NIGHTLIFE
Dooley's Bar Wars - Bartending competition
November 26th, 2006
Everyone has their favorite bartender and everyone can give you different reasons what makes a good bartender.  We all know that making the drinks is the least important skill when it comes to being a great bartender (as long as it’s strong, not too many are going to complain).  Pesonability, smile, knowing your regulars and being able to work efficiently under serious pressure are just a few things that make a good bartender get noticed.  But what if you can do all of that, and add flair to the mix at the same time?  That is when you step up to the next level of bartending.  Sort of the equivalent of going from a good football player, to making the pros, you know the stakes just got higher and the tips, hot girls and fame usually follow.

A few weeks back, we went to Dooley’s in Sterling Heights to watch the finals of their Bar Wars Competition.  This is where DeKuyper, Skyy and Labatt bring in bartenders from all over the state to compete against each other for the title of Best Flair Bartender in the State.  Much like the World Competition we attended in Vegas a few years back while working the Bar & Nightclub Show.  We’re not just talking mixing a drink with a smile.  No, we’re talking mixing drinks while juggling three of four bottles, dancing and shaking to the thumping music and the cheering crowd.  Flipping shaker tins and letting the bottle roll down your arm the way a Globe Trotter would handle a basketball.  These bartenders made you want to go home and practice it yourself, that is until you drop the bottle on the kitchen floor and realize it takes more than a few drinks to think you’re a good flair bartender.  The place was filled to capacity and the bartenders had the crowd whipped into a frenzy.  It must be quite the buzz to get a crowd going the way a rock star would just making drinks.  For some reason, Hot Chicks must love Flair Bartending, because I haven’t seen a collection of fine looking specimens like that since our last interviews for Hot or Not.     

Dooley’s sells DVD’s of the competition if you would like to see what you missed.  This is a must have for any bartender looking to learn a few more tricks to increase the tip jar size or a great stocking stuffer for that bartender in the family.  Check out our website to see a few of the bartenders in action, and contact Dooley’s to see when the next competition starts. 

Dooley’s Bar & Grill
12414 Hall Rd (M-59)
Between Schoenherr & Van Dyke FWY (M-53)
586-323-3501
www.dooleysirish.com

Gallery Here

Got something to say about this article? Email us at info@smalltownlowdown.com