UPDATED 4.10.23

UPDATED 4.10.23

UPDATED 4.10.23

FUNDAMENTALS OF FREE POURING

Free pouring means pouring alcohol or mixing drinks without using any type of measuring device. This system is one of the friendliest and most efficient ways to make drinks. It’s fast, it makes you look professional, lets you pour “two handed”, and it frees you up to show a little flair.

Free pouring accurately is a skill which takes practice to master and constant maintenance to keep accurate. It’s up to you as the bartender to maintain an accurate pour.

Maintaining an accurate pour is important for a few reasons:

• Controlling the flavor balance of a drink

• Controlling the consistency of drinks from one round to another

• Controlling the cost involved with creating a drink

If you are unfamiliar or not confident in your free pouring skills, practice at home. Practice often.

This is how to free pour a perfect shot and how to adjust the amounts you pour by precise ¼ oz. increments. You will need an empty liquor bottle (1 Liter), pour spout, empty glass, and a measuring cup that measures in ounces.

• Fill the liquor bottle with water and attach a pour spout

• Pour the water into the glass while counting in this fashion… 1 and 2 and 3 and 4

  • This equals 1 ounce

• Pour the water into the measuring cup. Does it equal 1 ounce?

• Practice and adjust your counting speed until you consistently free pour 1 ounce

Once you consistently free pour 1 ounce. Practice 1 ½ ounces, 2 ounces, and 3 ounces.

For 1 ½ ounces, count… 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 and 6.

Remember this: Every Counted Number = ¼ Ounce

For example if you need a ¼ oz. of triple sec, count to 1… ½ oz. of peach, count to 2 and so on.

Practice in ¼ oz. increments to learn your particular speed count.

We expect our bartenders to be proficient and accurate. You will be tested on your free pouring.

GLASSWARE & POURS

Pint Glass

• Bottled Beer & Draft Beer

Highball (Short) – 2 Ounce Pour

• Liquor served with juice or soda mixers.

Beverage Glass (Tall) – 2 Ounce Pour

• One liquor drink ordered tall with juice or soda mixers

Rocks Glass – 2 Ounce. Pour

• Liquor on the rocks with no mixers

• Liquor served neat (some guests may prefer a snifter)

Martini Glass(Or A Double) – 3 Ounce. Pour

• All chilled liquors served up

• Pineapple Crush 

Margarita Glass – 2 Ounce. Pour

• Margarita

• Bloody Mary or Caesar

Coupe Glass

• Select specialty drinks served and strained into coupe glass

Snifter – 2 Ounce Pour

• Cognac

• Brandy 

Glass Coffee Mug – 2 Ounce. Pour

• Coffee Drinks with One Liquor

Wine Glass – 5 Ounce Pour

• Red Wine

• White Wine

Dessert Wine Glass – 2 Ounce Pour

• All Dessert Wines

Port Glass – 2 Ounce Pour

• Liqueurs/Cordials

• Port

• Sherry

Champagne Glass – 5 Ounce. Pour

• Sparkling Wines

• Champagnes

• Champagne Drinks

• Mimosa

• Bellini