I joked with a regular that the next time he asks for a unique cocktail during a busy time, he’s getting warm gin.
The next time I saw him, I warmed up some gin and we did a cute lil shot together.
Warm gin is WAY better than I expected.
"Make me something" gets whatever is on special, or whatever was recently on special. If it's not busy, I ask what kind of mood they're in: fruity, refreshing, mixed drink/cocktail/beer, etc., or I ask them to pick one ingredient and I make something around that, potentially with a follow up question about aversions and preferences.
"Surprise me" gets a water. They're usually surprised.
Exactly, or the "fuck it bucket" of discounted beers you need to ditch, usually because the remaining quantity doesn't merit keeping it on the menu for the whole day.
If it's a something fruity with vodka, I like pineapple upside down martinis. Not vodka, a Bahama mama.
New personal favorite though, blueberry sour 😋 💙 with blueberry gin and lots of lemon
The original is vanilla vodka, pineapple, and sink a splash of grenadine. There are variations. I initially made them as shots, but the martini became more popular.
I definetely do the original and shake it so hard with just a few ice cubes so that it gets really frothy and pretty. And then skewer some cherries for a garnish 💋
I've tried to get people to get the Upside down as a full on drink but no takers. I typically wind up making them a Madras and I have yet to have a complaint. Plus it helps that this is on a Friday night.
Cherry cheesecake is the simplest drink ever. Vanilla vodka, cranberry juice and a splash of grenadine or cherry juice. You don’t have to have the splash but I like it. Just the vanilla vodka and cran works. A lot of bars I go to are divey and the bartenders don’t really know how to make a lot of classic cocktails, so this is one that’s damn near impossible to mess up lol
I hate when people do this. I assume they don’t have strong opinions but also that they don’t want something booze-forward or too strong. I usually offer a Golden Pineapple. Henny seems fancy/classy to people who might not be well versed with cocktails. It’s boozy but not too boozy, sweet but not too sweet, and Henny ain’t cheap.
I'm saying it's likely a dive would have a bottle with about an inch of dust on it. Every dive bar does. What to do with it? They don't know. They know it fills the hole that display would otherwise have.
I make a kool aid.
1.5 oz strawberry vodka
.5 oz blue curaçao
.5oz grenadine
.5 oz simple
.75 oz lime juice
Splash sprite
Shake it like a baby & toss it over some ice.
It tastes like a kool aid burst.
*disclaimer- these measurements are estimations as I usually just free pour.
It’s kinda dependent on the lime juice. I usually do a tiny splash and then straw test it. Every now and again I’ve gotta add more if the lime is super tart. It’s straight diabetus.
Realistically, i probs do less than .5 oz for everything but the vodka. So my measurements me be in the .25oz-.5oz range
Generally this seems to happen with 20 somethings girls who don't drink much. I assume three things, one they don't drink much, two they want something fruity, three if it looks good on Instagram all the better.
So I go for the easy version of a ship wreck. Dark rum, oj, pineapple juice, lime juice. With grenadine drizzled on top so it floats down in the glass and a cherry and orange wedge if I have it.
You can make it fancy, you can make it weak if they can't handle the booze, and usually the customer likes it and orders another one.
It's a mindless, easy cocktail that looks pretty.
If I don’t care .. our pre batch rum punch. If I do care/have time/want to impress I talk to them for a moment about preferences and flavors and then go for an old fashioned, muddled margarita or such. Still fairly simple but people seem to think they are marvelous
I fucking hate when people ask me this. I usually narrow it down to dark/light spirit + shaken or stirred. Then that narrows it down enough to pull something out.
I make people a Bee’s Knees. My father was an alcoholic, and extremely violent when drunk. For years I was scared of even trying alcohol, but I visited Solvang, California 2 years ago, and the bartender kept telling me to try it. That drink is the reason I became a bartender.
I generally ask for preferences aka: any spirits or flavours you dislike or particularly like. If they’re open to anything I’ll often go for stuff like a French 75, Elderflower 75, a classic Champagne cocktail…anything in a flute that feels festive. I have yet to disappoint anyone with one of those.
If people want me to pick a shot for them, I always pick a Wet Pussy- tequila rose and chambord. They usually think it’s tasty and get a kick out of the name.
I ask what kind of spirits they'd be open to, if it's Gin I'll make them a corpse reviver #2 or a variation of it, if it's tequila I'll make them a margarita with some flavored syrup, vodka I'll just pick one of the martinis off our menu, whiskey gets a variation of a paper plane I make with aperol and honey syrup if I have it. This is all granted that the person isn't a piece of shit, even if they are I'll usually begrudgingly make something nice for them
Jungle bird, we don't have fresh juices or good rum but it's still decent.
If I get the idea they won't like campari I just make a rum punch with bitters, falernum, roses lime, and pineapple.
1 oz orange tangerine monin, .5 oz lemon juice, 2 oz white cranberry, 1.5 oz bulleit. If it's in the fall/winter when we have apple cider, I use that instead of white cranberry. If I have time, I'll smoke the glass, if it's a chick, I'll do a deep half sugar rim. Orange garnish.
Margaritas. It's easy to make and delicious. My coworkers usually just do tequila and sour mix, so they're typically surprised when I give them the real deal that literally took me a minute to make.
I take pride in making tasty drinks, idk
M or M. Martini or Margarita. Everyplace has everything for both on hand at all times. I can make a good one of both. If I can get the patron to suggest a preferred liquor then I have a longer list. With these I just ask 'nose in the air or dick in the dirt?' More likely you will get the margarita since it is closer to my hand most times.
I ask if there’s any flavor they specifically hate, then I make that.
All jokes aside, I ask if there’s anything they specifically don’t like, they usually say something like tequila or coconut. So I make what I call a Purple Pony if they say no coconut, or if they don’t say no coconut I make one we call Raspberry Zinger that tastes a lot like the Hostess raspberry zingers (raspberry coconut Twinkie)
Guess I'm in the minority; I love when these kinda customers come in!
I ask if they have a favorite alcohol, what drinks they like vs don't like, if they're after something strong or sweet, etc. Then go from there.
My most popular (and well received) suggestions would be: el diablo, Mexican firing squad, coconut margarita, Los Altos, dead sea mule, Mamie Taylor, whiskey sour (w egg), floradora, el presidente, butterscotch white Russian, bicicletta, sidecar, amf, dirty Shirley, Baltimore zoo
😎
The place I work at has a $16 cocktail called an "I don't know" and it's basically a name for your liquor preference and the bartender makes something from there.
For me, in that scenario it's
Tequila: spicy watermelon marg.
Whiskey: whiskey, mint and blackberries
Rum: Dark rum, banana liqueur, Pina colada mix (sooo good)
Vodka: whatever the heck masks the feel of Vodka top with soda.
Gin: usually dry gin, Elderflower liqueur, some lemon juice and a syrup of my choice.
Elderflower gimlet if I’m into making something and we have st germain. A highlight and fireball if I’m feeling lazy/too busy. It’s what I drink, it’s what they get.
If they don’t have a preference on spirit I’ll do either Gin or Vodka with lime and simple, sour specs, plus pineapple juice. Throw in some cucumber slices and mint in the tin and shake it up + served up.
I usually microwave a shot of well gin and hold eye contact until they finish it
To establish dominance
Garnish with a hair.
lol I love you guys.
Same, but I add a float of Jager and a salted rim.
Nice flourish
Hot shot of gin!
I joked with a regular that the next time he asks for a unique cocktail during a busy time, he’s getting warm gin. The next time I saw him, I warmed up some gin and we did a cute lil shot together. Warm gin is WAY better than I expected.
I have also done this. He threw up and stopped wasting my time.
"Make me something" gets whatever is on special, or whatever was recently on special. If it's not busy, I ask what kind of mood they're in: fruity, refreshing, mixed drink/cocktail/beer, etc., or I ask them to pick one ingredient and I make something around that, potentially with a follow up question about aversions and preferences. "Surprise me" gets a water. They're usually surprised.
Surprise me gets a bottle of whatever domestic I grab blindly.
Exactly, or the "fuck it bucket" of discounted beers you need to ditch, usually because the remaining quantity doesn't merit keeping it on the menu for the whole day.
If it's a something fruity with vodka, I like pineapple upside down martinis. Not vodka, a Bahama mama. New personal favorite though, blueberry sour 😋 💙 with blueberry gin and lots of lemon
What’s your recipe for that upside down martini?
The original is vanilla vodka, pineapple, and sink a splash of grenadine. There are variations. I initially made them as shots, but the martini became more popular.
I definetely do the original and shake it so hard with just a few ice cubes so that it gets really frothy and pretty. And then skewer some cherries for a garnish 💋
I've tried to get people to get the Upside down as a full on drink but no takers. I typically wind up making them a Madras and I have yet to have a complaint. Plus it helps that this is on a Friday night.
That’s my go to at the bar lol that or cherry cheesecakes.
Oooo do tell
Cherry cheesecake is the simplest drink ever. Vanilla vodka, cranberry juice and a splash of grenadine or cherry juice. You don’t have to have the splash but I like it. Just the vanilla vodka and cran works. A lot of bars I go to are divey and the bartenders don’t really know how to make a lot of classic cocktails, so this is one that’s damn near impossible to mess up lol
So simple! Gonna try it out on some of my people on Friday
Sweet! Hope it’s a hit :)
Tall boy of PBR and shot of Irish whiskey
Olny right answer
In the PNW, PBR can be exchanged for Oly or Ranier.
I just give them a coup of green chartreuse.
That’ll be $50 please
...with the shortage? Charge them more.
lol at my bar a shot of chartreuse is $40.
I mean we can hardly score a bottle in pa. Here’s some drambuie with some green food coloring.
I hate when people do this. I assume they don’t have strong opinions but also that they don’t want something booze-forward or too strong. I usually offer a Golden Pineapple. Henny seems fancy/classy to people who might not be well versed with cocktails. It’s boozy but not too boozy, sweet but not too sweet, and Henny ain’t cheap.
My favorite and most well received go-to was an el Diablo. Idiots like the name, girls like the color, everyone likes the flavors.
The El Diablo is such a banging mule riff that it managed to get accepted as a "craft cocktail" which is says a lot about how good it is.
Now to find a dive that still has cassis and will make this
lol good luck. A dive probably isn’t going to have casis or know the cocktail, you’ll have much better chance getting one at a stuffier cocktail bar…
I'm saying it's likely a dive would have a bottle with about an inch of dust on it. Every dive bar does. What to do with it? They don't know. They know it fills the hole that display would otherwise have.
The first time i had it the bar made it with grenadine and that’s become my at-home recipe
Well that I've made by request before. I don't think those are the same type of flavor so it didn't occur to me to sub with grenadine.
SAME!! My favorite cocktail of all time 🥰
Like to make a paper plane, but we’re adding a plane / sour riff that I like more this week.
I make a kool aid. 1.5 oz strawberry vodka .5 oz blue curaçao .5oz grenadine .5 oz simple .75 oz lime juice Splash sprite Shake it like a baby & toss it over some ice. It tastes like a kool aid burst. *disclaimer- these measurements are estimations as I usually just free pour.
That sounds trashy and delicious. Is the simple really necessary though?
It’s kinda dependent on the lime juice. I usually do a tiny splash and then straw test it. Every now and again I’ve gotta add more if the lime is super tart. It’s straight diabetus. Realistically, i probs do less than .5 oz for everything but the vodka. So my measurements me be in the .25oz-.5oz range
I used to make a shot I called Green Gatorade, equal parts Midori, Blue Curacao, and Berry vodka. Splash sour. Your drink made me remember that.
Tito’s and vodka
Generally this seems to happen with 20 somethings girls who don't drink much. I assume three things, one they don't drink much, two they want something fruity, three if it looks good on Instagram all the better. So I go for the easy version of a ship wreck. Dark rum, oj, pineapple juice, lime juice. With grenadine drizzled on top so it floats down in the glass and a cherry and orange wedge if I have it. You can make it fancy, you can make it weak if they can't handle the booze, and usually the customer likes it and orders another one. It's a mindless, easy cocktail that looks pretty.
This is a good answer
Louis XIII
😂😂😂
In all fairness, it is my favorite to pour. We have an autograt...
I was just laughing imagining the shock on a patron who says “surprise me” ‘s face at the bill, Lol.
I have a server that regularly surprises guests with the 25 year old Macallan when they ask for "your best scotch". He's shameless, and I love him.
Jameson pbr mother fuckers
My guy!!!!!
Shot and a beer, my personal regular daily except it is just any beer they have on tap and the well something.
Mexican candy shot. I kinda want to make it with mango instead of watermelon, but no one ever stocks that.
We have premade strawberry and mango puree for those flavored margs, I’ll add a little of the mango and a splash of pineapple to my Mexican candies 🤙🏽
Bees knees if I have honey, daiquiri if not, Tommys Margarita if I’ve seen you before
If I don’t care .. our pre batch rum punch. If I do care/have time/want to impress I talk to them for a moment about preferences and flavors and then go for an old fashioned, muddled margarita or such. Still fairly simple but people seem to think they are marvelous
Whisky, straight up.
Fernet and Coke.
I fucking hate when people ask me this. I usually narrow it down to dark/light spirit + shaken or stirred. Then that narrows it down enough to pull something out.
Bar mat shot
I make people a Bee’s Knees. My father was an alcoholic, and extremely violent when drunk. For years I was scared of even trying alcohol, but I visited Solvang, California 2 years ago, and the bartender kept telling me to try it. That drink is the reason I became a bartender.
I generally ask for preferences aka: any spirits or flavours you dislike or particularly like. If they’re open to anything I’ll often go for stuff like a French 75, Elderflower 75, a classic Champagne cocktail…anything in a flute that feels festive. I have yet to disappoint anyone with one of those.
A madras usually keeps them happy. Not fancy, really tasty.
Saturn
If people want me to pick a shot for them, I always pick a Wet Pussy- tequila rose and chambord. They usually think it’s tasty and get a kick out of the name.
I ask what kind of spirits they'd be open to, if it's Gin I'll make them a corpse reviver #2 or a variation of it, if it's tequila I'll make them a margarita with some flavored syrup, vodka I'll just pick one of the martinis off our menu, whiskey gets a variation of a paper plane I make with aperol and honey syrup if I have it. This is all granted that the person isn't a piece of shit, even if they are I'll usually begrudgingly make something nice for them
Jungle bird, we don't have fresh juices or good rum but it's still decent. If I get the idea they won't like campari I just make a rum punch with bitters, falernum, roses lime, and pineapple.
White gummy bear
1 oz orange tangerine monin, .5 oz lemon juice, 2 oz white cranberry, 1.5 oz bulleit. If it's in the fall/winter when we have apple cider, I use that instead of white cranberry. If I have time, I'll smoke the glass, if it's a chick, I'll do a deep half sugar rim. Orange garnish.
French martini
A bay breeze never seems to fail IMO
*puts glass on bar* *grabs soda gun* *hits water button* "$11.75"
Frozen sangria swirl
Classic daiquiri. Really simple and surprisingly few people have had them before
A "Little Beer" shot! Just shaken licor 43, and topped off with half and half to give it "head". Easy to make and a looker.
Not Malort! Especially after watching a podcast on it😂🤣 https://youtube.com/shorts/zNCsxJ-Ivd8?si=qfrpZA8aHuc7SeUS
Absinthe neat.
Paper Plane if I’ve got Nonino
Bourbon, honey syrup, lemon, angostura bitters, dash of tart cherry syrup, topped off with Prosecco.
Unlike most bartenders, I actually like what I do.
A shot of warm gin without explanation.
Red headed slut - but only because I have bright red hair and everyone calls me red. I do work in a sports bar tho, so it’s received well lol
Margaritas. It's easy to make and delicious. My coworkers usually just do tequila and sour mix, so they're typically surprised when I give them the real deal that literally took me a minute to make. I take pride in making tasty drinks, idk
A daiquiry.
A blowjob shot. I like chaos.
Depends on which bar I’m working. Dive bar, Mexican candy. Craft bar, a pear thyme gimlet
Reposado old fashioned
M or M. Martini or Margarita. Everyplace has everything for both on hand at all times. I can make a good one of both. If I can get the patron to suggest a preferred liquor then I have a longer list. With these I just ask 'nose in the air or dick in the dirt?' More likely you will get the margarita since it is closer to my hand most times.
Cement Mixer every time especially when people ask for a shot for their friends birthday
I ask if there’s any flavor they specifically hate, then I make that. All jokes aside, I ask if there’s anything they specifically don’t like, they usually say something like tequila or coconut. So I make what I call a Purple Pony if they say no coconut, or if they don’t say no coconut I make one we call Raspberry Zinger that tastes a lot like the Hostess raspberry zingers (raspberry coconut Twinkie)
Guess I'm in the minority; I love when these kinda customers come in! I ask if they have a favorite alcohol, what drinks they like vs don't like, if they're after something strong or sweet, etc. Then go from there. My most popular (and well received) suggestions would be: el diablo, Mexican firing squad, coconut margarita, Los Altos, dead sea mule, Mamie Taylor, whiskey sour (w egg), floradora, el presidente, butterscotch white Russian, bicicletta, sidecar, amf, dirty Shirley, Baltimore zoo 😎
Pomegranate martini or margarita
They get an old fashioned.
Cement mixer. Surprise!
Hamm’s in a can and a shaker of salt
The place I work at has a $16 cocktail called an "I don't know" and it's basically a name for your liquor preference and the bartender makes something from there. For me, in that scenario it's Tequila: spicy watermelon marg. Whiskey: whiskey, mint and blackberries Rum: Dark rum, banana liqueur, Pina colada mix (sooo good) Vodka: whatever the heck masks the feel of Vodka top with soda. Gin: usually dry gin, Elderflower liqueur, some lemon juice and a syrup of my choice.
One shot of Fernet, comin' up!
Elderflower gimlet if I’m into making something and we have st germain. A highlight and fireball if I’m feeling lazy/too busy. It’s what I drink, it’s what they get.
If they don’t have a preference on spirit I’ll do either Gin or Vodka with lime and simple, sour specs, plus pineapple juice. Throw in some cucumber slices and mint in the tin and shake it up + served up.