Professional How to Bartending Video
by Tapeworm
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (03 November, 1998)
list price: $19.95
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Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

still waiting
I have been waiting now for 4 weeks for them to ship this out...

JUST WHAT WAS NEEDED!
Probably the best bartending video I have ever seen!I have seen a lot of these videos because I am a mixing instructor.I teach exactly what is taught in the video, but I do emphasize more on the hospitality side.But, this product is the best deal for someone who can commit to 3 to 5 viewings and taking notes.It is concise, accurate, and well produced.I highly suggest buying this video if you need to get into the business fast!

The Professional How-To Bartending Video
I often host parties and I work at a Tavern downtown.I needed a straight forward video to show me the "professional basics".This video is the one.Nothing snazzy, but solid and very helpful learning.Whoeverpublished this video, knew exactly what the viewer needs to know.Sincewatching the video, I have greatly increased my income.My tips havenearly doubled and my colleagues all have ordered the video as well.MyTavern, in fact, has bought 6 copies for bartending training! ... Read more

Asin: 630523020X
Sales Rank: 43383
Subjects:  1. How To - Hobbies/Crafts   

Bartending for Dummies
by John Wiley & Sons
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (12 September, 1997)
list price: $15.99
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Reviews (22)

Serving Up a Good Mix
When I built my home bar, and stocked it the brim with liquor, mixers, and various essential glassware, I knew I needed a little bit more advice and expertise to tighten up the collection and get it ready for a party.I was always a fan of the dummies books, and while they may be looked upon as lowbrow material for the martini connoisseur, or bar expert, I was neither, and I believe that for people like me, most do-it-yourselfers, the book suffices quite nicely.

When I throw a party, and our college parties are usually big with 65 or more people, we go all out and things get hectic behind the bar with dozens of people all clamoring for something different.Bartending for Dummies really comes in handy time after time, with many of the most popular drink recipes available at a moment's glace, in logical, alphabetized order.The look-up is fast and quick, and the instructions are quite easy to follow.This is especially useful for when you have dozens of people throughout the night who, when asked what they want, simply reply with, "I don't know," or, "Make me something that tastes good."While these responses are aggravating, and totally unproductive, this book serves as a great reference of on-the-fly drinks to make for these indecisive individuals.

For pre-party preparations, the front of the book is filled with information on everything from cutting limes the proper way to buying enough rum, or vodka for a predetermined number of guests.The numbers, math, and money tabulations I have found to be accurate enough to swear by, and often helpful in a myriad of party-planning adventures.The book also has a number of charts depicting types of alcoholic volumes, what some of the terminology means, and even an informative list of calories per kind of alcoholic beverage.

The book has a couple drawbacks, as almost everything does.For one thing, the author tends to use a few lower-quality alcohols in certain popular drinks that should never be used.Using these lower qualities, and sub-par products detract from the eminence of an otherwise first-rate beverage.A second criticism is that some of the drink recipes are not what the vast majority of the world believes them to be.Slight variations in amount, sequence of mixing, and kinds of alcohol used within these drinks I find suspect.

However, the information on the main categories of alcohols, their history, production methods, place of origin, and most popular nomenclature I found to be quite fascinating.The research seemed impeccable, with well-documented and respectable sources.The chapter on kinds of glassware and their uses provided a layman with tons of useful facts to help them make informed decisions on what kinds of glasses to stock your bar with and serve different drinks within.

While Bartending for Dummies may be considered light reading, inconsequential, and contrived to experts in the field, this demographic is hardly this book's intended audience.I, a nonprofessional and do-it-myselfer, have found the book to be a boon time and again, at party after party.Its setup is easy to follow, coherent and consistent, with humor at times, and an all-round indispensable tool for any home-bartender.

A bit too general and did not realize it was mini edition.
After purchasing this book from Amazon, I was quite disappointed when I received it in the mail. I did not even notice the very fine print on the cover of the book that says Miniature Edition in the green bubble or notice the dimensions in its description. If you are truly interested in learning about bartending, I would not recommend this book because of its lack of detail and depth. A majority of the book is simply different drink ingredients, but even those are very limited because of the small size of the book. I really wish I could go back and spend the extra 4 dollars on a full sized book that would be MUCH more useful for me. Buy the paperback edition of Bartending for Dummies, and not the hardcover!

wasn'tvery impressed
There were parts of this book that were very imformative and well researched.However, as a professional bartender and author, I feel there were a lot of mistakes he made in writing his book.
A lot of the recipes given were incorrect.Certain drinks like an Old-fashioned, and a Sex on the Beach should not be wrong.Also, I noticed that he had ten or fifteen drinks featuring Absolut Vodka.Absolut Vodka is a very low-rated vodka, and should never be involved in a recipe for a good drink.Crystal Palace or 5 o'clock vodka would have sufficed just fine. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764550519
Sales Rank: 242970
Subjects:  1. Alcoholic beverages    2. Bartending    3. Beverages    4. Beverages - Bartending    5. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    6. Cocktails    7. Cooking    8. Cooking / Wine   

The Bartender's Bible : 1001 Mixed Drinks and Everything You Need to Know to Set Up Your Bar
by HarperTorch
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (August, 1993)
list price: $6.99 -- our price: $6.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (27)

Comprehensive, literate, entertaining, and informative
This book all the basic information you'd expect from a bartending guide: glassware, tools, alcohol, mixers, and a few hundred pages of clear, no-nonsense recipes.So far, so good.

Two factors, however, distinguish this book from others like it: its organization and its snappy, literate prose.

The Bartender's Bible is intelligently organized by main ingredient.It has separate chapters for bourbon, gin, tequila, vodka, rum, brandy, and whiskey, as well as several chapters for other broad categories such as "Hot Drinks" and "Cordials."This makes a lot of sense for the way most of us use a book like this -- you have a bottle of Bacardi, for example, and want to discover a few novel drinks that use rum.It's then a simple matter of turning to Chapter 5 and stumbling upon the recipe for a Cuba Libre, or a Maestro, or a Rum Sour, or dozens of other rum drinks that might strike your fancy.Or if you can't quite remember the name of that tequila concoction you were served last summer in Cozumel, just flip to Chapter 7 and thumb through until you find it.(Of course, if you know the name of a particular drink, there's a handy alphabetized index in the back.)

This guide is the best on the market, however, because of Regan's skill as a writer."Drinking," he muses, "has to do with friendship, good times, warm and tender moments, camaraderie, celebration, commiseration, birth and death, sealing a deal, remembering a friend -- the very things that life itself is about."He is equally entertaining when describing how bourbon is made as he is when remembering the warmth and laughter of his own favorite pub back in Lancashire.

You could, in other words, read the narrative sections of this book and be charmed without ever consulting the recipes even once.Do yourself a favor and get the hardback or spiral edition -- this one is bound to get dog-eared from constant use.

Great collection of bar drinks
We have enjoyed this little book to the point the pages are wearing.It is a handy collection of drink recipes & tips like what items you should have in your home bar, origins of types of alcohol & other interesting information.It is the only bar book we have and we have used it frequently to try new things & to prepare drinks for visitors.Every recipe we have tried has been great!

It is a great deal for the price & so far the only bar book we need for our small home bar.

Good book, but not the latest drinks included.
THIS BOOK IS GREAT FOR THE BEGINNER...NOT FOR THE SEMI PROFESSIONAL BARTENDER, OR PROFESSIONAL, NOR FOR THE EXPERIENCED HOME BARTENDER. MOST BOOKS HAVE MORE DRINKS TO OFFER, WITH BOOKS LIKE THE BARTENDERS BLACK BOOK WHICH IS MORE USER FRIENDLY AND HAS MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY RECIPES I WOULD RATHER SPEND THE DIFFERENCE. ... Read more

Isbn: 0061092207
Sales Rank: 9826
Subjects:  1. Alcoholic beverages    2. Beverages - Bartending    3. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    4. Cocktails    5. Cooking    6. Cooking / Wine    7. Cooking / Bartending   

Pedrini 6-Piece Cocktail Set
by Pedrini
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $39.99
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Editorial Review

Whether you're setting up your first home bar or looking for agreat gift, this cocktail set will fit the bill nicely, as it containswhat's needed to shake or stir almost every cocktail. The set includesa bartender's glass, shaker, and strainer, and three long-handledtools: mixing spoon, mixer, and cocktail fork (for spearing thosehard-to-reach olives). The bartender's glass has a useful measuring chartand eight classic recipes: martini, Tom Collins, Alexander, margarita,daiquiri, whiskey sour, and, my favorite, the Manhattan. The tallshaker is shiny and sturdy, and fits comfortably both with the glassand with the strainer, which has a small, crucial thumb rest (it helpssteady the strainer on the shaker when pouring). The entire set isdishwasher-safe. --A.J. Rathbun ... Read more

Features

• A great basic set of tools for the beginning bartender
• Includes bartender's glass, shaker, strainer, mixing spoon, mixer, and fork
• Sturdy plastic handles
• Made in Italy
• 8 recipes and precise measurements on glass

Reviews (2)

Happy Drinker
I think this set is just plain fun.I love the glass because it has all kinds of drink recipes on it.It makes me feel like a pro - bartender when I am entertaining.

despite what the editorial review said...
The stuff is cheap looking, I think that's why there's no picture for it. the handles are plastic with a small red grip for "ergonomic" support. For a pedrini product, I'm disappointed. ... Read more

Asin: B00004RDCA
Subjects:  1. Spirits    2. Cocktails    3. Bar Sets    4. Barware    5. (Bar Ware)    6. Bartending   

Cuisinart SPB-7CH SmartPower 40-Ounce 7-Speed Electronic Bar Blender, Chrome
by Cuisinart
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $90.00 -- our price: $59.95
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Blend tropical delights, purée fruit, grate hard cheese, grind spices, whip cream, and crush ice with Cuisinart's Smart Power bar blender. It has seven speeds--stir, chop, mix, purée, liquefy, and an ice crush--as well as a pulse button that can be used at every level. Attached to a heavy-duty motor base with rubberized no-skid feet, the glass jar holds up to 40 ounces. The tightly fitting cover includes a 2-ounce measured pour lid, which is great for taste testing and can be removed for ventilation when blending hot items. The blade should be soaked in warm water and then hand washed; the glass jar is dishwasher-safe. --Madeleine Miller ... Read more

Features

• Measures 13-1/4 by 7-1/3 by 9-7/8 inches; 3-year limited warranty
• 7 speeds--stir, chop, mix, puree, liquefy, and ice crush
• Pulse button can be used at every level; touch-pad controls
• Dishwasher-safe glass jar holds up to 40 ounces
• Heavy-duty motor base with rubberized, no-skid feet for stability

Reviews (26)

Major Disappointment
This blender arrived on Friday the 11th, and is being returned on Monday, the 14th.

My first suspicion came as I unpacked the blender and I noticed the base was not chrome, but in fact, plastic.(which was not disclosed on the technical information).The cord was thin, and only had two prongs at the end, in comparison with my old Waring blender with a very thick black cord and3 prongs at the end for heavy duty performance.

My enthusiam dampened, I put an inch of freshly peeled and thinly sliced ginger in the blender, went first to
puree, then to liquify, then with no decent results went through all of thedifferent selections and barely got useable results.I then put in a half of bunch of parsely, (unchopped)read the instruction booklet, tried the selections for different speeds, and end up with chopped parsley flakes everywhere.Unwilling to give up in spite of failed attempts, I added my berries, and applesauce. Berries, sweet, soft berries, and soft applesauce. I pureed, I liquidfied, I went through all the speeds, and ended up with bits of berries, ginger, and tons of parsely flakes everywhere and produced the worst unblended drink in my blending career.Perhaps most people don't blend fresh ginger and parsely (so-o good for you and tasty too), but my old waring blender has been making this drink for me for years, giving me smooth pureed results each time.

Hindsight being better than foresight, I realized I allowed myself to be seduced with the very nice new shape of the blender jar, thinking it would work much better than the old shape, and the new "touch pads" .Wrong on both counts.The wide shortened new shape looks great, but somehow doesn't work as well as the narrow original shape of the blending jars.The touch pads are a pain to use, and you have to be in the right light to see if you've turned the machine on or if it's off.I was very disappointed in the blender, but more in Cusinart, a brand I have trusted for years who makes the best food processor imaginable.So much for trusted brands. I'm refurbishing my Waring blender with new parts, at least I know it works well.

A Beautiful Underperformer
This blender has features to recommend it IF did not have a documented history of breaking.The clutch unit that engages the blade is plastic and breaks . . . frequently.

The digital control pad is easy to clean, no more using a cotton swab to clean between buttons.Except for the previously mentioned clutch unit, the blender is very well made.It seemed to labor when blending milkshakes or smoothies.

Overall, the blender worked in an acceptable manner before it broke.It was only used about 15 times before the clutch disintergrated.

I am replacing the Cuisinart with an Oster Beehive, which has an all metal drive unit.

Good Blender
I have an old Osterizer (beehive) that I finally decided I needed to replaced.I looked at several different blenders and finally ended up with the Cuisinart.It is performing well for me.Most of the items I am making require crushing ice cubes, and this blender has done a wonderful job.I am getting nice smooth drinks with not chuncks.

As another reviewer mentioned, the based is a chrome plastic convering.But unlike many other blenders, this does not feel too flimsy.

The base is sturdy and the controls repsond well (I had tried a Kitchen-Aid and could not get the off button to work).Clean-up was a breeze, although I do wonder if the pastic based on the jar will hold up over time.I am so use to the metal one from the Osterizer, that the platic does not seem as durable.

My only real complaint is that this unit is a bit noisy.The Kitchen-Aid was very quite by comparison (but pulling the cord to turn a blender off did not seem like such a good thing), so I guess I had expected a quiter unit (the Oster is at least 25 years old -- probably older -- it was my other comparison point for noise).

Longevity will be the key to this unit, but for now it seems likeone of the btter choices available. ... Read more

Asin: B00000JGRR
Subjects:  1. Barware    2. (Bar Ware)    3. Bartending    4. Small Appliances    5. Electrics    6. Blenders    7. (Osterizers)   

Mixology 101:How to Tend Bar
by Tapeworm
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (23 March, 1998)
list price: $19.95
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Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Mixology 101 Offers Valuable Lessons
I found Mixology 101 to be a perfect training video for me as a fledgling bartender. What really worked for me was that the video was informative and entertaining. I tried out many of the drinks on my friends and they werereally impressed -- as well as really drunk. I highly recommend this videoto anyone who wants to have fun learning how to mix drinks. It's a blast! ... Read more

Asin: 6304942249
Sales Rank: 116996
Subjects:  1. How To - Miscellaneous   

Metrokane Rabbit Corkscrew with Foilcutter, Black
by Metrokane
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $49.99 -- our price: $19.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Comes with a handy foilcutter; 10-year warranty
• Uncorks any bottle effortlessly, in approximately 3 seconds
• Made of sturdy polycarbonate and reinforced nylon
• Ergonomic grip pads for easier operation
• Works on all sizes and types of wine bottles

Reviews (87)

Ridiculous product
I bought this corkscrew for my mom after I read some reviews of how revolutionary it was. She opened it and loved it right off the bat. Then, after less than a month, it stopped working. What happens is the little cap that covers the top of metal screw itself pops off as soon as you push down on the handle so the corkscrew just pops out of the top instead of going into the cork. It happens with all types of corks and with any pressure. So this ridiculous $50 corkscrew (at the time i bought it) is completely useless! (unless you want to pay an additional $10 for a replacement. Thanks but no thanks!)

Excellent product design
I received the 'Rabbit' wine bottle opener as a gift from my sister. Its the best bottle opener I have ever used! We had tried many different openers but none performed like the 'Rabbit', which is a pleasure to use. I have arthritis in my hands & prior to using the 'Rabbit' opening a bottle of wine had been challenging. I highly recommend this product to all.

Extremely Easy to Use
I got one of these for Christmas and used it for the first time on New Year's Eve. It works exactly as described. I was surprised at how easy it was to use. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SQ0K
Sales Rank: 15
Subjects:  1. (Corkpullers)    2. Bartending    3. Wine Products    4. Wine Openers    5. Wine Lovers Gift Sets    6. Corkscrews    7. Openers    8. (Cork Screws)    9. Wine Tools    10. Barware    11. (Bar Ware)    12. (Cork Pullers)   

Spiegelau's Vino Grande series of glasses is part of a connoisseur line designed with the characteristics of each beverage in mind. This elegant, flat-bottomed glass is intended for serving whiskey on the rocks, from fine Scotch to screwdrivers, but it's also a great size for tomato juice or morning orange juice. Tap the glass gently with your fingernail and you'll hear the distinctive ping of fine crystal. This glass measures 3-1/2 inches high and has a satisfying bulge just below center, providing extra room for swirling ice. These glasses are billed as dishwasher-safe and are sturdy enough for everyday use, as proven by their use in restaurants. --Irene Svete ... Read more

Features

• Made in Germany
• Set of six glasses, designed for whiskey on the rocks but also great for juices
• Each glass has an 11-ounce capacity and stands 3-1/2 inches high
• Glasses are 7% lead crystal
• Machine-blown glass

Asin: B00004SUI3

You know those greatest-hits music compilations advertised on late-night TV? Well, Riedel--the Austrian glassmaker that has become an industry leader in the crafting of stemware for the serious oenophile--has come out with a deluxe box set of its own. The Riedel Vinum series tasting set includes four of the company's most popular and versatile crystal wineglasses, each manufactured to enhance specific wines and specific grape types. The elongated bowl for the Cabernet and Merlot of Bordeaux blends; the squat, rounded shape for Burgundy's Pinot Noir grape; the sloping tapered side to accentuate the flavors of Chardonnay-based wine; and the narrowed mouth directing Sauvignon Blanc to a specific point on the tongue--these four glasses exemplify the Riedel philosophy: that changing the size and shape of the glass to match the characteristics of different wine grapes will enhance the wine. Attractively and securely boxed with printed tabs that list appropriate wines for each glass, the Riedel tasting set should top the charts of wine lovers everywhere. --Tony Mason ... Read more

Features

• Contains one Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc glass
• Machine-made of 24% lead crystal
• Affordable second-tier from a prestigious name in wine-friendly stemware
• Made in Austria by reowned wine-glass maker
• The perfect gift for budding Riedel enthusiasts

Asin: B00004SZ88
Subjects:  1. Wine    2. Stemware    3. Glasses    4. (Stem Ware)    5. Barware    6. (Bar Ware)    7. Glassware    8. (Glass Ware)    9. Bartending    10. Tableware    11. (Table Ware)    12. Wine Glasses    13. Red Wine    14. White Wine