How to Serve Drinks the Right Way
Beverage service can make or break the experience for your guest the same way it would for your bottom line. You see, drinks are just as important as food to your customers while alcohol sales have excellent margins that can go a long way for your business. So we can’t stress enough how important it is that you deliver their favorite beer or wine the right way.
Each component from the glassware to the garnishes plays a specific role in getting that perfectly carbonated glass of beer or full-flavored sparkling your customer is after. So before you pour that drink, make sure you give your patrons the enjoyable experience they deserve by keeping these five tips in mind!
Use the Right Glassware
The appropriate glassware is essential in an impeccably prepared drink. There are two things to this: the size and shape. The right shape will deliver the characteristics of the aroma of their beer or wine for that full sensory satisfaction. The size helps with determining the right amount to pour and accommodating the garnishes and mixes unique to a drink. Together, they assist with avoiding spills, maintaining the right serving temperature, and keeping the flavor intact.
Rules can be pretty loose when it comes to wine. You don’t have to use a specific glass for white, red, or rose. However, there are well-informed customers who consider this important to the experience so you might want to invest in a full lineup of glassware to show that your bar cares and pays attention.
There’s a glass for every kind of wine. Tulip-shaped glassware is smaller in size to keep the cold temperature. Red wine tastes their best in larger glasses with a bowl shape to release that aroma. Champagne is complemented best by a flute for excellent carbonation.
The best thing about beer is that there are no exact rules, but you can always take things a step further to make sure the drink is as perfect as it can be. There are several types of glasses used for serving beer mainly designed to easily drink from and to store. Beer mugs maintain excellent insulation while those with handles provide total convenience.
A pilsner has a tall, tapered shape that showcases the carbonation and color like no other while achieving that foamy head that fans of the drink will love. A wheat beer glass does the same for the namesake beer. Craft beer is made extra special when served in a glass with a tulip-like bowl and ribbed, hollowed out, or stemmed base. If you want to frost your beer mugs, which some traditional drinkers might appreciate, make sure you do so with precision or you might ruin the taste.
A martini has to be served in its special namesake cone-shaped glass for the perfect temperature and full flavor. Many cocktails are usually served in a coupe while highball glasses will be home to favorites like gin and tonic or scotch and soda. For spirits on the rocks, you can’t go wrong with lowball glassware. Snifters are reserved for cognac, brandy, barley wines, and strong ales.
Taller glasses that can hold between 6 to 16oz are commonly used for mixed drinks to allow the right measurement of the liquor, mixer, and ice. On the other hand, the shorter rocks glass is designed to hold a smaller amount of ice cubes and two shots of liquor, at the most. In some cases, it is also used for cocktails like the Negroni, although the overall amount of mixture is still way less than the concoctions served in taller glasses.
Keep the Right Measurements
Serving drinks the right way also involves portion control and drink quality. Here, precision is key. Overpouring leads to wastage of fine alcohol. Some bartenders might pour a little extra rum in there for the tip. It’s going to run you dry literally without enjoying the proper returns.
On the other hand, when you underpour, you’re basically shortchanging your customer and robbing them of the full experience, which will reflect badly on your service.
A bartender should use a jigger to measure the amount of alcohol to be poured into a glass.
Find the Right Serving Temperature
You can’t have a beer that’s too warm or wine that’s too cold, because then the flavor is tainted.
To retain the perfect taste, beers should be served at 39-43 °F. Lighter lagers are preferred on the colder side while their stronger counterpart and ales should be warmer.
Red wine tastes best when decanted and preserved between 53-69 °F while your guests will appreciate white wine maintained at 44-57 °F. Cognac is best enjoyed at room temperature.
Commercial Ice Makers can help you achieve the ideal environment for your drinks with high-quality coolers and refrigerators from only the most trusted brands. We offer different sizes and configurations to meet your budget and specific demands.
Don’t Forget About Ice
There will always be drinks best served on the rocks, so you must know the amount of ice needed for a specific drink.
Cocktails are best served with ice that fill the entire glass. Some customers might like their whiskey, bourbon, and other hard liquor watered down to an extent to achieve the flavor nuances they prefer while others like to maintain the purity and strength of the drink.
When retrieving ice, use a quality ice bucket and a scoop if you need to. Never use another glass to scoop up ice to avoid breakage and having shards mixed in.
You should only use high-quality ice cubes that are large and don’t melt easily. Obviously, the ice should be clean and free of outside flavors as well. For this, it is smart to keep a matching water filter for your ice machine by your side. Check out our affordable ice machines and filters that you can use to ensure topnotch ice quality for your guests.
Train Your Staff
Your servers and bartenders are part of the whole experience, so they should be trained for a speedy and sanitary service.
When handling glassware, never touch the lip of the glass to avoid bacteria from being passed around. Don’t refill soda or cocktails from the table. Instead, take the glass and deliver a new drink. Never try to pour a drink when a glass is too far away because it could spill.
When serving wine, handle the bottle and uncork it with care. Clean the bottle throat before removing the cork entirely while avoiding foaming. Offer a taste to the guest who ordered the wine before proceeding to serve the rest of the table. If making recommendations, your sommelier should make an effort to gauge the knowledge and preference of their guests to offer the right match.
And for the sake of your liquor license, don’t let minors serve liquor at your bar or restaurant.
Serve Drinks the Right Way
Proper drink service is a strong testament to your professionalism and commitment to client satisfaction. Follow these tips and watch a loyal patron base rise and in turn, keep your bottom line as healthy as can be. Everybody wins.
