Ryan The Bartender

06/04/2026

☀️🌴 THIS WARM WEATHER HAS ME DAYDREAMING... 🌴☀️

Every bartender has that one cocktail.

The one that sparks creativity.
The one that sends you down a rabbit hole of history, technique, and experimentation.
The one that reminds you why you fell in love with the craft in the first place.

For me, that's the Mai Tai.

Not because it's flashy.

Not because it's trendy.

But because behind a great Mai Tai is a story.

Years ago, I became fascinated with the original Mai Tai and the balance that made it a timeless classic. That curiosity led me to experiment, refine, and eventually create my own interpretation:

🍹 The Baker's Barbados Mai Tai 🍹

Made with:
🥃 Bumbu Rum
🍊 Cointreau
🌰 Disaronno
🍋 Fresh Lime Juice
🍯 Organic Agave Nectar

The goal wasn't to reinvent the Mai Tai.

It was to create something that respected the original while reflecting my own style as a bartender.

To me, it's a reminder that the best cocktails are more than recipes.

They're experiences.
They're stories.
They're memories waiting to happen.

And with the sunshine finally making an appearance, I can't help but think about tropical flavors, island vibes, and the creativity that inspired this cocktail.

What's the one drink that instantly makes you think of summer?

👇 Let me know in the comments.

- Ryan The Bartender

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06/04/2026

🍻 TIPSY THURSDAY 🍻

STOP SELLING. START INVITING.

One of the biggest mistakes bartenders make on social media is treating every post like an advertisement.

"Come see me tonight."

"Come drink with me."

"Come sit at my bar."

Over and over again.

The problem?

People don't want to feel sold to.

They want to feel welcomed.

There's a huge difference between:

❌ "Come spend money at my bar."

And:

✅ "We're featuring a new cocktail tonight that I'm really excited about."
✅ "Just got fresh ingredients in and can't wait to share this one."
✅ "Looking forward to seeing some familiar faces tonight."

One is a sales pitch.

The other is an invitation.

The best bartenders understand that hospitality starts long before a guest sits down at the bar.

It starts with making people feel like they belong.

Your social media shouldn't feel like a commercial.

It should feel like an open door.

Because people don't come back for advertisements.

They come back for relationships.

- Ryan The Bartender

06/04/2026

☀️🌴 DAYDREAMING OF A BAKER'S BARBADOS MAI TAI 🌴☀️

Something about these warm days and sunshine always takes me back to the cocktail that started it all for me.

The Mai Tai.

Not the overly sweet version that many people have come to know, but the classic tropical cocktail that inspired generations of bartenders and became one of the most iconic drinks ever created.

Years ago, my fascination with the history, craftsmanship, and balance of the Mai Tai led me down a path of experimentation. I wanted to create something that paid tribute to the original while putting my own signature on it.

That journey eventually became the Baker's Barbados Mai Tai.

Built with Bumbu Rum, Disaronno, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and organic agave nectar, it's a cocktail that reminds me why I fell in love with bartending in the first place.

It's bright.
It's tropical.
It's balanced.
And every sip feels like a brief escape from the everyday.

For me, it's more than just a cocktail.

It's a reminder that some of the best things in life are meant to be slowed down and enjoyed.

A great conversation.
A beautiful summer evening.
Good friends around a bar.
A moment to simply be present.

So with the sunshine finally making an appearance, I can't help but find myself daydreaming about Mai Tais.

If you're looking for me behind the bar, there's a good chance I'll be shaking a few of these up.

Stop by, pull up a seat, and let's raise a glass to warm weather, good company, and the simple joy of a well-crafted cocktail.

Cheers. 🍹

— Ryan The Bartender

06/04/2026

The bar industry is constantly evolving.

The cocktails change.
The trends change.
The technology changes.
The way guests discover bars changes.

And whether we like it or not, the bartenders who adapt are often the bartenders who thrive.

Twenty years ago, word of mouth was king. A great bartender could build a reputation one guest at a time, and eventually people would find their way to their barstool.

Today, the world moves differently.

People discover restaurants through Facebook.
They find cocktails on Instagram.
They watch bartenders on TikTok.
They check Google reviews before they ever walk through the door.

Before people can become regulars, they first have to know you exist.

That isn't vanity.

That's reality.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in our industry is the belief that talent alone will carry you.

Talent matters.

Hospitality matters.

Product knowledge matters.

But if you refuse to grow with the industry, eventually the industry grows without you.

Growth doesn't mean abandoning what made you successful.

It means adding new tools to your toolbox.

Learning social media.
Understanding branding.
Promoting your shifts.
Building relationships online and offline.
Creating a public identity that allows people to know, like, and trust you before they ever sit at your bar.

The truth is that every bartender has a personal brand.

The only question is whether you're building it intentionally or leaving it to chance.

The bartenders who embrace growth will always have an advantage over those who refuse to adapt.

Because growth is not about becoming someone else.

It's about becoming the best version of yourself for the world you're serving today.

Keep learning.
Keep adapting.
Keep growing.

The industry isn't standing still.

Neither should we.

- Ryan The Bartender

06/02/2026

🎯 MASTERMIND MONDAY SERIES:
“Integrity Behind The Bar” — Week 1 of 5

Week 1 — Integrity Starts When Nobody Is Watching

Behind every great bartender is one thing customers may never see…

Integrity. 🍸

Not the flashy pours. Not the perfect garnish. Not the social media moments.

Integrity is what happens when:
✔️ You pour correctly
✔️ You charge honestly
✔️ You own mistakes
✔️ You respect the guest
✔️ You protect the business
✔️ You help your team instead of hurting it

A bartender without integrity may survive for a little while…

But a bartender WITH integrity becomes trusted. And trust is what builds regulars, opportunities, leadership, and longevity in this industry. 🔥

The best bartenders aren’t just good at making drinks. They’re dependable. Consistent. Professional. Accountable.

This week’s challenge:
👉 Do the right thing every single shift — especially when nobody would notice if you didn’t.

That’s where real reputation is built.

- Ryan The Bartender

06/01/2026

🔥🍹 THE RYAN THE BARTENDER STORE IS LIVE 🍹🔥

This isn’t just “bartender merch”…
👉 this is Ryan The Bartender.
👉 this is the brand.
👉 this is what we stand on behind the bar. 💯

🛒 SHOP THE STORE HERE: 👇

https://ryanthebartender365.itemorder.com/shop/home/

💥 WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE 💥

🍹 RYAN THE BARTENDER COLLECTION
Clean tees, hoodies, and tanks built for behind the bar or everyday wear

🚨 INTEGRITY SERIES — “PUBLIC ENEMY #1”
This one means something.

This is for bartenders who take pride in doing it right.

💯 This isn’t just gear…

👉 it’s what you represent when you step behind the bar
👉 it’s the standard you hold yourself to
👉 it’s the movement we’re building

🔥 Tag me when your gear lands
🔥 Wear it on shift
🔥 Rep it with pride

And always…
🍹 Drink responsibly. 🍹

Online ordering for Ryan the Bartender 365 - 16939

05/31/2026

Over the years, I have made a lot of Amaretto Sour or Amaretto Stone Sour cocktails.

From my introduction to them in higher volume bars/restaurants, I only knew faster recipes made with a sweet and sour mix. For a stone Sour, equal parts sweet and sour and orange juice.

Then, I graduated a little bit to making it a little fresher, by making a homemade sweet and sour with fresh squeezed lemon juice and homemade simple syrup. For the stone sour effect, I started with orange juice, but graduated to using an orange bitters. This became really popular.

From there, I started adding a little bit of Bourbon to the mix, which elevated the cocktail even more.

Eventually, that bourbon became a bonded 100 proof bourbon.

This became a classic for me for awhile, and something that would wow many guests. Simple changes to a cocktail that they were already familiar with, that made it fresher and made the quality of the cocktail stand out.

I experimented with a little heavy Whipping cream at one point, to add some volume, and a little creamy texture to the cocktail, making it a little more dessert like. Very enjoyable.

I always made my Amaretto sour cocktails on the rocks. Then, I graduated once again, adding egg whites to the mix, and stepping up the mixology game just a little bit more. From here, I dropped making the cocktail on the rocks, and started making it straight up with a little more mixology flair and presentation.

This is the most elevated form, and for me, best quality and best tasting version.

But, I want to know, what is your favorite way to enjoy an Amaretto Sour?

👇 let me know in the comments

- Ryan The Bartender

05/31/2026

It is definitely the good life when you can sip on some of the signature cocktails creates by Ryan The Bartender

Enjoy some of what I have created the last few years, or some classics, with your friends.

Remember to always drink responsibly
You must be 21+ to enjoy Ryan The Bartender cocktails

05/30/2026

🍸🔥 STOP SCROLLING… THIS IS HOW AN AMARETTO SOUR IS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE 🔥🍸

Because sometimes… you don’t need trendy.
You don’t need flashy.

You just need a perfectly executed classic. 👇
— Ryan The Bartender

✨ THE AMARETTO SOUR (DONE RIGHT) ✨

🥃 Disaronno
🥃 Jack Daniel's Bonded
🍋 Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
🍯 Homemade Simple Syrup
🥚 Pasteurized Egg Whites
🍊 Orange Bitters

💥 Shaken to perfection.
💥 Silky foam.
💥 Balanced sweet + sour with a bold backbone.

Garnish game strong:

🍊 Orange Twist
🍒 Filthy Cherry
✨ Angostura bitters art on top

This isn’t the overly sweet version you remember…

This is smooth, rich, layered, and dangerously drinkable. 😮‍🔥

👉 The whiskey brings depth
👉 The citrus brings life
👉 The foam brings that next-level texture

THIS is the Amaretto Sour you deserve.

👇 Be honest…

Are you ordering this at the bar or making it at home?

05/30/2026

About last night....

The world of Ryan The Bartender