Want to become a professional mixologist, or just make amazing cocktails at your next party? This guide on how to bartend will show you how to prepare tasty cocktails that will impress your friends and please their palettes.

Bartending is fun, and can also make you loads of cash if you land the right job. You don't need to attend an expensive school to learn how to mix drinks and become fast behind the bar. All you need to do is get the right equipment and ingredients, and practice making popular drinks. This guide will show you the basics, and tell you everything you need to get started.

To get started, you will need some special tools of the trade. Most large home stores sell these items. You can always order over the internet, but it is best to pick up the items before you buy so that you can see how they feel in your hands. You will need:

1. A large cocktail shaker
2. A strainer that fits over the lid of your shaker
3. A long bar spoon
4. A muddler
5. A wine opener
6. A bottle opener

There are some basics that every good bar is stocked with. The following ingredients will allow you to make the majority of popular cocktails:

1. Vodka
2. Rum
3. Gin
4. Tequila
5. Whiskey
6. Triple sec
7. Sweet and sour
8. Grenadine
9. Sweetened lime juice
10. Orange juice
11. Cranberry juice
12. Grapefruit juice
13. Pineapple juice
14. Limes
15. Lemons
16. Maraschino cherries
17. Green olives
18. Sodas (cola and lemon lime, at the very least)

You will need to build a repertoire of cocktails. There are thousands of recipes, and if you want to become a good bartender it is wise to get a book of drinks. You will find many recipes in the Related Mahalo Pages section of this guide, as well.

You can also play around and create your own cocktails. As a general rule, a 1 1/4 ounce shot of alcohol and 3-4 ounces of mixer is standard for most drinks. Experiment with flavors, and find out what tastes good and what does not.