Always use fresh citrus juices Before you start using gelées or foams, go back to best-quality ingredients. All you need is fresh citrus, simple syrup and top-quality spirits and you've got a great cocktail.

Be able to free-pour Practice pouring 2 ounces, 1 ounces, 1 ounce, ounce and ounce. When I worked in London, they tested us every night and recorded the results in a book.

Know a recipe's basic proportions A margarita is basically two shots of tequila, one shot of Cointreau and shot lime juice. Even if I riff on the recipe, the proportions won't change much.