I have successfully finished all the reading and online quizzes for BarSmarts Advanced. This means I can attend BarSmarts Live, when I’ll have to make drinks for people who know how they should taste. In preparation, I’m going to work through each of the 25 drinks every bartender should know. Some I have talked about previously, including the first in the list, the Aviation. 

The Aviation was created by Hugo Ensslin and appeared in his 1916 book, Recipes for Mixed Drinks. 

Aviation Cocktail (Original) 

1/3 Lemon Juice (1 ounce)
2/3 El Bart Gin (2 ounces)
2 Dashes Maraschino (0.25 ounce)
2 Dashes Creme de Violette (or Creme Yvette) (0.25 ounce)

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass 

I find this base recipe to far too sour for my tastes, so I reduce the lemon juice to 0.75 ounce or less, and up the Maraschino to 0.5 ounce.

I managed to get a bottle of the newly released Creme Yvette, and it makes a great substitution for Creme de Violette in the Aviation. Given that the best known drink that uses Creme Yvette is the Blue Moon, I am surprised that it consistently adds a reddish hue to drinks. Still, it has the floral violet notes, while being less sweet than the Rothman & Winter violette that is easiest to find in the US market.

Two Aviation Cocktails

The BarSmarts recipe is the modern Aviation. As early as The Savoy Cocktail Book, the drink had lost the violette, which doubtless became impossible to get during Prohibition.

Aviation Cocktail (Modern) 

2 ounces London dry gin
0.5 ounces Maraschino liqueur
0.5 ounces lemon juice 

Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass 

This version is a gin sour that takes advantage of the funkiness of Maraschino that I for one love. 

The history-loving cocktail geek in me wants to prefer the original Aviation. Still, the version I usually make at home is the modern recipe. The floral notes of the violette (or yvette) are nice on occasion. But the modern Aviation is a solid standard, and I have to agree, it’s a cocktail every bartender should know.

Related posts:

1. Magellan Gin and the Aviation
2. The Air Florida
3. MxMo: Fruit Liqueurs — Canton Cocktail

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!

Related posts:

1. BarSmarts Wired

I just registered for BarSmarts Wired.

I’ve always heard great things about Pernod Ricard’s BarSmarts Advanced Program, but have never had a chance to participate.

Now they have created an online version, and are running it through September for the very low price of $45.

The BarSmarts Wired program consists of 16 hours of online reading and videos to prepare you for four 25 question tests and finally a virtual cocktail building test where you must prepare five of seven classic cocktails correctly, from ingredients through glassware. Upon successful completion, you receive a certificate and can use the certification on your resume.

You also receive a rea set of BarSmarts logo bartools, including a muddler, bar spoon, and Boston shaker. Those who have already received their kits say they’re worth the $45 on their own.

As Andrew Bohrer recently noted in a footnote to his comparison of Cocktail the movie to Kitchen Confidential the book, there are few opportunities to learn about preparing quality classic cocktails. The Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) Program is working to bridge this gap. The BarSmarts Wired Program is a great way to extend their reach.

There’s still time for you to get involved. Registrations are being accepted through September 30. You will have four weeks from your registration to complete the program.

I’m excited to get started!

Related posts:

1. BarSmarts Wired Open for Registration