire. When doing so, make sure to keep all of the following things in mind. For example, if you have a particular design in mind for your bar, but the mixologists you speak with do not have that same flair, you may have to settle for someone else. In the same way, you should always keep in mind the length of time you plan on keeping the bar open. You do not want to hire a mixologist that is only going to leave you looking at empty shelves. This is not the company you want to partner with for the long term.
Overall, hiring a mixologist for your cocktail menu is a great idea. These professionals can offer an exceptional service for an affordable price. Plus, as a bartender, you get the chance to put your own spin on every single cocktail recipe you can find. No matter what types of drinks you make, you can easily adapt your cocktail menu to a level of expertise that only a cocktail maker can offer.