Here’s a scenario familiar to any barman or barmaid. It’s Friday night and you’re working a shift in a packed, noisy bar. It’s dark and you’re wearing the same black bartender clothes as all the other bar staff.
How do you add personal flair to your presence in such a situation? And how do you crack a joke when no one can hear what you’re saying?
Enter the latest bartender trend – bartender pins. Whether a Negroni or a funny bartender joke, this versatile wearable tells your clients what you’re all about – mixology and having a good time.
Enamel pins require less commitment than getting bartender tattoos but have the same ability to deliver a punchy statement and communicate your passion for mixology.
In this blog post, we share:
- Why you should wear bartender pins
- The 10 most popular bartender pins in our collection
- Creative ways to wear bartender pins
Read on to find out all about bartender enamel pins.
[Looking to add flair to a bland bar outfit? Broken Bartender’s kick-ass pins and t-shirts offer fun and witty designs for the professional barman and barmaid.]
5 reasons why you should be wearing bartender pins
Need convincing that pin badges are the latest bartender trend? Here are 5 reasons every bartender should wear them on shifts:
1. Adds personality to your bar uniform
Bartender clothes aren’t the most flashy outfit. Black is often the dress code, and while both practical and professional, it’s also boring. A hard enamel pin adds a personal touch that is both subtle and provocative.
2. Provides an icebreaker at the ready
Bartenders don’t just serve cocktails – we like to add a good laugh on the side too. A good bartender joke serves as an icebreaker. So does a lapel pin with a punch line. A good bartender pin will have many customers strike up a conversation with you.
Care for a mojito or a little spanking? This mint cocktail pin covers both.
3. Highlights your specialty cocktail(s)
How often a night do you get asked what cocktails you can recommend? That’s right, too often. Wearing a cocktail pin of choice will help you dodge that question. And if you still get asked, simply point to your pin.
Use a whole bunch of cocktail enamel pins and you can explain the whole drink menu without uttering a word!
4. Shows your passion for bartending
Pinning a cocktail-themed brooch pin to your chest does more than provide a personal twist to your outfit. They show that you’re a pro with a passion for mixology. Like a decorated war hero, you can wear these pins proudly and show what you’re made of.
5. Conveys you abstain from drinking
Bartending is a demanding job. Long hours and the constant presence of alcohol can take a toll on your health. That’s why it’s not a bad idea for bartenders to, every now and then, abstain from drinking.
The Pin Project offers a quiet way to say you’re not drinking. Started by Mark Goodwin and a collective of bartenders, these pins advocate mindful consumption of alcohol and help bartenders take care of themselves.
Mark Goodwin serving, shot by Jaclyn Rivas. Source: Vice.
Broken Bartender’s top 10 bartender pins
Whether you want to add some flair to your outfit or are looking for gift ideas for a bartender friendly, we got you covered with our best selling bartender pins.
Broken Bartender’s pins come with two pin-back buttons so that you never lose yours. The regular price of our pins is 10-12 USD.
1. Scotch Ness Critter pin
Two things famously come from Scotland – Nessie and Scotch whisky. Combining them into one Scotch Ness Critter pin proved to be an instant hit. Get one now before they’re sold out!
P.S. The Scotch Nessie proved so popular that we extended our range with a Whisky Stone so that Nessie can keep your Scotch cold without diluting it. Is this iced critter the perfect gift for fathers day? We’d say so.
2. Cocktail Shaker pin
Nothing is more universally accepted as the symbol of mixology than the cocktail shaker. It’s our wizard’s hat – in go some liquids, out comes the magic.
Wearing a Cocktail Shaker as a lapel pin shows both fellow mixologists and customers that you’re ready to shake a drink.
3. Negroni cocktail pin
A cocktail consisting of equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari, the Negroni is a classic drink loved in Italy and the world over.
Our Negroni bartender pin is just popular as the drink, selling more than any other cocktail pain.
4. Espresso Martini cocktail pin
In need of an espresso boost to get you through the night? The espresso martini is at your service.
Broken Bartender’s Espresso Martini cocktail pin is just as classy as the drink, making this pin a favorite bartender gift.
5. Martini cocktail pin
Going for a sophisticated vibe at the bar? Try the martini.
Garnished with olives and served in a fancy martini glass, this cocktail certainly looks the part, and so does our Martini cocktail pin.
6. Old Fashioned cocktail pin
Nothing beats a classic drink – and few cocktails are as classic as the old fashioned. The bourbon drink makes for a great pin, sticker, or Old Fashioned trucker hat for that matter.
Our Old Fashioned cocktail pin comes with a spherical ice cube and a slice of orange peel, just like the drink should.
7. What to Drink (Spinning) pin
Got an indecisive customer? Have them spin this bartender pin to shortlist part of the drink menu.
The drink spinner pin divides cocktails in the five taste elements, testing both your mixology skills and your customers’ taste buds.
8. I Know the Owner Too pin
“Everyone reacts to this pin !! I ordered one for each of my club colleagues!!”, one happy customer commented about this pin.
The I Know the Owner Too pin is subtle, cheeky, and draws plenty of comments. Pin them on tees, shirts, or whatever you’re wearing during your shift.
9. Margarita cocktail pin
What’s not to love about a margarita on a hot summer day? Whether you’re working at the beach, a tiki bar or on a cruise ship, these cocktails are a crowd favorite.
The Margarita cocktail pin is another great lapel pin to wear on the job – especially if your menu includes tacos.
10. Bloody Mary cocktail pin
The bloody mary – you either love it or f*cking hate is (pardon our French). Whichever camp you’re in, you can’t argue that these cocktails don’t make for a complete breakfast.
Wear the Bloody Mary cocktail pin if, like us, you like curing your hangover with a spiked tomato juice.
How do you best wear bartender pins?
Bartender pins make for great DIY customizing of your work outfit. You can pin them anywhere and they’ll look great. Here are a few suggestions as to how to wear them:
- Pin them on your apron
Aprons pair well with any bartender outfit and are extremely functional. Plus, they’re an empty canvas for . Add a bunch of custom pins to personalize your apron to your liking.
- Pin them on a matching vest
If you feel underdressed wearing just a shirt at the job, try color-matching it with a vest. Add some enamel pins to finish your outfit.
- Pin them on the collar of your dress shirt
If pinning a cocktail on your chest is too obvious for you, use your collar to personalize your dress shirt or polo shirt.
- Pin them on your hat
Wearing a hat or cap? Decorate your headgear with hat pins to show your love for cocktails and bartending.