the Giant wooden guinness art sculpture

In the last few weeks, I’ve enrolled in the complete bartending course at the Dublin Bar Academy. It’s a 3 week intensive course, designed to teach us everything about being an expert bartender. This includes 30 + cocktails; cocktail flair; history of all the different spirits and how they’re made; master class including tastings for whiskey, tequila/mescale, over 30 different liquors, coffee barista, as well as tasting all the cocktails that we are making. There are exams every day and then a comprehensive exam and a practical behind the bar (double and triple orders) exam which involves making 10 cocktails in under 10 minutes. There are also visits to Guinness and Jamesons for a behind-the-scenes bit of information. This post is a few pictures from the class trip to Guinness, where we spent time on a VIP tour and getting lessons in pulling a pint.

The famous backward Irish Harp

After walking through the regular plant, we were taken to the special VIP rooms. We had to smell each of the aeromas of the different ingredients in a Guinness. It was a bit surreal and comical at the same time.

Can you smell it?

I think Colm smells something Foul… but not me!

Domo feeling Zen while sniffing away, and I’m not sure what Mike’s doing here – Is he tasting?

From here, we got served mini baby guinnesses to take into the next room.

Albano doing the honors.

Alina and Danisa showing off their mini pints.

The tour guide explaining – To properly drink a pint of guinness, you must stand with your feet firmly apart, elbow out, and arm held at shoulder length. Place glass to lips and take a big swallow to enjoy the full guinness flavor.

Yes, that’s right… like that.

The guys demonstrate the proper way to drink a guinness.

They’re not so impressed with the taste; but then I don’t like it either.

After the tasting, we went into our own private bar, and learned to pull a perfect pint.

So, gentlemen, what do you think of the tour?

They give it a one legged double thumbs up and a smile! After all, Guinness is good for you!