Imagine the atmosphere of a local pub on a busy Friday night. Customers Laughing, Glasses clinking, Bartenders bouncing around from customer to customer. In the midst of the organized chaos of this busy atmosphere, you are trying your best to manage the continuous flow of spills and condensation. While glasses were creating condensation on the bar, they also created a hazard to your work area by making the bar slick and creating a slip-and-fall hazard for patrons.

A bartender’s bar mat has evolved into one of the most significant tools in constructing and maintaining an efficient and professional bar environment. A bar mat utilizes a texture that maximizes surface area for grip and helps direct spilled liquids away from glassware, thus keeping your bar area neat and safe.

The bar mat combines the principal of material science with the element of functional design. It allows bartenders to effectively manage liquid by absorbing spilled liquid and directing it to a specific area. By understanding how a bar mat was created and what it offers to both home bartenders as well as professional or veritable mixologists, mixing drink will no longer be just considered a task, but rather a true form of art that requires the appropriate equipment to protect and improve it.

The Texture of Bar Mats: Rubber vs. Wood
The texture of the surface is a defining factor of a bar mat.The engineered surface of a bar mat has been created with the intention of providing maximum performance through the use of micro-grooves, raised dots, etc. The textured surface of a bar mat provides two important benefits: Increased friction (stick) to keep bottles with very slick bottoms (or cocktail shakers) from tipping over and sliding around on the bar during busy periods, as opposed to a flat surface offering no grip at all.

Using a bar mat to mix drinks keeps tools and glassware stationary while mixing drinks and provides a more stable working environment. The fast-paced environment associated with many food service operations makes it critical to provide a secure grip on mixing tools and glassware to prevent slips from causing broken glass and wasted products.

The manufacturer's intent with the textured surfaces of these products was to establish the beginning of the fluid management system. The traditional method of creating a single or multiple puddles in the centre of a flat absorption surface to absorb liquid does not provide a mechanism for diverting liquids away from the point of contact with the flat surface. Texturized surfaces are intended to redirect the flow of liquid by using capillary action created by the peaks and valleys of the texturized surface. When the condensation begins to build up on a bottle or a liquid makes contact with a texturized surface during pouring action, the liquid is immediately pulled into grooves that channel the liquid away from the bottom of the bottle or glass and into the surrounding area. The result of this is that the bottom of a bottle or glass is much drier and this leads to the creation of a more secure grip on the item, which begins the containment process of a potential spill from either item.The science of creating a material to channel and store liquids effectively is what defines the functionality of the texture. It acts as a framework to support the entire liquid containment structure and creates the areas necessary for channeling liquid towards a central point, as well as providing a structure where liquids can be stored/contained. A certain amount of liquid can be stored within the structure of the texture and will flow toward either predetermined drainage areas or a central reservoir inside the bar; thus, this method eliminates the potential for liquid to flow freely onto the bar top. In bars, the bar healthcare professionals can save time when cleaning after each drink, allowing for them to spend more time with patrons, thereby enhancing the patrons' experiences. In addition, when used at home, it helps prevent the appearance of unsightly stains and stickiness on countertops made from fine wood or stone. It also provides protection against damage caused by the acidic nature of many mixed drinks (e.g., lemonade). Essentially, the bar mat creates a designated "dirty zone" to direct spills and thus will simplify the cleaning of these areas by offering one, simple option (the mat itself). The chemicals used to make the mat are what contribute to the bar mat's overall durability and cleanliness. Hospitality establishments tend to use either heavy-duty, flexible, closed-cell rubber or food-grade silicone to produce their quality bar mat products.Closed-cell substances provide no means for moisture penetration; as such, nearly all moisture will remain on the surface or within the engineered channels until wiped off or washed away. This characteristic aids in preventing the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria, an inherent concern for all surfaces which are in direct contact with food and beverages.

Another important factor attributable to the performance of bar mats manufactured from closed cell types of materials is their durability. Due to the utilization of closed-cell materials, the mats will not deteriorate, crack or become tacky due to exposure to the oils, alcohols and acids commonly encountered in the bar industry. In fact, bar mats are easy to clean and maintain - Just rinse under hot water, wipe down with mild detergent or in some cases, run them in the dishwasher and the bar mat will look like it just came off the shelf. When you combine the durability of construction with easy cleaning properties, you will have a hygienic product which will perform the same way every day.

Bar Mats also enhance the User Experience (Safety), and have Aesthetic Properties (Safety), as well as providing additional Value (Versatility). The composite effect of the Grip, Channel Design and Durable Materials has created a tremendously improved User Experience. The foremost enhancing feature of the Bar Mat is (One of the) Safety. A Stable and Dry Work Environment reduces the risk of slipping and/or falling by staff; thus minimizing the risk of breaking glassware and/or tipping over glassware - Consequently creating a Safe Environment, which ultimately creates a better and more confident work environment in which the staff can concentrate on the craft of Mixing and Serving Cocktails without worrying about safety hazards.

In addition to their functional purpose, the presence of the Bar Mat in the Bar creates an Aesthetic and Professional Appearance in the Bar. In recent years Bar Mats are now available in numerous Colors and Styles (Black, Clear, Logo, etc.) providing a multitude of options to customize and coordinate with any décor theme. With the use of a well-crafted Bar Mat, it is obvious that the Bottom Line is that you take the Hobby of Mixing Drinks Serious. Furthermore, due to the fact that Bar Mats provide Multi-Faceted Utilities, they are also functional in other areas of the Home, except for the Bar Counter. You can use your Bar Mats as Tool Mats in your Workshop, as non-slip pads under your Cutting Board or as non-slip pads underneath your Kitchen Appliances to maintain their stability. Consequently, because of the numerous functional capabilities of Bar Mats, they are deemed to be a Functional Investment in both Home and Business.

To summarize, the Textured Surface to Provide a Grip and Efficient Channels for Efficient Management of Spills Together Constitute a Deceptively Simple Solution to a Number of Complex Issues. The Bar Mat's Design allows for the expression of the Designer's Consideration of all factors related to creating the Product; each Component of the Bar Mat, from the Microscopic Texture to the Selection of Materials, has a Specific Purpose in the Overall Functioning of the Bar Mat in Its Role in Establishing a Clean, Stable Foundation for the Construction of the Beverage; Assisting in Managing Spills; and Supporting the Bartenders in Keeping the Bar Clean and Sanitized while being Able to Focus on the Craft of Mixing Drinks.