Belize Institute of Mixology (BIM) Advanced Bartending Course After our first 5 days at the Beginner’s course, 5 of our original 8 returned along with 3 other bartenders. Here it got a little more technical and very creative. We learnt more about cocktail categories, more cocktail recipes, how to prepare our own infusions and syrups, how to create a drinks menu and how to taste and blend. We were handed just about every fruit and vegetable available and told to get experimental – I ended up making a very delicious cucumber mint martini and a horribly foul cocktail I named “Listerine” as that’s what it tasted of. We all made many many more, helping each other out, tasting, tweaking and learning from each other. This was a very constructive class with a lot of teamwork involved; it was a highly pleasant experience. More Flair….again, I’m hopeless at it. On the 3rd day we went to Bowen & Bowen in Ladyville to find out how they make the beer of Belize. Again, I was surprised at how interesting and fun it was. After our tour and lunch, we were all sitting comfortably in the Tap Room tasting our beer flights when Dr Cuellar introduced himself and gave us a presentation on alcohol awareness. Surprise, surprise, far from being all doom and gloom, his talk was informative, funny and realistic! We found out what alcohol is, how it affects you (short term i.e. how you get tipsy and long term damaging effects), how and why we get hangovers. We then continued with how to protect our clients (from themselves and each other) and how to recognize warning signs of problematic behavior. All information you most definitely need behind a bar! Day 4 was spent making syrups and garnishes – I can now make a little bug out of a lime wedge. If you know me you know I don’t have a creative bone in my body, so making a little fiddly thingy out of lime is quite a feat! Day 5 – as in the beginner’s course, exam day – we had to make 4 drinks in 5 minutes – all different styles. I managed my 4 in 11 minutes and my hands didn’t stop shaking – I DON’T LIKE EXAMS!!! Did I get anything out of this BIM course? Most certainly! Tons of self-confidence and knowledge of cocktails I didn’t think would stick in my brain. Since finishing this course last week, I have helped out a couple of days at a friend’s resort. I was asked for 2 cocktails I now know how to make (that I had previously never even heard of) and gently eased a very drunk customer who had fallen asleep at the bar back to fresh air and home. Thank you Belize Institute of Mixology – I feel indestructible behind the bar!
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