Fernet-Branca is a unique Amaro beloved by bartenders and nicknamed, “The Bartender’s Handshake.” Fernet-Branca is produced in Italy following an unchanged 175-year-old secret family recipe, known by only one person in the world. “This has everything you need to either awaken you palate before a meal or serve as a digestif afterward. A shot of fernet is ubiquitous to this industry. Unprompted, 20% of the time the bartender will either show up with or ask if I want a shot of fernet. Like all amari, fernet is a mixture of herbs, barks, and botanicals blended with distilled wine. “I love dark amaros, especially fernet,” Wade says of the beverage long known as “the bartender’s handshake.” She explains: “To go to a bar and order a fernet and a ginger ale meant that you knew what you were doing. Behind the stick. Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin. Bartenders were accustomed to having a shot of Fernet-Branca when they changed shifts and it became known as the ‘bartender handshake’ whose purpose was to mark the moment in which bartending duty was passed over to a colleague. Scotch whisky replaces bourbon in the Fernet Branca Cocktail with a bitter word-play on the recipe name. In the US, bartenders are a key component of Fernet Branca’s success. What an omelette is to a chef, the daiquiri is to a bartender. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Which is great.” We start with the branca. The shot is served post-shift among bartenders and … Fernet-Branca is a unique Amaro beloved by bartenders and nicknamed, “The Bartender’s Handshake.” Fernet-Branca is produced in Italy following an unchanged 175-year-old secret family recipe, known by only one person in the world. Meet the Secret Barroom Handshake That Is the “Challenge Coin” Challenge coins have a storied history within the military as a badge of honor—and as a communal drinking game. It is Fernet-Branca, and it is the Bartender’s Handshake. Hosted by @CallMrGOLD in partnership with @HappyHourCity, we hope to … Is Jagermeister an Amaro? The most popular cocktail is the Bartender's Handshake, Fernet and ginger ale, sometimes drunk one after the other. Brad Japhe. by Michael Turback. Fernet-Branca is een speciaal geval amaro want hij ligt aan het andere einde van het spectrum, want meer bitter dan zoet. Dusties are those bottles that look pretty but just sit on the back bar gathering dust because there is no use for them. The Bartenders Handshake, a Digestif. 10ml Simple Syrup. Behind the stick – Night shift at the bar. I do like the “bartenders handshake” which is a shot of Fernet, it is a sign of friendship and shared pain because only bartenders know what bartenders go through. It dominates the category, though—so much so that it has become nearly synonymous with it. Usually a small shot of Fernet-Branca given to a fellow bartender drinking at your bar (usually for free). Bartender’s Handshake - a shot of Fernet Branca is currently in vogue. I asked him then to pour us each a Hard Start, a 50/50 shot of equal parts Fernet-Branca and Brancamenta, that was created by Brooklyn bartender Damon Boelte and has since traveled well beyond Kings County. The more I play with it, the more versatile it becomes. MAP Party Lager . luxardo liqueur. Bitters. Known as the bartenders’ handshake, it’s often enjoyed as a shot, preferably icy cold. Combine rye, Fernet, simple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass, and fill with ice. Fernet-Branca is a traditional Italian digestivo made from a secret mix of herbs including myrrh, saffron, chamomile and gentian. The story goes that taking a shot of bitters as the bartender’s handshake originated from the bartending community in San Francisco, with Fernet-Branca as the liqueur of choice – bartenders from different cities across the US use different spirits as their calling card, but on the whole they are often exceptionally strong spirits that’ll knock your socks off when taken as a shot. Some bartenders have gone even further, showing off their love for Fernet Branca permanently, by tattooing the iconic eagle on their body. Invented in Milan in 1845 as a cholera treatment, it soon became apparent it was a better tipple than cure. Maybe you were curious about Fernet-Branca’s cultlike following among bartenders. Or you bought it to mix a Hanky Panky, an early-20th-century creation with gin and sweet vermouth first stirred by bartender Ada Coleman at The Savoy in London. The Ferrari: a Bartender’s Handshake Often regarded as the “bartender’s handshake”, a shot of Fernet-Branca has become a modern fixture for bartenders visiting one another at their respective craft cocktail establishments. Buy Bartender's Handshake: The Cult of Fernet-Branca, with Cocktail Recipes and Lore by Turback, Michael online on Amazon.ae at best prices. Fernet Branca. Tagged amaro, bartenders handshake, cola, fernet branca, fernet coin, fernet tattoo, tattoo, фернет бранка Навигация по записям ← Забавная история о том, как коньяк превратился из дринка для элиты в самый популярный дринк у афроамериканцев. Bookless of The Passenger says that people who work in … If a bartender poured a shot for a customer (usually another bartender) and another for themselves, it was called a "bartender's handshake." Fast and free shipping free returns cash on delivery available on eligible purchase. A world before the Jägerbomb. In the US, bartenders are a key component of Fernet Branca's success. Especially in San Francisco, where it is estimated that about a quarter of the Fernet-Branca imported to the United States is consumed, bartenders often take the drink as a shot with a ginger ale or ginger beer chaser. Believe me, as an ex B.A. Fernet-Branca’s recipe includes core 27 ingredients, such as rhubarb from China, gentian from France, galanga from India or Sri Lanka, chamomile from Europe or Argentina. Known as the bartenders’ handshake, it’s often enjoyed as a shot, preferably icy cold. A shot of Fernet Branca is often called the “bartender’s handshake” because of its popularity among professional mixologists. The first time I try fernet, it’s straight up and on the rocks in the Amigo Room at Ace Hotel & Swim Club. Jameson Black Barrel Old-Fashioned. It’s also so popular among drinks-industry workers that it’s … Bartender Tyler Chauvin pours a glass of Fernet for a "bartenders handshake" at Treo in New Orleans, La., Thursday, September 21, 2017. Use of local Cook’s Honey, German malt, and noble hops to craft this light and crisp Kölsch. Bartenders there kick-start their shift with a shot of Fernet Branca. The Bitter Smoke Cocktail pays homage to a bartender who once made us this off the menu cocktail, when we asked for “something smoky, bitter and stirred”. Beverage program – A fancy name for a bar’s menu of drinks. It’s said that Argentina consumes 75 percent of the world’s fernet, but a good portion of the rest likely goes to craft bartenders, who have been known to trade shots of it with each other so often that the drink became known as “the bartender’s handshake.” My bar career started in 2000 at a nightclub in Stafford, and Jägermeister was nowhere to be found. Beverage program – A fancy name for a bar’s menu of drinks. TINGALA. However, this practice may change from country to country, with Angostura Bitters being the Malaysian bartender’s handshake. The cocktail is extremely popular in Argentina, with some statistics reporting that the country consumes more than 75% of all fernet produced globally. Fernet Branca. Leave it to him to create an Old Fashioned recipe that honors the bartender’s handshake and includes Fernet-Branca. Behind the stick – Night shift at the bar. The Essentials. In the U.S., Fernet-Branca is branded as a tribal rite of passage drink for craft bartenders, and has been referred to as "The Bartender’s Handshake". A fernet. Twist orange peel over the drink and use as garnish. The Bartender’s Handshake Within the cocktail community, bartenders often greet friends and colleagues with what’s know as the “bartender’s handshake,” a shot of booze on the house, served upon arrival or sometimes with the check. And come last call, just about every bar in San Francisco doles out rounds of bartender's handshakes, shots of fernet served with ginger ale kickers. From Behind the Bar: On Fernet Branca. When a bartender walks into another's bar, they share the knowledge and experience and often commiserate. It dominates the category to the point it has become nearly synonymous with it, as Kleenex has for facial tissue. Home; About SWE; Attendee Portal: 44th Annual SWE Conference; Conference Recaps 2019. 30ml Passionfruit Pulp. During these days of the COVID-19 pandemic, let's call it a "bartender's elbow bump." 90% of the time the bartender will do a shot of fernet with me. Dusties are those bottles that look pretty but just sit on the back bar gathering dust because there is no use for them. Fernet-Branca is quite possibly the most famous Amaro on the planet and certainly the most popular. Pull your Fernet coin for a bartender’s handshake, enjoy music from our guest DJ, and don't miss your chance at giveaways that include Fernet swag, a Mezcalero DTLA gift card, and more.. Bartender Tyler Chauvin pours a glass of Fernet for a "bartenders handshake" at Treo in New Orleans, La., Thursday, September 21, 2017. “It’s like a brotherhood,” says Manny Hernández, bar manager at Barceloneta. Culture Guides The 7 habits you pick up bartending. My new favorite thing is to combine it with Fernet-Branca (the Bartender's Handshake!). Perhaps because of its intensity, it’s something that a less discerning palate, or a non-bartender, would be less likely to enjoy. So there was little surprise when local fernet enthusiasts, Max Rudsten and Ben Flajnik, released Fernet Francisco Manzanilla in 2015. But Fernet-Branca is not a category unto itself. The Bartender. Bottled at 80 proof (40% AVB), Fernet Branca is higher in alcohol, … Fernet Branca -- "The Bartenders' Handshake" Industry Veteran Steve Brecher Named CEO of Branca USA. The Bartenders’ Handshake: Fernet-Branca & Branca Menta Matt Taylor-Gross. Fernet definitely makes an impression. It is even available in pre-mixed cans. Known unofficially as the bartender's handshake-taking a shot of Fernet is a sign of mutual acknowledgment between two bartenders-the Italian amaro is … Hell, shots of Fernet-Branca are even known as the “bartender’s handshake.” But one thing we never order are novelty shots, i.e. Bartender’s handshake– Typically given for free, this small shot is a gift from one bartender to another when they are customers at their bar. Of all the Amari, Fernet-Branca is arguably the most divisive, hitting the top end of the bitter scale. Fernet Branca amaro review. Top bars are said to have a good “program.” Boomerang. We could take them or leave them. “And fernet and bartenders.” The latter were actually instrumental in the flavor development; he’s on recipe number 27 thanks to their input, and since many bartenders have a habit of drinking it, they have a lot of stake in finding a better fernet. Fernet Branca is a very bitter Italian amaro, which some bartenders have characterized as “Jägermeister’s older, more sophisticated brother.” It is very popular among people who work in the service industry, which is why it is also known as the “bartender’s handshake.” Fernet is great for digestion and has many curative properties. Outside of college bars, most bartenders don’t even know the recipes for said “cocktails.” 6. The most popular cocktail is the Bartender’s Handshake, Fernet and ginger ale, sometimes drunk one after the other. This is usually a shot of Fernet-Branca. So based on that line of thinking a favorite way of drinking Fernet in San Francisco is with a chaser of Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer known as a "bartender’s handshake" . We asked nine of San Francisco’s top barkeeps which dives they go to when they need a proper, no-nonsense session. Why do bartenders drink Fernet? Thus, it becoming the ultimate bartender’s handshake. Fernet-Branca: What It Is and How to Use It. It’s the “bartender’s handshake” and so much more. Kelly Magyarics, DWS, is a wine, spirits, travel, food and lifestyle writer and wine educator. You bought a spirit or liqueur because a cocktail recipe called for a very small amount. They wind down with a 'Bartender's Handshake' (Fernet Branca and ginger beer). The amaro Fernet-Branca enjoys cult status among bartenders. They are called the bartender’s handshake. Fernet Branca is a very bitter Italian amaro, which some bartenders have characterized as “Jägermeister’s older, more sophisticated brother.” It is very popular among people who work in the service industry, which is why it is also known as the “bartender’s handshake.” Fernet is great for digestion and has many curative properties. Top with soda OR if you have access to a really bright, citrusy wheat beer, try that out too. Denver’s version of the bartenders’ drinking ritual known as a ‘Bartender’s Handshake.’. Good. There are several kinds of bitters but recently everybody is talking about one in particular: Fernet. While the … This is like a bartender’s handshake — Fernet is a favourite ingredient among bartenders. More like this. Logan receives an unorthodox bartenders handshake Fernet-Branca is a brand of fernet. Of course, when bartenders hear of the Branca Distillery, their mind goes straight to the one and only Fernet-Branca. Fernet Branca is one of the more assertive amari. Unnecessarily pretentious way of describing the beers, wines, liquors, cocktails, and other libations as bar has on its menu. Although most Americans weren't sure what to make of it, Fernet became a rite of passage among bartenders. Other uses include stirring a touch of fernet into coffee or serving it alongside an espresso for a balanced after-dinner treat, the beverage's sharp, citrusy notes playing off each other in soothing harmony. Float a couple of drops of Sativa oil on top and garnish with weed leaf . Fernet is made from a number of herbs and spices which vary according to the brand, but usually include myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and especially saffron,[1] with a base of grape distilled spirits, and coloured with caramel colouring. (Fernet-Branca sold in the US is all made in Milan.) Bartender's Handshake: The Cult of Fernet-Branca, with Cocktail... › Customer reviews; Customer reviews. Two of ours are ordering two shots of fernet (one for you, one for the bartender) and the other one is "Steve's number nine" which is half fernet half green chartreuse. It's often used in cocktails, but if you're a bartender visiting another bar, your colleague might pour you a shot as a greeting, a bartender's handshake. Bartenders there kick-start their shift with a shot of Fernet Branca. Monkey butt refers to chaffing, and you should be able to pick up the drift on it past that. The LA Bartender’s Handshake mixes Fernet Branca Menta and mezcal. ¾ oz. To make a Hanky Panky true to Ada’s original recipe, be sure the amaro you’re using is a fernet; Fernet Branca is most specifically called for and is also widely available (having served for some time on the rotation of spirits that served as the “bartender’s handshake” for those in-the-know, and popularized from there). You know you are a real bartender when you start cursing the Fernet bottle behind you. It’s only in recent years that the bitter palate has reached the masses — Negronis have been drunk by chefs and bartenders many years but only recently have the more bitter mixes been celebrated. “The bartender handshake is, in my opinion, the result of two factors,” says Workshop and Truss & Twine bartender Kevin Carlow. Tags author book Branca family chilled coffee coffee table edoardo branca fernet branca Fratelli Branca industry news news. Beers, wines, liqueurs, and cocktails can all be found there. It is even available in pre-mixed cans. Maar het is ook populair als digestief of ingrediënt voor cocktails en ook in de keuken. What did you think of this story? He has founded multiple bars and hosts the podcast The Cottonmouth Club Presents. In the Chicago drinking world, the Chicago Handshake is slang for a drink special involving a shot of Jeppson’s Malört paired with an ‘old-school’ Midwestern beer, most typically Old Style Beer. Bartenders are something of a fraternity. This is usually a shot of Fernet-Branca. Fernet Branca is a traditional Italian digestivo made from a secret mix of herbs including myrrh, saffron, chamomile and gentian. Recently we’ve noticed bartenders extending the tradition to consumers. Beers, wines, liqueurs, and cocktails can all be found there. Strain into a collins glass. If you want to read up on the the details of "The Bartender Handshake" using these Fernet Coins, you can easily search for it on the web. Fernet is an Italian bitter liqueur wildly popular in Argentina, mixed with Coca-Cola. "If the bartender really likes you as a customer, they might pour you a Fernet shot. Fernet Branca: Bartender’s Handshake Fernet Branca is zonder twijfel de peetvader van de handdruk van de barman, de bartender’s handshake. “It’s a secret code.” Ordering a shot of Branca at the bar—nicknamed the “bartender’s handshake”—signals that you know life is bitter and better for it. Fernet-Branca Essential Facts . Fernet-Branca is the best-known brand of the fernet category of amari, or bitter herbal liqueurs. Fernet Branca is a very bitter Italian amaro, which some bartenders have characterized as “Jägermeister’s older, more sophisticated brother.” It is very popular among people who work in the service industry, which is why it is also known as the “bartender’s handshake.” Fernet is great for digestion and has many curative properties. It’s also the last time I try fernet. Thus, it becoming the ultimate bartender’s handshake. But Fernet can’t rule the booze high school forever. While most bartenders couldn’t really answer how is fernet served, because it is more likely to be in stock for themselves than cocktails, it doesn’t mean there aren’t wonderful drinks you can make with it. Fernet is not for the faint of heart. This is how it goes for everyone, and Fernet Branca is, thus, the shibboleth of the cocktail world: when someone asks for a shot of Fernet, I usually ask them where they work. During these days of the COVID-19 pandemic, let's call it a "bartender's elbow bump." The answer is always yes. Bartender’s handshake. Spanning 1,800 sq ft, Caffe Fernet is the group’s largest set-up to date. “It started becoming the bartender handshake in the late ’90s. Branca minis – Menta & Fernet. It's often used in cocktails, but if you're a bartender visiting another bar, your colleague might pour you a shot as a greeting, a bartender's handshake. A shot of Fernet-Branca is often called the “bartender’s handshake” because of its popularity among professional mixologists. You were in the know. 25ml Fernet Branca. A bartender friend of mine says they call them the Bartender's Handshake because often other bartenders get them when they go out. It is like a secret handshake among bartenders. I’ll never turn the Fernet gesture down, but some days I want to go old-school and for a bartender to layer some B-52 shots like it is the 1990s. And come last call, just about every bar in San Francisco doles out rounds of bartender's handshakes, shots of fernet served with ginger ale kickers. Advocate staff photo by EMILY KASK Michael Neff is a Master Bartender who has been building bars and cocktails since 1995. Mixologists call Fernet-Branca the “bartender’s handshake” because they pour visiting bartenders a shot as a sign of camaraderie. It's not the only drink to have served in this role - the Negroni has , being similarly bitter and complex, but with the benefit of actually tasting good, which Fernet does not. It is often referred to as "the Bartender's Handshake", with a quick shot of Fernet Branca being a hospitality insider's order. 5 star 63% 4 star 0% (0%) 0% 3 star 37% 2 star 0% (0%) 0% 1 star 0% (0%) 0% Bartender's Handshake: The Cult of Fernet-Branca, with Cocktail Recipes and Lore. lemon drops, kamikazes or anything with a lewd name. This is one of the reasons why Fernet is often referred to as “The Bartender’s Handshake” and shots of Fernet are frequently consumed when groups of bartenders assemble. My bartender friends tend to order this to signal to their bartender that they are also in the industry instead of outright saying anything. Meh. Other craft bartenders I asked – and I use the term “craft” advisedly – agreed. On Sunday, November 3rd, The Midway in San Francisco is set to hold the 12th Annual Branca Games.As opposed to the standard bartender … Fernet-Branca and Branca Menta are definitely an acquired taste. Fernet (Italian pronunciation: [fɛrˈnɛt]) is a type of amaro, a bitter, aromatic spirit. 4.3 out of 5. If you want to read up on the the details of "The Bartender Handshake" using these Fernet Coins, you can easily search for it on the web. (Fernet-Branca sold in the US is all made in Milan.) Even Jägermeister has had to reinvent itself as a cocktail ingredient to sustain volume and ensure that they would not alienate new consumers, already on the wagon of the craft cocktail scene. Bookless of The Passenger says that people who work in … “All the cool kids do a shot of Fernet-Branca after work. THE BARTENDER’S HANDSHAKE. 6.5% Fernet Stout First brewed as a collab with our friends in Argentina Dos Dingos Brewery, we are bringing back the Brewer’s Handshake in a world first collaboration with the Fernet spirit. 7. The global army of devoted bartenders who trade collectible challenge coins and rock countless tattoos of the brand’s logo attests to the enduring appeal of Fernet-Branca as the “bartender’s handshake” of choice. Robert Simonson’s The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cocktail, with Recipes and Lore is a tour through the history and many variations of this amazing, classic drink. Inevitably, the “Bartender’s Handshake” consists of a bitter drink or a combo including an amaro. 6. Bartenders in that city sometimes refer to a shot of Fernet Branca (often served with a chaser of ginger ale or ginger beer) as a “bartender’s handshake,” and such is the liqueur’s resonance with the local food industry that recently Andrew Mitchell, a bartender at Rickhouse, designed a cocktail made with Fernet Branca and ginger, which he dubbed the Restaurateur. Joshua James, bar director and co-owner of the Clever Koi in Phoenix, says Fernet-Branca caught on with mixologists in San Francisco a few years back. It is a drink, that, when ordered as a shot, instantly makes one recognizable as someone who works in the beverage hospitality industry. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Bartender's Handshake : The Cult of Fernet-Branca, with Cocktail Recipes and Lore by Michael Turback (2017, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at eBay! 25ml Grapefruit Juice. Bartenders in San Francisco love fernet so much that the ubiquitous industry tradition of the “bartender’s handshake” almost always involves Fernet-Branca. If a bartender poured a shot for a customer (usually another bartender) and another for themselves, it was called a "bartender's handshake." Ordering a shot of the pungent liquid is even called a “Bartenders Handshake”. To make a Hanky Panky true to Ada’s original recipe, be sure the amaro you’re using is a fernet; Fernet Branca is most specifically called for and is also widely available (having served for some time on the rotation of spirits that served as the “bartender’s handshake” for those in-the-know, and popularized from there). Bartender's Handshake: The Cult of Fernet-Branca, with Cocktail Recipes and Lore What is it where you are? Cuper’s riff on the classic Whiskey & Coke, also a nod to the Argentine tradition of drinking fernet con Coca, also known as a Fernandito, is made by smoking Fernet-Branca and mixing it with rye whiskey and a syrup that uses cooked down Coca-Cola. “We decided to smash the two [drinks] together into an awesome stirred brown cocktail,” he says. The bartenders handshake is usually a shot or Fernet-Branca or a Jameson. It is a unique product for unique bartenders. After all, it has all the necessary traits to become a “ritual” or a bartender’s handshake the way Fernet Branca has become. 2 2 22. 1 oz. Now, pretty much everyone knows about it — it’s not just an industry thing anymore. During World War I, a particularly wealthy lieutenant ordered bronze medallions for his squadron. Both feature a … Beverage program. A shot of Fernet has long been one version of a bartender’s handshake, but the coin takes the concept one step further, riffing on the concept of the American military challenge coin. But it is Argentina that consumes the greatest quantity of Fernet … Fernet Branca - Yeah, you read that right! Fernet Branca. Miller High Life and Fernet (or Another Amaro) Originating in San Francisco, this beer and a shot combo is the equivalent of a high-five between bartenders. While I was at Boston Cocktail Summit, I attended Francesco Lafranconi’s “ Do You Speak Amari .”. But it is Argentina that consumes the greatest quantity of Fernet-Branca, some 25 million litres each year, usually as a Fernandito or Fernet con Cola. Conference Recaps 2018; Conference Recaps 2017; Conference Recaps 2016 For years, Fernet has been somewhat of a “bartender’s handshake,” signifying a secret bond over this strong but bitter drink. … This is what people in the community use as a token of camaraderie used amongst bartenders and usually comes in the form of a shot, and that shot is the Fernet-Branca, the international bartender’s handshake. Meanwhile, few bars, at least those that need to maintain their cocktail bonafides, can today do without a bottle of Fernet-Branca. The Fernet shot as hipster-bartender handshake was born in San Francisco, which now drinks more Fernet per capita than any other city in the world, outstripping even Buenos Aires (where Fernet … The first ever Fernet-Branca coin was created in 2013 to consolidate what had long since been a common habit in the bartender community of San Francisco. The story: The only Italian fernet in our mix comes from Federico Cremasco, a former perfumer and bartender better known as “Fred Jerbis” (“Herbs” in Friuliano), producer of small-batch, botanical-driven gin, vermouth, amaro and bitters that are driven by a true sense of place. Serve to friends. The Bitter Smoke Cocktail pays homage to a bartender who once made us this off the menu cocktail, when we asked for “something smoky, bitter and stirred”. Logan receives an unorthodox bartenders handshake The Author. Denver Handshake. As a Bay Area fan once explained, between bartenders, Fernet is "like a secret handshake." Culture Guides. Amari is the plura of amaro, Italian liqueurs that are generally bitter and used as digestives. While each brand of fernet is distinctive and has a unique recipe, common ingredients include saffron, quinine, myrrh, aloe, cardamom, Anjelica, and rhubarb. Although both of the amari are bitter, they have very different bitter profiles that still play nice together. When shown to another bartender, Fernet-Branca challenge coins operate like a secret handshake. "If the bartender really likes you as a customer, they might pour you a Fernet shot. The name, “Bitter Handshake,” refers to Fernet Branca being the, “ bartender’s shot,” or as I call it, “the bartender’s handshake,” a blessing an/or a curse that another bartender may send you at any point, a greeting, a good bye, a handshake. A shot of Fernet-Branca has become something of a bartenders’ handshake over the years, a nod of acknowledgement between the on-duty bartender and their guest. Fernet Branca Menta and 1 oz. The most popular cocktail is the Bartender's Handshake, Fernet and ginger ale, sometimes drunk one after the other. Free shipping for many products! Practically synonymous with the term, Fernet is the handshake of choice for many a bartender — and some non-industry laypeople might say that the taste is not for the faint of heart, but then again, neither is the bartending industry.