Spirit & Service: An Immersion in Bartending with Arcadius Rybak (4 Days)

Ready to step behind the bar? 🍸

Whether you’re completely new to bartending, looking to build your foundational skills, or simply want to understand what it takes to work confidently behind a professional bar, this 4-day hands-on bartending program will take you from the fundamentals to making classic cocktails with confidence.

DAY 1 — THE WORLD OF BARTENDING

Start with the foundations of the profession and understand what it really means to be a bartender.

What does it mean to be a bartender?

• Hospitality and the art of service
• Working life and career development
• Personal life, wellbeing, and looking after yourself

Cocktails: Where We Came From & Where We’re Going

• A short history of cocktails and bars
• How the modern bar world has evolved
• Understanding today’s cocktail culture

Bar Service: What Does a Shift Actually Look Like?

• Before service: preparation and setup
• During service: workflow and guest interaction
• After service: closing down and resetting

Hygiene & Safety Behind the Bar

• Essential hygiene practices
• Safe working habits
• Maintaining a clean and professional bar

DAY 2 — TOOLS, TECHNIQUES & THE WORLD OF SPIRITS

Get hands-on with the essential skills every bartender needs.

Tools & Techniques: Hands-On Bartending Training

• Essential bar tools
• Glassware and their uses
• Measuring and consistency
• Core cocktail techniques
• Ice, temperature, and dilution
• Citrus preparation and garnishes

The World of Spirits: Understanding Spirits & Liqueurs

• Start with the basics
• Explore the major spirit categories
• Understand liqueurs and their role in cocktails
• Learn how to taste and describe spirits

DAYS 3 & 4 — COCKTAIL MAKING: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER 🍹

Now it’s time to get behind the bar at Toma Toma.

Across two full days of practical cocktail training, you’ll learn to make approximately 20 different cocktails, while developing your technique, consistency, and understanding of each drink.

For every cocktail, you’ll explore:

• How to make it
• The techniques behind it
• Proper measurements and balance
• How to taste and evaluate it
• The history and story behind the cocktail

By the end of the program, you’ll have built a solid foundation in bartending and gained practical experience making a range of classic and essential cocktails.

WHAT YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH

✔️ A strong understanding of the bartender’s role and responsibilities
✔️ Knowledge of bar operations, service, hygiene, and safety
✔️ Confidence using essential bar tools and techniques
✔️ A foundation in spirits, liqueurs, and tasting
✔️ Hands-on experience making approximately 20 cocktails
✔️ A deeper appreciation of cocktail history and culture
✔️ Practical skills to take into your next shift, workplace, or bartending journey

No previous bartending experience required.