What separates a mixologist from a bartender? The answer is: a lot more than you think. Bartenders are master mixers of existing drinks, while mixologists concoct original cocktails with precise ratios, blending flavors to excite the imbiber’s pallet in unique and stimulating ways. Many professionals consider themselves mixologists when experimenting with ingredients and ratios to create a new cocktail and bartenders while serving drinks. So put your mixologist hat on and get ready to experiment.

The revival of handcrafted cocktails has given way to a boom in creativity. One of the most commanding tools a mixologist has is the power of infusion (also known as maceration). With it, you have the power to combine the essence of a habanero pepper into tequila, the know-how to extract the taste of a fresh orange into your vodka, and the inspiration to combine your whiskey with smoky bacon.