Upon calling literally every bartending school in LA- one stuck out. When I called National Bartenders School, an intelligent, enthusiastic woman named Patty articulated the benefits the school had to offer- and in a matter of a 5 minute conversation, I knew this place was serious about making really good bartenders.\r
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My teacher was Mario- who offers a very realistic view into the world of bartending while still managing to get the laws, facts, and recipes engraved into your mind (partially due to actually having a good personality =)). I never felt intimidated or overwhelmed- but I also managed to feel like I was challenged.\r
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Though Mario was my teacher, and I can absolutely recommend him- the other instructors all offered their own unique flavor, and seemed to truly be up to the same high standards in my brief moments viewing their lessons- it's like going to an amazing restaurant- all the dishes are good, but you're bound to have a favorite.\r
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Then there's Patty- the director of the school. At risk of sounding cheesy- Patty embodies the bartender you want to be, and inspired me from the beginning. She genuinely cares about making a good drink, and what goes into that. She knows everything about a drink- making beautiful garnishes, the history of the alcohol, the origin of the mixers, the flavor ratios, the history of the drink altogether- but she also knows how to have fun too, and also has an extremely realistic slant on the social aspect of bartending too.\r
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Though I haven't secured bartending work yet due to a lack of jobs (you know, ""the economy""), I know that the reason I can apply to any place with confidence, is because I learned everything I need to know about liquor (and probably more than I'll ever need to know) at NBS.
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