I thought this was interesting, a whiskey sour is how I evaluate a bar, my reference drink. Never thought of it as difficult, maybe I’m not picky enough because different doesn’t equal bad, but I do rate a bar higher if there is egg white, it’s not too sweet, and an amaretto cherry.
Margarita they can only be overthinking, I don’t think it’s difficult, but it’s bad so often I always think there must just be budget constraints. I don’t even order this as a margarita if there is visible margarita mix - I ask for tequila and orange liqueur with lime, shaken.
This post made me realise how much rage I have accumulated working behind the bar.
In general - if I want a good time I go out for a drink, if I want a good drink I make one at home. Getting a great drink at a bar is an unusual and very happy occasion, but not required for a good experience - I know y’all are busy.
At a bar I don’t know, I’ll usually order off their menu or go for beer. I’ll try whatever they are saying is their specialty, or I’ll just pass on the whole mixed drinks affair. If I’m at some new bar I’m probably not trying it out as my new favorite spot, I’m probably visiting someplace and will never be back. I just want something tasty and easy.
Over the course of this summer I went against my better judgement and I tried to order boulvardiers at two different bars. Both times it was at a nice bar that appeared to have a modern cocktail program and both times led to lengthy discussions about what I was asking for.
Apparently a gin and tonic is the hardest fucking drink, because NO BARTENDER does it right.
Bourdain’s ratio is best!
And if they do the tonic is flat.
Exactly.
They don’t care, so just shoot whatever has sat in the gun since the last time I ordered a G&T.
It’s rarely tonic even, almost always just soda.
A good curve ball cocktail test is a Trinidad Sour. If your bartender knows how to make on then they have either been around long enough or give enough of a shit to actually make a good drink.
For me, I’ve never had one that was as good as the one from the bar that actually had it on the menu. I’m on the verge of making my own orgeat to figure out what’s missing when I make one at home.
True, i guess a good orgeat is the actual test.