Mixology
·4 min read
5 Classic Cocktails Every Bartender Should Master
From the Old Fashioned to the Daiquiri, these five recipes form the foundation of every great bartender's repertoire. Here's how to make them flawlessly.
The PBS Blog
Bartending tips, industry insights, graduate stories, and news from the school.
Job Tips
·5 min read
What Hiring Managers Actually Look For in a Bartender
We talked to bar directors at top DC venues about what separates a great candidate from an average one. Spoiler: it's not just speed.
Graduate Stories
·6 min read
Graduate Spotlight: Marcus Taylor at The Gibson
Six years after graduating, Marcus is now head bartender at one of the most acclaimed cocktail bars in the country. Here's his story.
Industry Trends
·4 min read
The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Cocktails - And Why It Matters
Zero-proof drinks are no longer an afterthought. Here's how the trend is reshaping bar menus and what bartenders need to know.
Student Life
·5 min read
Day in the Life: What to Expect During Your First Week at PBS
Nervous about starting? Here's a detailed walkthrough of your first week - from orientation to your first pour.
Mixology
·7 min read
How to Build a Cocktail Menu From Scratch
Menu development is part science, part art. Our lead instructor breaks down the framework he uses to build seasonal drink programs.
Mixology
·8 min read
Mojito Season
Why bartenders dread making mojitos, why customers love them, and the two rules every bartender should follow to make a proper one.
Industry Info
·3 min read
Age To Bartend in MD, DC, and VA
The minimum age to bartend varies across the DMV. Here is a breakdown by jurisdiction so you know exactly where you stand.
Program Info
·4 min read
How Long Is Bartending School in MD, DC, or VA?
The program is 40 hours across 10 hands-on classes. You can complete it in one week, two weeks, or five Saturdays.
Graduate Stories
·6 min read
Starting Over: How Paul Costanzo Found a New Life Behind the Bar
After nearly four decades in the corporate world, Paul trained at PBS during the recession. Now over 60, he has never been happier.
Graduate Stories
·4 min read
From 25 Years in the Army to Behind the Bar
A retired military officer shares how bartending gave him flexibility, great pay, and a stress-free second chapter.
Graduate Stories
·3 min read
Successful Inventor and Entrepreneur - But Can He Bartend?
Robin Thomas built a product featured in Forbes and TechCrunch. Then he took our 40-hour course just to see if he could do it.
Events
·4 min read
Bartending at the 2013 Inauguration
Fifty PBS graduates worked behind the bar at President Obama's second inaugural celebration. Here is what that experience was like.
Industry Info
·5 min read
Coping With the Furlough: And Lessons From the Recession
When the economy dips, enrollment rises. How government workers and career changers have used bartending to stay afloat.
Job Tips
·6 min read
Seasonal Bartending Jobs in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Spring through summer and September through New Year are peak seasons. Here is how to position yourself for the best gigs.
Industry Info
·4 min read
Why Online Bartending Classes Don't Work
You would not learn to drive from a video. The same logic applies to bartending. Here is why hands-on training matters.
More from PBS
Program Info
·4 min read
Trade and Technical School: Arlington, Virginia
Looking for a fast, affordable trade school with real job outcomes? PBS has been training bartenders in Arlington since 1968.
Student Life
·3 min read
The Most Fun Classes in DC
Read the reviews. Students consistently say PBS classes are the most fun they have ever had in a classroom.
Mixology
·3 min read
Mixology Classes in DC
From foundational bartending to advanced craft cocktails - how our graduates move from behind the speed rail to the craft bar.
Job Tips
·4 min read
Part-Time Bartender Jobs in Northern Virginia
Students, retirees, career-changers - part-time bartending works for almost anyone. Here are real stories from our graduates.
Program Info
·4 min read
Cost of Bartending School: MD, DC, VA and Nationwide
What does bartending school cost, and what do you get for it? A look at tuition, value, and how quickly graduates earn it back.
Events
·4 min read
Job Fair: The Homestead Resort Recruits PBS Graduates
One of Virginia's most prestigious resorts came to our campus to interview graduates. Here is how it went.
Student Life
·3 min read
What Our Students Say on Yelp
Real reviews from real students. Here is what graduates have to say about their experience at PBS.
Events
·3 min read
DC Radio Personality Learns to Bartend at PBS
When a Washington DC radio host wanted to try something new, she came to our bar. Here is what happened.
Local Bartending Info
Guides for students across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.
Local Info
Bartending School Near Me
Two blocks from the Courthouse Metro in Arlington. If you are anywhere in the DC region, we are easy to get to.
Local Info
Bartending School for Gaithersburg and Germantown
Our graduates from Montgomery County have landed bartending jobs at venues across the region. Here is where they are working.
Local Info
Bartending School for Waldorf, MD
We have been training Waldorf residents since 1968. Here is where our Charles County graduates are bartending.
Local Info
Bartending School for Fredericksburg, VA
Fredericksburg is an easy drive or train ride to our Arlington campus. Graduates from the area are bartending locally and beyond.
Local Info
Bartender Training for Bethesda, Rockville, and Gaithersburg
We have trained bartenders and bar managers across Montgomery County for decades, including staff at major catering firms.
Local Info
Become a Bartender in Maryland, DC, and Virginia
From Union Station to Reagan Airport to the country clubs of Northern Virginia - our graduates are behind bars across the region.
Local Info
Restaurants in Courthouse, Arlington
Hungry before or after class? There are about 50 dining options within a few blocks of our campus.
Local Info
Arlington Restaurants: Toscana Grill Community Story
When a water main closed Toscana Grill, the owner turned disaster into a community moment by offering free meals to the neighborhood.
Local Info
Things To Do in DC: Bartending Edition
The DC 20s and 30s social group regularly hosts bartending sessions at our campus. Here is what makes them such a great time.