Your Bar Concept

3 Dark beer cocktails

For those cocktails you can use any dark beer/stout you like. Whichever is your preferred one.

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Soft and sweet

Ingredients

Dark beer/ stout
50 ml rum
50 ml Butterscotch schnapps

Tools

Chilled beer glass
Spoon

The how to

This is a simple one. In your glass add the rum and the schnapps, pour in the beer without foam and leave 2 fingers space from the rim. Stir and mix well, create your foam this way, by stirring the mix.

Wake me up

Ingredients

1 shot cold espresso
25 ml coffee liqueur
25 ml vodka
100 ml Dark beer/ stout
Ice

Tools

Collins glass
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add ice to fill your glass, coffee liquor, espresso shot and the vodka. Stir well. Top the glass with your beer and enjoy.

Mojito like

Ingredients

Dark beer/ stout
5 Raspberries
25 ml rum
25 ml lime juice

Tools

Collins glass
Muddler
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add the raspberries, rum and the lime juice. Press them with your muddler. Add the beer with two fingers space from the rim. Use your spoon to stir and create foam. Enjoy!

How to battle your hangover

We all know that nasty feeling. Waking up after a night of heavy drinking. Your muscles are sore, you feel like vomiting even though you did not eat, your head hurts, you smell bad and you are extremely thirsty. You feel less of a person and more like a ghost.

We put together some tips that will help you feel better.

1. Get rid of the “throw up” feeling

A lot of people, the first thing they do after waking up from a night of drinking is to jug water and sometimes this will make you feel sicker than helping. I know it makes me feel worse. Instead of doing that I am opening a ginger beer and I am drinking that. It helps with the nausea. If you want to find more about the benefits of ginger beer, you can read it here.

I feel like drinking ginger beer is more helpful than just water first thing in the morning.

2. Put some food in that belly

I know, sometimes it is hard even to think about eating, just the thought of food is gonna get in a down spiral straight to “vomit town”. Unfortunately for you, you have to get over it, because in the end this is something that will make you feel better. Try eating some toast with cheese, some rice, oats, bananas, anything that you can keep down.

3. Introduce the fluid of life- water

When you are sure you will not make consecutive trips to the bathroom, add some water after you finish what you are eating. It is really important to rehydrate and shake that “ rains” feeling that your body has. Make sure you drink plenty of water, but not all at once, the nausea may come back this way.

If you are not a fan of water, well try adding some natural juices now. Again, do not be greedy and drink it all at once. You should have some fluids that are rich in electrolytes.

You can add tea in the battle against hangovers. Try drinking some chamomile or ginger tea. I prefer to make a mix of fresh ginger and mint tea with chamomile.

4. Vitamins and aspirin

If you have a complex of vitamins that you usually take , make sure you do not skip it that day. If you don’t usually take vitamins , you should add a supply of B and C.

If your head is pounding add an aspirin in the mix.

5. Sleep it over

Sometimes your hangover is so bad that you just need more rest. Eat, hydrate, have a shower and go bag to bed.

The short history of beer

It is hard to pinpoint an exact time of the first appearance of beer, but the earliest proof that we found was in what we call now Iran, 3400 B.C. Now this is proof that people like drinking from the beginning of times.

The popularity of alcoholic drinks was driven by the uncertain quality of the water supply. Although people didn’t understand the science, there was a clear indication that drinking water increased the likelihood of contracting diseases like cholera.

You are asking what made beer so popular and easy to obtain? The answer will surprise you. About beer and churches, two things that are not going together in our times, but were in hand in hand in the early stages of history. Because churches and monasteries were a bog source of labour, they were popular in having and making their own products as well.

It may be a surprise, but the coming of Christianity saw a tremendous increase in the brewing of beer, largely because monks played such a role in its production.

In the beginning monks were providing water, shelter and food to the travellers that were stopping in their vicinity. Because of the water supplies back then, the monasteries were brewing their own beer. A lot of people were calling this a “liquid sandwich”. The practice evolved and the monks eventually began to sell the beer in what were rather like medieval pubs.

From there, more changes happened from the beer produced then to what we are drinking now. Nothing happens out of nowhere and at a fast forward speed, but all in good time, beer slowly becomes science, more than art. Many of these ancient beers were flavoured with unusual additives such as mandrake, dates and olive oil.

Nowadays, small breweries are repairing, making a fuss over the mass produced ones.

The way to make the beer was different from empire to empire, era to era and so on. The Egyptians were one of the biggest consumers of this drink. In this empire, beer was also a way of paying the workers. In those times, everybody was drinking it, even children, and to be honest it was better than dying from some stomach illness because of the bacteria that the water had.

In conclusion, beer has been with us for a long time. Since the humans changed from the hunting and gathering to cultivating and growing together in one place. It went through a lot of processes to become what we are calling now “a beer” and it will evolve even more.

3 Light Beer Cocktails

For those cocktails we will use any pilsner beer of your choosing. Whatever is your preferred one.

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Spicy fiesta

Ingredients

Pilsner beer
50 ml tequila
2-3 drops of tabasco
A chili pepper- cut long
Lime wedge
Ice
Garnish: salt & chili pepper flakes

Tools

Rocks glass

The how to

First we prepare the rim of the glass. Make it sticky with the lime wedge. Form a pile from the salt and chili pepper. Put the glass rim through it. Add ice and the cut in half chili pepper. Add your tequila and top the glass with your beer of choosing.

The pink genie

Ingredients

Pilsner beer (cold)
50 ml lemon vodka
75 ml raspberry puree
Garnish: dry orange wheel

Tools

Spoon
Beer glass

The how to

In your glass add your vodka and the raspberry puree. Stir, add your beer and stir again, slowly. Place the dry orange wheel in the middle of the glass and let it float.

bOozy lemonade

Ingredients

Pilsner beer
75 ml fresh grapefruit juice
25 ml ginger syrup
Garnish: grapefruit wheel

Tools

Beer glass
Spoon

The how to

In your glass add your juice, syrup and beer. Stir until mixed, garnish with your grapefruit wheel.

3 Rose Wine Cocktails

Wine is good on it’s own but we can also make some nice cocktails with it and they will be as delicious as the drink on it’s own.

Regarding which type of wine you have to use, just choose your favorite!

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

The rose

Ingredients

100 ml rose wine
10 ml fresh lime juice
25 ml rose syrup
50 ml rose water
5 blackberries
Ice
garnish :5 rose petals, dry grapefruit wheel

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Balloon glass

The how to

In your shaker add your wine, lime juice, rose syrup, rose water and the 5 blackberries. Add ice and shake well. In your glass pour the mix over ice and garnish your glass.

Spicy flower

Ingredients

100 ml rose wine
10 ml fresh lime juice
5 slices of a chilli pepper
2 orange bitters dashes
Ice
Garnish: a spicy pepper

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Balloon glass

The how to

In your shaker add the wine, lime juice, chilli slices and the orange bitters dashes. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it over ice in your glass and garnish.

Cherry delight

Ingredients

100 ml rose wine
10 ml fresh lime juice
25 ml cherry syrup
50 ml cherry nectar
Ice
garnish: red currants, 2 cherries

Tools

Blender
Cooper mug

The how to

In your blender add everything except your garnish. Blend well and pour the mix in your mug, garnish with the currants and cherries. Serve with a wide straw.

3 Red Wine Cocktails

Wine is good on it’s own but we can also make some nice cocktails with it and they will be as delicious as the drink on it’s own.

Regarding which type of wine you have to use, just choose your favorite!

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Frozen red sangria

Ingredients

150 ml red Wine
50 ml orange juice
7-10 frozen raspberries
7-10 frozen mango pieces
Ice
Garnish : mint leaves, 2 frozen raspberries

Tools

Blender
Red wine tumbler

The how to

Now this is easy. We add everything(no mint) in the blender. Blend until smooth. Poor in your wine tumbler and garnish with the mint and raspberries.

Elegant red sangria

Ingredients

150 ml red Wine
50 ml bourbon
2 Orange wheels
Cinnamon stick
Garnish: with the ingredients that you make the drink

Tools

Bar spoon
Red wine glass

The how to

In your glass you add the orange wheels and cinnamon stick. Add you wine and bourbon. Stir and enjoy.

Red night

Ingredients

150 ml red Wine
50 ml spiced rum
25 ml mango juice
Cinnamon stick
1 star anise
Garnish: orange wheel

Tools

Bar spoon
Small pot
Red wine tumbler

The how to

In your pot add wine, juice and the rum. Put in the spices. Heat up the mix but do not boil. Stir. Put the mix in your glass and garnish with the orange and drink while thinking about Christmas.

Partnerships- Food suppliers

Because of how the world is changing and the way we live, of course, my advice is not to go with the biggest supplier out there. You can read here more about the food and beverage industry and what trends are paving the future.

So what about how we get our food suppliers? Do we go big or small? The answer to this is that we go small and local as much as we can.

A really big plus for your location is to advertise how you are helping others grow around you. New generations are way more mindful of where they drink and eat.

Vegetables, fruits & animal products

My advice is to go to your local farmer and get all the vegetables, fruits, meat you need. Make sure you advertise this so you will also grow in revenue and number of guests.

If you are living in a big city maybe going to an actual farm is too far and time consuming, but you can instead co shop at organic markets and/or bio markets. The most important point is that you should make a connection/ contract with the producer, not just a second party that only displays the products, go straight to the source.

Booze

Now here you might not have a choice. The mainstream booz you will get from a licence distribuitor.

In the area you have the chance to help small breweries, wineries, distillers. Make sure they have all the credentials and they do not break state rules.

Present to your guest a part of your country or city through them.

Other drinks

Who thought that natural juices can be 100% natural? You can make them by yourself, though this might be time consuming and not your goal.

Instead of buying an ordinary apple juice that is mass produced, try opt for a small business that makes their apple juice in your city and that you know is good, delicious tasting and more attractive for your guests.

Even if you see the cost getting a bit higher, nobody is saying that you can’t increase your prices.

Instead of focusing on the budget, invest more in a marketing campaign that can show what how your business is helping others around you as well. Plus, a contract like that doesn’t mean you have to loos money. You can play that in your favor as well.

Other products

Go handmade and environment friendly.

Why do something like that when you can buy everything so easy and be like the others?

Well that is exactly the reason why. You do not want to be like all the others. You want to stand out!

Photo by Aphiwat chuangchoem on Pexels.com

Support others around you!

3 White Wine Cocktails

Wine is good on it’s own but we can also make some nice cocktails with it and be as delicious as the drink on it’s own.

Let’s get to it.

If you feel overwhelmed by the techniques or terms that we are using check out the free course on bartending.

Lavi-dovi

Ingredients

150 ml White Wine
½ teaspoon of lavender buds
3 mint leaves
Ice
Garnish: lime wheel and mint leaves

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Wine glass

The how to

In your shaker add the lavender buds whine and mint leaves. Add ice and shake well. In your glass add ice and double strain your mix. Garnish and feel how the stress is leaving your body.

Tropical island

Ingredients

100 ml white Wine
50 ml rum
25 ml mango syrup
25 ml peach syrup
Ice
Garnish: peach slices

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Wine glass

The how to

In your shaker add the wine and syrups. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it over ice in your glass and garnish with your peach slices.

Strawberry wine lemonade

Ingredients

100 ml white wine
3 strawberries
25 ml elderflower syrup
10 ml fresh lime juice
Soda water
Ice
Garnish: 1 strawberry, lime wheel

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Wine glass

The how to

In your shaker add your 3 strawberries cut in half, wine and elderflower syrup. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it in your glass over ice and garnish. To add a little sparkle top up the glass with soda water.

Food vision- Why and How to make one

In my vision we have 3 pillars
Sustainability, Social impact and Health .

Why and what to do with a “Food vision”?

The what is simple: advertise. Make your message clear, and the steps that you are taking even clearer. This will attract different guests that are not aware of your restaurant and just add to your pool of customers.

Let’s explain the WHY and the HOW TO.

Let’s start with the easiest one, health. We want our food to be healthy, we want it to make us feel better, feel like we are doing something to improve the way we are eating, but we don’t really go for the better version when we have to choose. It is hard to change our habits.

Another problem in today’s society are the prices. Tasty foods that are not necessarily a good fit for our eating goals are more affordable. So even if you are determined to eat healthier, your budget may stop you from doing so.

Another reason for not choosing the healthier version is taste. Usually when we think about a better version of food we also think about how blant they taste. But this has to change. There are so many condiments, natural ones that can spice up your food.

Regarding a restaurant, cafe or even bar the healthy food needs to be affordable and tasty. Give the opportunity to your chef to make something as a special dish that is like a signature dish for your place. Or trust your bartender that he can make the tastiest drink without using syrups, or added sugar.

Also a food vision is about what you want to focus your menu on. What is the theme for your food and drink selection, what makes you more profit. Keep this in mind when you make your selection and don’t overwhelm guests with a lot of choices. You can click here to find out more about how to build a menu.

The second important factor of your vision should be sustainability. There are a lot of big establishments that will just roll their eyes at this, but their customers are dying and I mean this literally, because they are in the older spectrum and this means that their locations are slowly loosing. The truth is the trend is going in that direction, better late than never. This is a long subject that we presented in detail here. But some few pointers in how to do it: less waste(a recycling program), reduce water use, by local and seasonal.

We are here at the third pillar of our vision and this is social impact. This includes how you recruit people and how you pay them, how you make contacts with your suppliers (you should support local business), how open and transparent you should be about where you get all your supplies. One small little thing that you can do before all of this is to invest in your location. You should start with this and from here just to grow.

Heaving a defined vision for your place is the key to success. Of course you can adjust and change it to fit your needs. It is easy to make it and you should involve your team and build one together.

3 original Empress Gin cocktails

These are my three favorite Empress gin cocktails. They did a great job in making their own mixes already. You should go check them out here, they are delicious.

Empress gin is something different. This is mostly because of it’s violet color. This color comes from the butterfly pea blossoms. The taste is also something worth mentioning, combining: ginger root, grapefruit peel, juniper, coriander seeds, cinnamon bark, rose petals and let’s nor forget about the famous Fairmont Empress tea.

Lets get to it.

If you are a beginner and some terms are difficult for you to understand check our free bartending course here.

Purple rose

Ingredients

50 ml Empress Gin
25 ml fresh lime juice
2 dashes rose bitters
1 splash cardamom bitters
Herbal tonic water
10 ml simple syrup
Ice
Garnish: dry orange wheel

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Balloon glass

The how to

In your shaker add the Empress gin, lime juice, simple syrup and the bitters. Add ice and shake well. Double strain it in your glass over ice and top the glass with your herbal tonic. Garnish with a dry orange wheel.

Fell like a star!

Smoky genie

Ingredients

50 ml Empress Gin
25 ml fresh lime juice
10 black currants
Ice cubes & a big fancy shape
Garnish rosemary string

Tools

Shaker
Cocktail strainer
Tea strainer
Rocks glass
Lighter

The how to

Set fire to the tip of the rosemary bush, let it make some smoke and put the rocks glass on top so it will capture the smoke inside. In your shaker add the black currants, Empress gin, lime juice and ice. Shake well. Turn your glass and add a big cube of ice, double strain the mix in your glass and garnish with the rosemary string(you can use the one that you burned or a new one).

Northern lights

Ingredients

50 ml Empress gin
10 ml fresh lime juice
100 ml Ginger beer
25 ml Absinthe
Ice: crushed
Garnish ( lime wheel)

Tools

Wine tumbler

The how to

You build this over ice straight in the glass. Put the ice in the glass, add the lime juice first, and then the ginger beer, slowly pour the gin. Add your lime wheel flat in the middle of the glass on top of the ice and add your absinthe. This is for presentation, serve it with a straw and let people know they need to stir before drinking.