BarSmarts Wired

October 16, 3:40 PMBartender ExaminerKathleen Neves

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BarSmarts Wired-Bartender Education

In most states, there currently aren't any prerequisites for becoming a bartender. There aren’t any classes required for someone to take that teach about all of the spirits and cocktails that are served behind a bar. There isn’t a license or certification that one must receive before they can work behind a bar. Bartending school is always an option as long as there is a good, reputable school located close by, but it’s not required. Many people who work behind a bar have never had any sort of formal training. Traditionally, bartending has always been a profession where a person learns the hard way, by good old trial and error, in front of their customers.

The people at Pernod Ricard USA and BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource) have introduced a virtual training and certification program called BarSmarts Wired, which is designed for both the professional bartender who seeks formal, advanced training of his or her craft and the people who appreciate the art and history of the cocktail and seek further knowledge. BarSmarts Wired is a virtual online course and is endorsed by the United States Bartenders’ Guild. The course’s purpose is to improve spirit knowledge, mixology technique and service skills of the students that take the course.

From the day a student registers, they have 30 days to complete the course online. The program strongly recommends that the student divide the course into one module, per week. This allows for maximum memory retention for the student because the information presented in the course is so extensive. For a mere $45, registration includes access to the online course and quizzes along with a complete bartending kit that consists of a Boston Shaker, mixing glass, muddler, jigger, bar knife, bar spoon, Hawthorne strainer, julep strainer and a bag to keep the entire kit in. It’s not a requirement that the tool kit be used during the Wired course, but it provides the professional bartender with a complete set of tools for their trade and is an excellent starting point for someone looking to create a bar in their home.

The online course is organized in four modules:

Spirit Basics-distillation, fermentation, maturation and the fundamentals of tasting
Knowing the Spirits-learn about the what, where, when, applications, principal cocktails and how to taste each of the spirits
Mixology Basics-cocktail history, tools of the trade, fresh juice preparation and storage and the purpose of bitters
Mixology Practical-classic techniques of drink preparation, 25 classic drinks, creating drink menus, matching spirits and cocktails with food, customer service basics and creating efficient bartending stations

There is also a glossary that includes the definitions of terms that are used throughout the course. Within each module, the subjects are divided into sections. Each section ends with a video clip taken from an actual live BarSmarts course. At the end of each module there is quiz with 25 questions. The student must pass the quiz before they can move on to the next module. After the fourth module, there is a DrinkBuilder test, which is based upon the 25 classic drinks presented in the fourth module. Once the student has passed the DrinkBuilder test, the course is considered complete and their certificate will arrive via mail.

The BarSmarts certificate itself isn’t the most important part of the course. It’s the knowledge, history provided and the techniques demonstrated throughout the course that are invaluable. The BarSmarts Wired course takes basic bar skills to an advanced level. The course is taught by some of the industry’s most well-known bartenders and mixologists: Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, Steve Olson, F. Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour and David Wondrich. The course teaches the detailed origins of how spirits are made and how they came to be, provides a historical background in the origins of 25 classic cocktails, discusses in detail how to use the bar tools included in the course kit, demonstrates classic techniques for preparing cocktails, touches on customer service basics at the bar and gives advice on how to design specialty cocktail menus and efficient bartending stations.

My favorite part of the course was reading about the history and recipes of the classic 25 drinks every bartender should know. After reading, I was able to watch videos featuring the instructors building each of the cocktails while they discussed its history and explained the proper technique for each drink’s preparation. I took the knowledge and techniques that I learned throughout the course and was able to apply them immediately at work that night, instantly making the course practical to my own craft behind the bar.

Registration for the BarSmarts Wired course is closed and will reopen on February 1, 2010. This is due to the fact that the BarSmarts Live course is currently presenting one-day seminars, discussions, hands-on mixology, testing and certification in select metropolitan locations throughout the nation.

Be sure to check out the BarSmarts website for more information on the BarSmarts Wired and Live courses.

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