BarSmarts WIRED is again open for registration, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to truly understand the basics of the craft cocktail world, bartender and enthusiast alike.
Last fall, I was invited by Pernod Ricard to try out the BarSmarts WIRED program. This is a study at home version of the highly respected BarSmarts certification put together by Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR), LLC, a group that includes such cocktail luminaries as Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, Steve Olson, F. Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour and David Wondrich.
I completed the program and am now BarSmarts WIRED certified. While my $45 fee was sponsored, I can honestly say it would have been well worth the expense if I had paid for it myself. The BarSmarts kit is a nice set of basic bartending tools, many of which I use frequently, particularly the julep strainer and Boston shaker.
More importantly, I learned a lot from the online workbook modules and videos, and from studying for the online Drink Builder test. In particular, I felt the explanation of the distillation process was one of the most useful I’ve come across, and really brought together a lot of things I knew but didn’t really fully understand until seeing it in this format. The detailed history of the various base spirits was also very comprehensive. While the products highlighted naturally emphasize Pernod Ricard’s product line, they have an excellent line to choose from.
Registration is open through the end of March. You have 30 days from your registration to complete the four modules and the final online examination. The suggested pace is one module a week, which worked well for me – enough time to truly understand the material. The tests are a good reflection of the material studied, and the 25 drinks to learn for the final Drink Builder exam provide an excellent overview of the classics with a few modern drinks. And if you miss this window, it will be available again in the fall.
As for me, I was invited to BarSmarts Advanced, which is similar to WIRED, except that you must be invited to participate. There are again four modules with tests I need to pass, although this time I will receive workbooks and DVDs to study. Once I pass those, I will be able to attend BarSmarts LIVE in Seattle on April 27th. That will be a one day class, starting with morning seminars given by the members of the BAR, LLC, and then in the afternoon a written exam on all the material and a practical exam.
I’m very nervous about the practical exam, as I will have to, *gasp*, actually make drinks for people in public. Yes, I make them at home all the time. I even bring a fancy bartending bag full of tools when invited for parties and make drinks for friends. But this will be the first time I’ll be judged for my drink making style. Wish me luck!
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Good luck! I’d be a bit nervous about making the drinks in front of those guys, too!
I did the WIRED program during the last go and found it incredibly informative. I only *thought* I knew about drinks before then.
I’d love to tell you that it’s easy to make drinks for the judges, but I don’t want to lie. I was a nervous wreck. Rick and Gabe were nervous, though they’ll deny it. I met a guy who used to work with Don Lee at Momofuku Ssam Bar, and even HE was sweating. What I will say is, the judges are great, they’re very reassuring, and they’ll forgive more errors than you might expect. I forgot that there’s lime juice in a Mojito, for Pete’s sake, and I still passed! That was mortifying. My judge gave me a pointer on prepping the mint for the garnish–just a grace note, really, and not a correction to my technique.
Nerves or not, you’ll have a great time.
Thanks Stevi for pointing out that this is open again; I enrolled last weekend and have already passed two modules this week. I’m looking forward to getting the kit!
Brian,
Good luck! I hope you learn lots!
Update: the kit is rather awesome (I love the “insulated” shaker) and I’ve learned tons, including a ton of stuff I didn’t know just from reading dozens of cocktail blogs over the past few years. ;)