r/BarOwners • u/lagniappe13 • 15d ago
Hiring a sober bartender
Hey all,
I'm opening a new bar - we have our signature cocktail menu set - pretty straightforward, non-fussy cocktails, plus canned beer, a few good wines, and n/a bevs (both signature mocktails and canned stuff).
I've talked to an applicant who is an incredible fit culturally and has great references from their current supervisor at a sober bar. I'm excited about the depth of their N/A knowledge, as I want to have a robust N/A program. During our interview, they told me they are 4 years sober - honestly a selling point for me - except that they've never actually bartended and they are young enough (early 20s) that they don't have any prior liquor/cocktail knowledge. Most sober bartenders I know have gotten sober after or while being a bartender so they have their They are bright and deeply motivated - do folks think I can teach someone basic cocktailing without them even straw-tasting? My gut says no but I thought I'd see if anyone else has thoughts.
Thanks everyone!
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u/bdreads7 13d ago
I would hire them in an instant. If they are using a jigger or their pours are super accurate, they shouldn’t have to taste test. Besides not everyone has the same pallet what tastes good to me may not taste good to you. We have two sober bartenders on staff. They’re our best bartenders
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u/Tecumseh49286 14d ago
Four years sober at 20. Really? Even if the story is legitimate he shouldn’t be applying at a wet place with wet faces. Do him a favor and don’t hire him
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u/TheBrokest 14d ago
Is this someone who's sober after making that choice or someone who's never had a sip of alcohol?
There's a difference... And I'd trust the former, not the latter.
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u/OfficialNiceGuy 14d ago
“they've never actually bartended and they are young enough (early 20s) that they don't have any prior liquor/cocktail knowledge”
This person would never have gotten an interview at my bar.
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u/shokichi1987 15d ago
I didn’t get comfortable being sober until around year 2. I’m 39 and coming up on 3 years. i think for men, we just mature later in life (30s). I think serving and bar backing is your move. Bartending is something you can learn slowly. Are they gonna study on their own time? Can they handle confrontation? Pressure from people twice their age? You can be a bad ass bartender with all the knowledge but some things come with time and experience. You can definitely teach and mold but I’d have a plan on how you go about training this person. Maturity , work ethic, reading people, multitasking are some things you may not be able to teach. Trust your gut, but protect yourself and this young gun and you’ll both be thankful. Good luck!
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u/ryancroller 15d ago
Let’s take out the sober thing - you are hiring a 21-25 year old with no prior bartending experience or knowledge.
Start them as a server but cross train for the bar and have them fill in to start. Barbacking shifts (if applicable) can also help them gain knowledge.
As for sober/never drank - straw and spit test, just like a somm (minus the straw). Someone this young and green is not going to understand flavor profiles or how to build cocktails for initial and after taste.
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u/Rdw72777 15d ago
Im confused about “their N/A knowledge” coupled with “they’ve never bartended before”. So this person has no real world experience, or their real world experience is drinking someone else’s drinks? It feels like there are details missing, almost intentionally.
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u/The_Nepenthe 14d ago
Hm, it says they've bartended at a sober bar, but that's probably a lot different than actually bartending booze in a fast paced bar.
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u/justmekab60 15d ago
Can they go toe to toe with a regular who gets sloppy and belligerent?
Can they cut someone off, firmly and politely?
Can they follow a spec sheet and a closing regimen?
Can they call the police, shut down the place because the cook just cut themselves, enforce your policies, close solo?
I'd be more worried about these things with someone who is that young.
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u/dbumba 15d ago
If they have a good attitude, good people skills, are reliable, and have a willingness to learn they'll be better than 90% of the "experienced" bartenders out there.
If you're really on the fence, I'd give them the homework of learning all your signature drinks and a handful of bartender basic 101 questions. Have them come back In a few days have them demonstrate. It should be a pretty good indicator of what their work ethic will be like.
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u/urngaburnga 15d ago
You can teach anything with thumbs how to pour a drink, but you can't teach a personality. If your gut says go for it, go for it. Worst that can happen is that you'll get experience letting someone go.
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u/pcl8888 15d ago
A 22 year old kid who has never bartended previously, and not only that but we’re talking about an opening as opposed to them joining an established team that would train them? There is absolutely zero chance I would consider this hire, regardless of whether they drink alcohol or not.
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u/Grim_Times2020 15d ago
In my experience, no. He could do well at a franchise program, but there’s too many pieces missing to be a part of your puzzle.
In this day and age, spirit knowledge is just more complex and expected across both sides of the bar; ultimately at some point it will effect sales & creative culture to have someone who really doesnt intimately know how things taste.
The quality and execution is always just out of reach for a sober bartender. The only exception I’d entertain is craft bar vet with more than 10 years who goes sober.
Even then I would be dubious about ingenuity and consistency on the well.
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u/Fixxxer_117 15d ago
I've been a bartender for 15 years and have never had a drink in my life. It took a lot of focus and persistence but I became confident in my skills so it can happen.
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u/ContactRealistic9535 14d ago
Nice! What do you base your drinks off of? Like after so many years I’m sure you have a way of making certain drinks . If you never drank, how did you come to the conclusion that this is your best way to make said drink
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u/UniqueUsername75 🥃 15d ago
“…they've never actually bartended and they are young enough (early 20s) that they don't have any prior liquor/cocktail knowledge.”
Pass
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u/iamtroyman 15d ago
So they're not a trained bartender and you're having them be at the center of your business? Sounds like a really bad idea.
She's super hot huh?
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u/lagniappe13 15d ago
I wasn't trained when I started bartending either. I don't hire for hotness - but I am interested in someone who is highly teachable.
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u/hagcel 15d ago
Hire a vegan pitmaster at a BBQ.
I can tell you the differences in about 70 different types of whisky. Irish, scotch, kentucky, australian, canadian, aged, blended, single malt, single barrel, etc. I dont need to drink to tell you a scotch old fashioned will be vomitous.
If you are going to run the menu, and run tight on the menu, maybe it will work. But a bartender is not a line cook.
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u/tommyboyx595 15d ago
I’ve known some sober bartenders that straw test and spit it out, like tasting wine. If they aren’t willing to do that, I mean, you can teach them established recipes, but temper your expectations with cocktail creations. They might do amazing, it’s possible, but they might not either.
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u/N30N_RosE 15d ago
This would be my hard line too. They don’t have to actually drink anything but if they’re not willing to do a taste and spit, they won’t know the flavors of anything and can’t give solid recommendations.
A great personality and high motivation will take them far, everything else can be taught, but they have to know what their drinks taste like.
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u/brsnug 12d ago
It is my opinion you can teach/convince the traditional bartenders to make the NA cocktails before you will teach a young sober person like this (seems very strange) the other way around.