How to Find Awesome Bars While Traveling

It’s everyone’s dream while traveling in an unfamiliar city to walk into a random bar and discover that it’s one of the best kept secrets. Unfortunately, most travelers don’t know how to find the best places to drink and just settle for the bars that are close to their hotels.

Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be your fate on your next trip out of town. If you’re looking for a solid drinking experience that you can brag about, here’s how to find awesome bars while traveling.

Rely on Your Social Network

Before you leave, tap into your online network. Go on Facebook or Instagram! Ask your friends if they know someone who might be able to recommend some bars in your travel destination. You might have some friends who know bartenders, chefs, and other people who work in the hospitality industry.

You can ask these people for recommendations on where to go once you arrive. Most will be happy to even connect you with someone they know that works in the place that you’re traveling to.

See What the Locals Post Online

Foodie blogs that are posted by bloggers in the location to where you’re traveling can be a big help. These bloggers typically review places that have been recommended to them by locals. This is also a great way to find out what drinks and spirits are popular with the locals.

Skip the Online Reviews

Bars that have been reviewed extensively on online review sites are likely to be overrun with tourists. In addition, they probably also aren’t the places that are popular with the locals. If you want an authentic bar experience, don’t rely on online reviews written by people who don’t live in the area.

A lot of online reviews for the most popular places in a city are usually written by tourists. They may be biased and could even deter you from visiting a cool bar. Someone might point out negative experiences at a bar simply because it wasn’t to up to their own personal cultural standards. 

Research the Bars That Serve the Most Popular Local Drinks

Almost every popular destination around the world is known for a particular drink or spirit. As a result, the easiest way to find an awesome bar is to find a bar that is famous for a local drink.

These aren’t the bars that people will go out to for an ordinary night of drinking. Instead, they’ll be somewhere that people go when they want to have a special night out to celebrate, which will pretty much guarantee you a great time.

Branch Out

Finally, don’t look for the foreign version of a bar that’s popular back at home. It’s not going to give you an authentic idea of what it’s like to drink in your destination city. Now is the time to try something new and different. So get out there and live a little (or a lot)!

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5 Classic Cocktails Every Bartender Must Master

To be a great bartender, you may think that you need to memorize hundreds of cocktail recipes. However, the truth is that you really need to only know the ones that your customers usually drink.

Here are 5 cocktail recipes to master so that you’ll be able to satisfy even the most sophisticated bar patron.

 

1. Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned has a lot of variations on the recipe. However, it is overall known as a simple but classic drink that every good bartender should know how to make well.

Here is the recipe to follow:

• 1⁄2 tsp Sugar
• 3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 tsp Water
• 2 oz Bourbon
• Large Ice Cubes

Add the water, sugar, and bitters to the glass and stir until the sugar becomes dissolved. Then add large ice cubes and the bourbon and stir gently to allow the flavors to combine.

Garnish with an orange peel and serve in an old fashioned glass.

2. Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule is a popular drink because it goes down easy and it’s served in a distinctive copper mug. Although, it was invented in 1941, it has become popular again these days because people love ginger beer and it is readily available thanks to the popularity of craft beer.

Here is the recipe to follow:

• 2 Shots Vodka
• 1⁄2 oz Lime Juice
• 1⁄2 cup Ginger Beer
• Ice Cubes

Garnish with a lime wedge. Serve in a copper mug.

3. Margarita

The Margarita is the perfect summertime cocktail and one of the world’s most popular cocktails. Whether served frozen or on the rocks, the recipe for making a margarita is the same, except for the fact that you need to blend the margarita mix with crushed iced for a frozen margarita.

Here is the recipe to follow:

• 1 oz Cointreau or Triple Sec
• 2 oz Blanco Tequila
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice

Garnish with a lime wheel and serve in a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with salt.

4. Long Island Iced Tea

The Long Island Iced Tea is a staple of college bars and nightclubs. It’s essentially a blend of many different spirits, but the key is mixing the ingredients in the right proportions so that it actually tastes good.

Here is the recipe to follow:

• Vodka (1⁄2 shot)
• White Rum (1⁄2 shot)
• Blanco Tequila (1⁄2 shot)
• Gin (1⁄2 shot)
• Triple Sec (1⁄2 shot)
• Fresh Lemon Juice (1⁄2 shot)
• Simple Syrup (1⁄2 shot)

Finish with a spritz of cola and garnish with a lemon wedge. Serve in a hurricane glass filled with ice.

5. Bloody Mary

The Bloody Mary is considered to be the perfect cure for a hangover. It’s a favorite that people enjoy whether it’s brunch or lunch. While some people hate it, others absolutely love it many due to the unique ingredients of tomato juice and hot sauce.

Here is the recipe to follow:

• 2 Shots Vodka
• 4 Shots Tomato Juice
• ¾ Shot Fresh Lemon Juice
• 2 Dashes of Tabasco
• 3 Dashes of Worcester Sauce
• ¼ of a Teaspoon of Horseradish (optional)
• Salt & Pepper to Taste

Garnish with a rib of celery and serve in a hurricane glass.

Want to connect with people at your bar in a whole new way? Download the BOTY App on iTunes or Google Play for free!