Why I'm Not A Bartender

Bartending takes such skill (at least when it’s done well). It requires patience, technical skill, memory, nimbleness, multitasking, speed, physical endurance and an innate desire to be of service to others. In addition, it requires you to be the consummate host, which means smiles even when you’e not having a good day. Great bartenders can sense when to leave you alone, know what to guide you to when you need a recommendation, are keen at providing a listening ear and they have their eye on your water glass even if they’re at the other end of the bar.

All of these things combined is why I’m not a bartender. Sometimes when I say this, some people think it’s because I’m saying that I’m better than bartenders. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I know my skill set and while I have a lot of the skills that I mentioned, I don’t have others that I think are essential to being great at the profession. The only bar that I’ve ever worked in is the one that I’ve opened and that has pros and cons.

I love creating (and drinking) cocktails and I’m good at it. I’m so grateful that I’ve found alternate ways to use this skill, because I’d suck as a traditional bartender. I like making moments and for me, great cocktails are a part of that.