World Bartender's Day - Origin of Bartenders
Bartending, the art of mixing and serving alcoholic beverages, has a long and varied history dating back centuries.
The term "bartender" itself first appeared in the United States in the early 19th century, when taverns and saloons began to hire individuals specifically to serve drinks to customers.
However, the history of bartending can be traced back much further. In ancient Rome, for example, there were individuals known as "tabernarii" who sold wine from roadside stalls. Similarly, in medieval Europe, there were tavern keepers who served beer and wine to patrons
During the 19th century, bartending in the United States began to evolve into a more professional and specialized field. This was in part due to the rise of the cocktail culture, which saw bartenders experimenting with new and innovative drinks. Some of the most famous cocktails, such as the martini and the daiquiri, were created during this time.
The 20th century saw further developments in the world of bartending, with the emergence of cocktail bars and speakeasies during Prohibition. However the prohibition caused a fall in craft cocktails that wouldn’t resurge until the 1990’s. Bartenders became more skilled and specialized, and the profession began to gain a greater level of respect and recognition
Today, bartending remains a popular and important profession. Bartenders can be found in a wide variety of settings, from upscale cocktail bars to casual sports bars and everything in between. We continue to create new and exciting drinks, come up with inventive, sustainable ways of working and many of us have become true masters of the craft.
Bartending has grown so much in the last 30 years. For some it grew into a passionate, lifelong, joyous career and for others it is a mens of getting by or paying bills through college. For me it started as a way to pay for college, but quickly became my passion and I pursued it excitedly. Whichever way you look at it, bartending has a huge, important impact on society and without it, it’s safe to say society would crumble. Maybe not crumble, but it sure would make a tough day a lot tougher to not be able to blow off steam at your favorite bar with your favorite people imbibing on your favorite drinks. I am excited to see all of my industry friends grow with it and adapt to new factors. Excited for this new chapter of bartending!