Almost 20 years after Tom Cruise introduced flair bartending to the world in the 1988 movie Cocktail, performance bartending is more popular than ever.
Today, flair bartending skills are more extreme, tricks are more sophisticated and customers are hungrier than ever for high entertainment value while sipping creative libations in some of the best clubs around the world.
T.G.I. Friday's in Marina Del Rey, California is considered to be the birthplace of flair bartending back in 1985, and the industry has continued to flourish ever since.
Not surprisingly, Las Vegas is the current mecca for performance bartending in casino clubs like Carnival Court, the Shadow Bar and the independent Red Room Saloon. Flair bars are also prolific in cities like London, Seoul, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Many flair bartenders test their metal at world-class competitions such as the elite Legends of Bartending World Bartender Championships. Bartenders are tested on four disciplines of bartending: accuracy, speed, working flair and exhibition flair.
The Godfather of flair training is Canadian Scott Young, a long-time flair bartender at Vancouver's The Roxy. The FBA (Flair Bartenders Association), an international non-profit organization with representatives in over 50 countries, recognized Young for having the most impact internationally as a trainer.
While performance bartending is meant to generate excitement, bartenders still need to be skilled in the burgeoning art of mixology.
Flair Bartending
Performance Bartenders Delight Guests Around the World
Trend Themes
1. Extreme Flair Bartending - Opportunity for clubs and bars to hire more talented flair bartenders showcasing more sophisticated tricks and skills that push the limits of performance.
2. Global Flair Bartending Competitions - Opportunity for event organizers and sponsors to host and support an international competition that showcases not just bartending skills but also creativity and innovation.
3. Integrated Flair Bartending and Mixology - Opportunity for bartenders to combine mixology skills with flair bartending skills to create a new hybrid form of entertainment with high entertainment value while still providing high-quality drinks.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - Opportunity for hotels, bars, and restaurants to invest in flair bartenders as an added attraction to their offerings.
2. Event Planning - Opportunity for event planners and sponsors to incorporate flair bartending competitions as a unique and exciting element to conferences and festivals.
3. Beverage Industry - Opportunity for beverage companies to collaborate with flair bartenders to create innovative cocktail recipes and market them to customers who seek high-quality drinks and entertainment value.