12 Important bartender skills that every great bar looks for

Running a successful bar takes more than just pouring drinks and taking orders. It requires exceptional bartenders with a wide range of skills for bartending and qualities that will set them apart from the competition. In this article, we'll uncover the top bartender skills and other essential tips for bartenders. But before we start the list, let's dive deeper into the main bartender responsibilities.

What are the duties of a bartender?

Bartenders have tons of responsibilities. They take orders, mix delicious drinks, and keep the bar clean and stocked to keep everything running smoothly. They interact with customers by recommending drinks, checking IDs, managing tabs, and keeping track of orders, all while building friendly connections.

A big part of their job is mixing and serving drinks, so they need to know a lot about different alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. This includes understanding how to measure the right amount of alcohol, how to mix well, and what food to recommend with drink orders. 

Bartenders also perform administrative work to make sure the bar complies with food and beverage standards. They help restock supplies, choose the menu, and oversee the bar's overall operation.

In summary, here’s a quick list of a bartender’s core duties:

• Verifying ages
• Making recommendations
• Mixing and serving drinks
• Managing orders
• Handling payments
• Cleaning and stocking the bar
• Managing inventory
• Interacting and building rapport with customers

Now that we have a better understanding of their tasks, let's go ahead and uncover key skills that every successful bar needs:

1. Mixology knowledge and creativity

First on the list is mixology which is the art of creating cocktails. This is one of the first things a beginner starts with when they ask about how to learn bartending. For obvious reasons, a successful bartender should possess a wide range of mixology techniques and recipes to craft not just delicious but also visually appealing drinks.

They should have a deep understanding of different spirits, liquors, mixers, and garnishes, allowing them to give recommendations and craft creative, well-balanced drinks that keep customers coming back for more.

To equip your workers with this much-needed knowledge, you can have them take SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s Spirits, Beer, and Wine course. This course is just one of the bartending training courses that teaches the differences between the most popular types of alcoholic beverages, including proper serving practices which is a good foundation for bartenders.

This course is fully editable and customizable using SC Training (formerly EdApp)’s built-in Creator tool. If you need to add more content, you can use any of the 80 microlearning templates.

Join SC Training (formerly EdApp) and deliver the best bartender skills training today!

2. Communication skills

Communication is at the heart of bartending. Being a bartender isn’t just simply being in charge of creating drinks. They constantly talk to patrons as they take their orders and engage in friendly conversation. This is why having great communication skills is essential as they need to be able to listen attentively and understand and take note of customer preferences.

Additionally, a great bartender is known to be an excellent listener. They’re able to build rapport with customers and give recommendations based on their preferences. Like how bartenders are portrayed in movies and TV shows, they’re also known for being the center of a social scene, with customers flocking around them to chat and drink.

3. Customer service skills

Bartenders are often the first point of contact for customers which is why excellent customer service is essential in the bartending industry. As someone who interacts with customers frequently, a successful bartender should be able to greet customers warmly, pay attention to their needs, and strive to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere.

Aside from creating great drinks, building strong customer relationships leads to increased loyalty and a thriving bar. This is why bartenders should have excellent customer service skills, alongside the ability to communicate well and engage with customers.

Having great customer service skills also means handling complaints, and making customers feel comfortable and important.

4. Time management skills

Bartenders work in a very busy environment and have to juggle different tasks simultaneously. This is why having great time management skills is crucial to make sure that efficient and timely service can be offered while maintaining a smooth workflow.

Even when service is at its busiest, a professional bartender knows how to prioritize jobs, set up their workspace, and efficiently handle customer orders.

Have your bartender take the top time management courses available on SC Training (formerly EdApp)! SC Training (formerly EdApp)'s mobile-first platform allows busy bartenders to effortlessly finish their lessons anywhere on the go right at their fingertips.

5. Attention to Detail

Paying close attention to detail is another must-have skill as a bartender. Every drink served should meet the highest quality and standard to make your bar succeed.

Having a keen eye for the littlest details typically includes garnishing cocktails with precision and maintaining a clean and organized bar station.

Meticulousness is key to delivering an exceptional experience to customers. To help learn this skill, there are bartender training apps that can help them perfect their craft by giving inspiration, tips, and examples.

6. Multitasking

Bartenders often find themselves dealing with various responsibilities, such as taking orders, mixing drinks, handling payments, and interacting with customers. The ability to multitask is not only a bartending basic but also a valuable skill.

Simply missing out on a couple of tasks can mess up an efficient workflow. This can lead to slow service, unsatisfied customers, and eventually lost revenue.

Bartenders should be able to keep their bar organized and stocked. This includes knowing where everything is located, as well as being able to keep track of inventory levels. Having a bartender training manual with all the information that bartenders can refer to can be helpful, especially for new ones.

7. Sales skills

Bartenders are essentially salespeople and a successful bar means a lot of sales. Aside from crafting high-quality drinks, bartenders should be able to upsell, cross-sell, make recommendations to customers, and be comfortable promoting specials or new drinks.

Doing so can help them increase their tips, boost the bar's profits, and create a positive experience for customers.

8. Teamwork

A top bartender should be able to work effectively with other bartenders, servers, and kitchen staff to guarantee smooth operations and customer satisfaction.

Bartenders should be able to communicate effectively not just with customers, but with their coworkers and managers. This means being able to understand and follow instructions, as well as being able to communicate clearly and concisely.

9. Adaptability

Adaptability is essential for a bartender as different situations and demands can arise given the nature of their work which can be unpredictable. Bartenders need to be able to handle surges in customer volume, unexpected requests, stock shortages, and even changes in the bar's menu or atmosphere.

This also includes adapting to different customer preferences, adjusting recipes on the fly, and accommodating special requests are all part of creating a personalized and memorable experience.

10. Physical fitness

Bartending is a physically demanding job that requires standing for long periods of time, lifting heavy objects, and moving quickly and efficiently.

Long hours of work can eventually take a toll on one’s body which is why it’s important to have physically fit bartenders who have the strength and stamina to last their entire shift.

11. Cash register handling skills

Apart from making drinks, bartenders are also in charge of taking orders, maintaining tabs, and processing payments. This means that they need to be skilled in handling cash registers or point of sale (POS) systems. 

Through cash register training courses, they can learn how to operate these tools and process different transactions, whether they’re done through cash, credit or debit cards, or other modes of payment. 

12. Consistency

When customers order drinks, especially basic cocktails, they expect them to taste the same no matter where they are. That's why bartenders need to be consistent with their mixing and bartending techniques. This way, patrons get exactly what they’re looking for. 

Bartenders can achieve this skill with lots of practice. Also, setting standard ingredients and amounts helps them mix drinks more consistently while allowing the bar to stay profitable by avoiding over or under-pouring.

Get started and level up your staff's bartending skills! Sign up for SC Training today!