The Art Of
Bartending
SHUTTERSTOCK
By Sherrie Wilkolaski
I
t’s a Saturday evening. Your
standing reservation at a favorite
bistro is scheduled for eight
o’clock and you arrive early so
you can enjoy a cocktail at the
bar before dinner. You make your way
to the lounge and your neighborhood
bartender welcomes you with your
favorite cocktail. The last drop of
your martini transfers from the
shaker into the chilled glass, and in
drops two olives just the way you
like it. You stretch out your arm as
if to shake hands with the tonics
wizard but instead, you caress the
interested in going the distance to
compete for shelf space, must find
the right bartender representative
to build their brand. They need to be
high energy, understand the craft
and know how to entice consumers
with signature cocktails that will
keep them coming back for more.
I was recently introduced to Jacques
Bezuidenhout, Bartender Ambassador
at Tequila Partida, and he won me
over with his knowledge and
dedication to the craft.
glass and bring it up to your lips for
the first taste of the rest of your
evening. The bartender greets you by
name and you know you’re home.
We’ve all experienced such a
scenario, but do we appreciate the
role the bartender plays in our lives,
and the multitude of skills it takes
to succeed in a fast-paced, alcohol
saturated profession? To succeed in
this line of work, it takes tenacity,
innovation and determination.
Bartending is not just for college
kids anymore. Spirits companies,
Jacques’ career started in South
52
Africa, working in bars and
restaurants almost 20 years ago. The
time he spent working the London
bar scene was where his passion for
the art of bartending blossomed.
In 1998, Jacques moved to San
Francisco and started working at
the Irish Bank Bar & Restaurant. He
developed what is considered one of
the most extensive Scotch Whiskey
selections in the Bay area, while
at the Irish Bank. His expertise
continued to develop and he
consulted with numerous bar and