What are the most popular cocktails this holiday season?
Veteran bartender and author of Bartending for Dummies, Ray Foley, discusses the basics of bartending and whether people really order a "57T-Bird with Honolulu License Plates"!
CommitmentNow.com: You are a former Marine with over 30 years of bartending and restaurant experience. You are also the founder and publisher of Bartender Magazine, the founder of the Bartender Hall of Fame ™, the author of Bartending for Dummies and, most impressively, the inventor of the Fuzzy Navel! How did you get so involved in bartending?
Ray Foley: After discharge from the Marine Corp and attending College, I bartended part-time at the Manor restaurant for 17 years. Obviously, I didn't graduate out of college. I met a lot of importers, and one of them hired me to be a consultant 26 years ago. That's when we created the Fuzzy Navel for a company called National Distillers, which was later bought by Jim Beam. How did I get so involved in bartending? I was making a lot of money, always had cash in my pocket, and a woman in my bed.
CommitmentNow.com: Who should read Bartending for Dummies?
Ray: All bartenders, anyone thinking of being a bartender, and it's a great book for home bartenders.
CommitmentNow.com: What are the basic traits of a good bartender?
Ray: Good sense of humor, the ability to get along with people.
CommitmentNow.com: In Bartending For Dummies, the largest chapter is the one called “Recipes From A To Z” which contains over 1,000 cocktail recipes! Are bartenders expected to know to how make all of these drinks?
Ray: There are over 4,000 cocktail recipes - maybe more. Bartenders should know at least 200.
CommitmentNow.com: The names of some cocktails are really funny! How many people actually order a “57 T-Bird with Honolulu License Plates,” a “Phoebe Snow,” an “Irish Quaalude,” or a “Brain Hemorrhage”?
Ray: It depends upon the bar, time of day, and how much fun people are having. People actually DO order these drinks.
CommitmentNow.com: What are some of today’s most popular cocktails?
Ray: The Cosmo is still popular, martinis, margaritas. Manhattans and old fashioneds are making a big comeback.
CommitmentNow.com: Are there any recent trends in cocktail preparation or popularity?
Ray: Manhattans, Old fashioneds, and welll-prepared drinks. Bartenders are getting back to well-prepared not over-prepared, and not 1400 ingredients.
CommitmentNow.com: Where can we learn more about you and bartending?
Ray: You can check our website www.bartender.com, mixologist.com, usbartender.com, or any of our books. I have attached my resume.
Ray Foley, a former Marine with over 30 years of bartending and restaurant experience, is the Founder and Editor of BARTENDER® Magazine. He has been published in numerous articles throughout the country and has appeared on many TV and radio shows. He is the only publisher/editor/bartender to appear on Imbibe Magazine’s list of ‘The 25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century.’
Ray is the founder of the "Bartender Hall of Fame™" and "The Bartenders' Foundation™" Incorporated, a non-profit foundation has been set up to raise scholarship money for bartenders and their families. Ray is the founder of www.BARTENDER.com (over 1.5 million hits per month) and www.USBartender.com, and many other bar-related websites.
