Flair bartending
Flair bartending also known as show barkeeping or show mixing, already suggests what this is all about. In contrast to the 'daily business' of a bartender, flair bartending is about preparing cocktails in a particularly artistic way and also presenting the work behind the bar in an artistic way. At the same time, flair bartending is divided into two sub-disciplines: exhibition flair and working flair.
SHOW FLAIR
Exhibition flair is a type of flair bartending where the entertainment is clearly in the foreground and which is primarily performed as part of special competitions. In order to optimize the artistic handling of bottles, mostly sparsely filled bottles (approx. 4-6cl) are used in order to perform tricks. Setting up the accessories often requires special preparation. However, daring tricks and sophisticated choreographies with multiple bottles or shakers can be presented. Bottle made of hard plastic are often used for practice, especially in the early stages.
WORKING FLAIR
In contrast to show flair, working flair is a discipline that can definitely be integrated into the normal work processes behind the bar; the techniques are designed not to slow down the mixing process unnecessarily while keeping good quality and service in addition to a good show. For example, a special throw technique called ‘flats’ is often used, where the bottle is thrown into the air without rotating. This creates the illusion that the bottle is levitating.
