Westchester's Flair Bartending School Straws to Fire Breathing

Flair bartending is the art / sport of skilled bartenders entertaining their audiences with the manipulation of anything behind the bar. Garnish tossing, napkin and coaster tricks, glassware rolling, spinning tins and of course bottle flipping all done with precision and style. In the past few years, Flair bartending has become a sought-after talent among many a bar owner promoting their establishment and or marketers to help advertise their liquor products . Competitions have been sponsored by some of the biggest names of liquor products such as SKYY, Finest Call and countless others.

Originally referred to as "Extreme Bartending, Free Style, Ultimate, Performance and of course Bottle Slinging." The word Flair became popular in the mid 1990s with movies like "Cocktails" starring Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown or Coyote Ugly, which have helped to bring Flair Bartending to the public's attention. Flair can include tossing, juggling, stalling, flipping of shaker tins, bottles and any other equipment a bartender uses on the job. Bar magic and flame blowing have found their way into the flair world as well.

Today, good flair should be light-hearted and entertaining while making quality cocktails. Flair is showmanship added to bartending that enhances the overall guest experience. The ideas behind mixology and drink-oriented or service-minded bartending can still be upheld with the correct application of Working Flair. Recently, there is a noticeable rise in bartenders combining prominent mixology knowledge and working flair skills all over the world.

The Academy of Professional Bartending has instituted Westchester’s first and only working/exhibition Flair training programs. From straws to coasters, tins to glassware, garnish and liquor bottles, this practical, hands-on approach teaches any level of bartender how to toss, flip and spin their way into HUGE TIPS. Students of this program will approach their bars in a whole new way, capitalizing upon opportunities to entertain guests, attract additional customers, and of course make more money!

Program Description: This program offers an introduction to the world of working flair bartending and gives bartenders the flexibility to learn the moves and routines they have always wanted to perform. Working flair is for the bartender who wants to bring showmanship to his/her workplace. This program shows you from the ground up how to manipulate all the tools, garnishes and bottles you find on your job every day. The class is taught in 2, 4 hour sessions. This gives you the opportunity to practice the basic skills before moving on to the next level of the working flair program. All training equipment and manuals are provided. Flair bottles are available for purchase.

Intermediate Working Flair

Duration: 8 hours $200.00

Program Description:Our instructor breaks down the moves and demonstrates those which are practical to use in a working environment. This training program picks up where the Introduction to Working Flair class left off. Some areas covered: free-pouring techniques, advanced flair moves, risk-free maneuvers for use in a working bar and flair sequences to name a few. We strive to focus on your own style of flair, starting with a basic structure and developing your personal skills accordingly.

Course Requirements: Introduction to Flair

Exhibition Flair

Duration: 8 hours $300.00

Program Description: The ULTIMATE FLAIR class. Juggling, Fire Breatning and Bar Magic! The Exhibition Flair class is designed for pure showmanship and/or competition. If you’re considering any form of competition, this is the course for you. The class delivers a comprehensive breakdown of multiple routines, working flair, exhibition flair, stacking techniques, advanced free-pour techniques, and much more. Progress is in accordance with each students ability to learn, and is governed through practice aided by the training instructor.

Course Requirements: Introduction and Intermediate Class

Upon successful completion of all 3 programs, graduates are invited to join (free of charge) Westchester’s premier group of Flairtenders known as “The NY Mix Masters” This provides one venue where the fun and variety can escalate, as you join in on “yard days” (open outdoor events where we all get together to demonstrate our styles for one another, provide pointers/advice and train for competitions).