Free pouring liquor like a bartender can take your cocktail-making skills to the next level, allowing you to prepare drinks quickly and accurately. Unlike the common practice of using a jigger for exact measurements, skilled bartenders often rely on a technique called free pouring. This method allows them to get the correct ratios just by counting as they pour.
Yu Jiang Zhao, the founder of Kobayashi Bar, explains that a typical pour can be measured by counting. For instance, a four-count pour using a speed pourer corresponds to 1½ ounces of liquor. A speed pourer, which fits into the neck of a standard bottle, enables bartenders to pour quickly and with precision, cutting down the time spent measuring.
To practice free pouring, Zhao suggests filling an empty bottle with water and pouring it into a jigger while counting. After a successful four-count pour, it’s recommended to repeat this process numerous times to master the technique. Ideally, when free pouring, hold the bottle upside down and keep your fingers away from the spout to ensure a steady flow.
This technique is particularly useful in busy bars where time is of the essence, making it more efficient than measuring with a jigger during peak hours. However, not every bar will use this method; quieter craft cocktail spots are more likely to measure ingredients individually. Mastering free pouring can significantly improve your cocktail-making speed, especially for classic cocktails that often take longer to prepare.
To further enhance your skills, understand the golden ratio for cocktails, which is typically 2:1:1, and practice this ratio to get comfortable with different concoctions without the need for a recipe. For those interested in more tips about bartending and cocktail preparation, exploring online resources can provide additional insights and techniques.