Ask a Bartender!

[Fruitloops89]

What is the most expensive drink you have made?

What is the best whiskey brand?

And is there a song playing where you work that you just can't stand?

 

[gentleben]

Have you ever been captured and / or held prisoner by a scientific group looking to find lost treasure by forcing you to recall memories of your ancestors?

Once, but I can only tell you about the first nine memories I had, and not how I made my escape from the building.

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

EDIT: Ninja'd... well that's a first I think...

EDIT2: A question. My dad apparently made this mix of Fresca and tequila that is really good (wouldn't know, I'm 16) but he can't think of a name for it. Got any suggestions?

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with Fresca, but has he thought of "Tequila and Fresca"? Not every drink needs a name, and as time goes on a lot of people are opting toward using common names rather than bar names for drinks. No one has ever asked me for a screwdriver - they all ask for vodka and orange, same goes with Cape Cods being referred to as vodka cranberry.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[kawligia]

What is the difference between equal protection and substantive due process?

 

[gentleben]

What is the most expensive drink you have made?

What is the best whiskey brand?

And is there a song playing where you work that you just can't stand?

1. I've made drinks up to a price of about $50. We can only put in 2.5 shots of alcohol to a drink, and that is the only determining factor of price in my bar. The bar I supervise isn't the club's designated cocktail bar either, it's a mix between a cocktail bar and a speed bar, so although I have more alcohol to choose from than the pure speed bars, I don't have any of the really top-shelf stuff at my disposal (Johnny Walker King George V Blue Label - $90 a shot, Gran Patron - $45 a shot, Dom Perignon - $350 a bottle, Pyrat Cask 23 - $25 a shot), so I generally work with the best stuff that I do have (which generally sits in the $10-$15 a shot mark) and make it to the full strength that I can. Also, if someone comes to the bar waving a $50 note and slaps it on the bar and says "give me a $50 cocktail" I can assure you that the cocktail will cost them $50, but it will have about $25 of alcohol in it.

2. Whiskey is a touchy subject for a lot of people. The trouble with whiskeys is that there are so many different places on earth that do them so differently. Most people can easily distinguish Bourbon from Scotch and will have a preference between the two. On the scotch side, I really like Lagavulin - it's peaty as fuck and super complex, as well as Glenlivet 18. With bourbon - Maker's Mark, Jim Beam Small Batch and Woodford Reserve are all top drops. I've also heard (but unfortunately I can't back this myself) that Suntory from Japan is doing really good things, and there are a few other whiskey manufacturers in Japan doing good things.

3. I work in a nightclub, and I'm not a big fan of electronic music, but I just get in to it because a happy/enthusiastic bartender is a bartender who makes the patrons feel welcome and gets tips. But there are a couple of songs where, they've become big, so every time they get played every girl in the club lets off this high pitched squeal that makes me want to hurt small animals.

 

[KaiRai]

Cement mixer. ;D

Ok, havent heard of that. How do you make that?

Save yourself while you still can!!!!

I would also say, 3 of the craziest cocktails you know, recommend me them
And also....there is a way of making a cocktail called Dr Pepper from a few alcohols, which ones?

 

[KaiRai]

What is the most expensive drink you have made?

What is the best whiskey brand?

And is there a song playing where you work that you just can't stand?

1. I've made drinks up to a price of about $50. We can only put in 2.5 shots of alcohol to a drink, and that is the only determining factor of price in my bar. The bar I supervise isn't the club's designated cocktail bar either, it's a mix between a cocktail bar and a speed bar, so although I have more alcohol to choose from than the pure speed bars, I don't have any of the really top-shelf stuff at my disposal (Johnny Walker King George V Blue Label - $90 a shot, Gran Patron - $45 a shot, Dom Perignon - $350 a bottle, Pyrat Cask 23 - $25 a shot), so I generally work with the best stuff that I do have (which generally sits in the $10-$15 a shot mark) and make it to the full strength that I can. Also, if someone comes to the bar waving a $50 note and slaps it on the bar and says "give me a $50 cocktail" I can assure you that the cocktail will cost them $50, but it will have about $25 of alcohol in it.

2. Whiskey is a touchy subject for a lot of people. The trouble with whiskeys is that there are so many different places on earth that do them so differently. Most people can easily distinguish Bourbon from Scotch and will have a preference between the two. On the scotch side, I really like Lagavulin - it's peaty as fuck and super complex, as well as Glenlivet 18. With bourbon - Maker's Mark, Jim Beam Small Batch and Woodford Reserve are all top drops. I've also heard (but unfortunately I can't back this myself) that Suntory from Japan is doing really good things, and there are a few other whiskey manufacturers in Japan doing good things.

3. I work in a nightclub, and I'm not a big fan of electronic music, but I just get in to it because a happy/enthusiastic bartender is a bartender who makes the patrons feel welcome and gets tips. But there are a couple of songs where, they've become big, so every time they get played every girl in the club lets off this high pitched squeal that makes me want to hurt small animals.

My favourite whiskey brand (scotch) is Glenfidditch. Oh god it's Glenfidditch. Not a fan of bourbon, personally I think it tastes nasty, just me though.
Irish whiskey is pretty nice to, Jameson being the fave. Pretty similar to scotch by all accounts. Not the same, but some brands taste a little alike.

 

[KaiRai]

Also, If anyone's interested, me and a few friends were at a party and we made something called

"WKtinibu ice"
It's more like a pitcher drink (Y) it was pretty nice

 

[gentleben]

Cement mixer. ;D

Ok, havent heard of that. How do you make that?

Save yourself while you still can!!!!

I would also say, 3 of the craziest cocktails you know, recommend me them
And also....there is a way of making a cocktail called Dr Pepper from a few alcohols, which ones?

1. Define "crazy". "Crazy" as in "out there combinations that you would think would be awful" or as in "the amount of alcohol in that drink was crazy" or "I didn't know you could do that with a drink, that's crazy".

One crazy drink I have had the honour of trying while I was in Adelaide in South Australia was the Ham Cheese and Tomato Toasted Sandwich Martini. Ham infused gin, vermouth, a Parmesan cheese foam on top and muddled tomato, served with a slice of buttered toast. Needless to say it was an experience, and actually tasted exactly like a toasted hct sandwich. I think that cocktail got some press in the San Francisco Chronicle or something, I remember searching for the exact recipe online and finding that it had got some press in the US.

Another crazy drink? Blazers. Taking high proof alcohol, and squeezing any number of different fruits, spices etc in to it while its alight. There's a bar in my town that is one of the best in Australia (The Lark for any brisbanites) and the guys there will fix you up with some of the greatest blazers EVER.

Fire is always fun. Take a plate, dip some lemons in sugar, and then dump a bit of Green Chatreuse on to them. Set fire to the mix, then do a shot of half Grand Marnier, half Licor 43, and chomp down on the lemons.

2. I've heard of Flaming Dr Peppers and Dr Peppers. If memory serves, a Dr Pepper can either be (depending on interpretations, once again) Lager, Cider and Amaretto or Lager, Coke and Amaretto, and a Flaming Dr Pepper is Lager, Amaretto and a flaming shot of High-proof alcohol.

I've never had reason to make it as we don't have beer on tap in my bar, but I think it would work better with a darker beer, a stout or porter.

What's the difference between Socialism and Communism, my good man?

Socialism is the step between Capitalism and Communism. In Marx's eyes it was state owned production, where the proletariat owned the state. Communism on the other hand did not (in Marx's mind) have classes or a state - all property was held in common (although this obviously was not what happened after its practical implementation).

 

[KaiRai]

Cement mixer. ;D

Ok, havent heard of that. How do you make that?

Save yourself while you still can!!!!

I would also say, 3 of the craziest cocktails you know, recommend me them
And also....there is a way of making a cocktail called Dr Pepper from a few alcohols, which ones?

1. Define "crazy". "Crazy" as in "out there combinations that you would think would be awful" or as in "the amount of alcohol in that drink was crazy" or "I didn't know you could do that with a drink, that's crazy".

One crazy drink I have had the honour of trying while I was in Adelaide in South Australia was the Ham Cheese and Tomato Toasted Sandwich Martini. Ham infused gin, vermouth, a Parmesan cheese foam on top and muddled tomato, served with a slice of buttered toast. Needless to say it was an experience, and actually tasted exactly like a toasted hct sandwich. I think that cocktail got some press in the San Francisco Chronicle or something, I remember searching for the exact recipe online and finding that it had got some press in the US.

Another crazy drink? Blazers. Taking high proof alcohol, and squeezing any number of different fruits, spices etc in to it while its alight. There's a bar in my town that is one of the best in Australia (The Lark for any brisbanites) and the guys there will fix you up with some of the greatest blazers EVER.

Fire is always fun. Take a plate, dip some lemons in sugar, and then dump a bit of Green Chatreuse on to them. Set fire to the mix, then do a shot of half Grand Marnier, half Licor 43, and chomp down on the lemons.

2. I've heard of Flaming Dr Peppers and Dr Peppers. If memory serves, a Dr Pepper can either be (depending on interpretations, once again) Lager, Cider and Amaretto or Lager, Coke and Amaretto, and a Flaming Dr Pepper is Lager, Amaretto and a flaming shot of High-proof alcohol.

I've never had reason to make it as we don't have beer on tap in my bar, but I think it would work better with a darker beer, a stout or porter.

What's the difference between Socialism and Communism, my good man?

Socialism is the step between Capitalism and Communism. In Marx's eyes it was state owned production, where the proletariat owned the state. Communism on the other hand did not (in Marx's mind) have classes or a state - all property was held in common (although this obviously was not what happened after its practical implementation).

Ah thank you my good man
And more crazy like.....A fireball, or something like that, just something that will make you make "The shot face" after you've had it

 

[Vorpals]

What's the most fun you've had drinking a martini, and what kind was it and how do you make it?

Sorry if it's too vague.

 

[gentleben]

What's the most fun you've had drinking a martini, and what kind was it and how do you make it?

Sorry if it's too vague.

I drink dirty martinis. Quite dry and quite dirty, 2 bar spoons of vermouth, 2 bar spoons of olive brine.

3 great nights I've had when I've been throwing them back - one at Farmer Brown in San Francisco (cnr. Mason & Markket), the food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere of the entire place was just absolutely rad. Coupled with the fact that I was (and still am) under 21 at the time, it was a good night. I was staying in the hotel right up stairs, witnessed a drive-by from my window about 350m down Market St. The other two were at the Bowery and The Press Club - both in Brisbane, Australia. The Bowery is supposed to look like a prohibition era speakeasy, and they do shit right there. If you go in looking for sugar-water they will turn you away, they only do proper cocktails. The Press Club was a good night because it was our staff party where we got given an unlimited tab, but only for 2 and a half hours. Needless to say I had a great time checking facebook and finding out exactly what I did.

I especially love this photo that turned up about 3 weeks later.

There is so much that is right about that photo that it is crazy.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

What's the manliest drink out there

If someone is trying to impress chicks at the bar by trying to look like a big man, I make them a shot of Absolut Peppar (pepper infused vodka) with a bump of tobasco sauce floating on top. While they're giving me money I start pouring a glass of water and stand there, drinking it myself while they scramble for something to put the fire on their tongue out. Absolutely destroys their chances with the girls they're trying to impress as well. Good times.

pansies, tobasco sauce isn't that bad, i normally eat stuff with scotch bonnet peppers, tobasco is nothing

another suggestion i have is a snake bite

a shot of tequila
a few dashes of tobasco

as for what i gotta say.

sux you don't make more than $100, where i live bartenders make a ton on the weekends, usually $200+ depending on the bar and how it's divides the tips

what is your favorite drink?
what is your favorite drink to make?

have you ever heard of a rocky mountain bear fracker? (keeping it a bit clean)

which is made of equal parts

tequiia
jack daniels
southern comfort

also do people play shooter roulette there?

if not i'll explain. it needs at least 2 peopl and the bar prints needs to have a list of shooters printed off. first person closes eyes and places finger on the list, moving finger up and down the list, second person closes eyes and says "stop", once this happens the person going up and down the list and wherever their finger stops they that's the type of shot that must be drunk

 

[mendokusai]

How does jenever taste different from gin? Is it quite noticeable? I've been wanting to get my hands on a bottle for some time now but have never been able to.

 

[The Shade]

I have a question!

Is there, to your knowledge, a drink that involves raspberry vodka, mango juice, and orange juice?

If not, I have successfully invented it!

Also, are gin & tonics good?

 

[gentleben]

sux you don't make more than $100, where i live bartenders make a ton on the weekends, usually $200+ depending on the bar and how it's divides the tips

what is your favorite drink?
what is your favorite drink to make?

have you ever heard of a rocky mountain bear fracker? (keeping it a bit clean)

also do people play shooter roulette there?

Firstly, keep in mind that I live in Australia where tipping isn't consider compulsory. Anything I make in tips is on TOP of the $21 or so I make per hour. So if I make $100 in tips over a weekend, that's evening out to about $26 per hour.

Favourite Drink - Dirty Martinis and Sloe Gin Fizzes

Favourite to make - There's a small bit of pleasure I get from being able to make a martini for someone. Unfortunately, a lot of the people (in my experience at least, I would gladly be proven wrong on this fact) that order martinis are doing it because they have seen James Bond movies and other pop-culture icons drinking martinis, and have waltzed up to the bar asking for a martini. I'll ask them something like "Gin or Vodka" and they will either look at me with a stupid grin on their face or just say "yes thanks". Then you get the people who get given their martini and then say "ohh, this tastes like pure alcohol!".

Other than that... Something I've designed.

Shooter Roulette - State law in Queensland says that we are not to encourage drinking games of any sort, and even then, we don't have a list of shots because they are retarded, take more time than they should to make, and after people drink them they're just going to want to order another drink afterwards, so it ties up the bars. We don't even have a cocktail list at the moment because our ethos is that if you want it, we can make it.

I have never heard of a Rocky Mountain Bear Fracker.

How does jenever taste different from gin? Is it quite noticeable? I've been wanting to get my hands on a bottle for some time now but have never been able to.

The only jenever that I've tried is Corenwyn from Holland. It's the gin that was infused with ham for the Toasted Ham, Cheese, Tomato Sandwich Martini I mentioned earlier. It's quite malty and is sort of like a mix between gin and bourbon or whiskey. I would say that yes, it is quite noticeable, but I'm far from the best person to talk to about this, I'm not overly experienced with it myself.

I have a question!
Is there, to your knowledge, a drink that involves raspberry vodka, mango juice, and orange juice?
If not, I have successfully invented it!
Also, are gin & tonics good?

To my knowledge, no, there isn't.

Gin and Tonics are amazing. I had one last night. The quality of a Gin and Tonic is entirely determined by the gin you use, there isn't really any way to fuck one up.

 

[SmartIdiot]

How do you go about getting everyone to leave at the end of the night?

I've been told my methods are too... radical.

 

[gentleben]

How do you go about getting everyone to leave at the end of the night?

I've been told my methods are too... radical.

I tell them to fuck off. It is not uncommon in my bar to hear a "Go the fuck home" the second the last DJs finish their sets.

At 5am we have bouncers do a sweep to kick people out. No one is given time to finish their drinks. Service finishes at 5am, and as soon as the music goes off we have the bouncers shepherding the patrons towards the door.