Flair bartending, sometimes referred to as freestyle bartending, extreme bartending, or even flairtending, is the art of preparing a cocktail with panache. Think about the young Tom Cruise shaking his stuff as Brian Flanagan in the 1988 film Cocktail and you get the idea. It’s where the art of bartending meets dazzling showmanship and skill.
Here’s a look at how it all began, and how you can begin to incorporate some fancy moves into your cocktail making repertoire.
The origins of flair bartending
The innovator of flairing was the legendary Jerry Thomas, who pioneered the Blue Blazer cocktail in San Francisco in the mid 1800s. This daring drink was created by lighting whisky and passing it back and forth between two mixing glasses to create an arc of flame. Do not try this one at home!
The prohibition era in America put paid to flamboyant cocktail making techniques for much of the first half the 20th century. However, by the 1980s bartenders were once again looking to put a bit of fun and finesse back into the art of cocktail making. TGI Fridays began hosting a Bar Olympics, which has since grown into a global level competition.
The basics of flair bartending
Performing neat tricks at the bar will certainly get you noticed, but there are obvious risks involved, so it’s important to take your time, practice and be patient before you let loose. Start with empty bottles or purposely designed plastic flair bottles to minimise the risks of accidents and injuries, and use a mirror for guidance and precision.
The Flip
The Flip involves holding a bottle by its neck and flipping your wrist to turn it upside down, momentarily letting the bottle go as it turns through 180 degrees before catching it by the body or neck.
The Stall
The Stall involves holding the bottle or shaker in your dominant hand by its neck between your thumb and forefinger, and then dropping it and catching and balancing it on the palm of your hand. Advanced bartenders will incorporate a rotation of the bottle before they catch it, and can even catch it on other body parts such as the chin or forearm.
The Roll
The roll involves rolling the bottle across your shoulders or down your arms in one fluid movement, and is often performed as part of a sequence of tricks.
The Swipe
The Swipe involves swiping the bottle from one hand to the other behind your back in one smooth motion. As you get more confident, you will be able to perform the swipe in one fast seamless move to impress your guests.
Putting the moves together
Once you’ve mastered the basics, start by putting a few moves together until you develop your own rhythm and style, and you are well on your way to successful flair bartending!
