blogologist

06 Nov 2009

So, over on twitter, I suggested boycotting the term “mixologist” when applied to bartenders that (as far as I can tell) actually know how to make a drink. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the skill involved, it’s just that I think rather than coming up with a new term, we should refuse to apply the existing one (“bartender”) to people that don’t deserve it.

Samir: No one in this country can ever pronounce my name right. It’s not that hard: Na-ghee-na-na-jar. Nagheenanajar.
Michael Bolton: Yeah, well, at least your name isn’t Michael Bolton.
Samir: You know, there’s nothing wrong with that name.
Michael Bolton: There *was* nothing wrong with it… until I was about twelve years old and that no-talent ass clown became famous and started winning Grammys.
Samir: Hmm… well, why don’t you just go by Mike instead of Michael?
Michael Bolton: No way! Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks.

Anyways, this reminded me of the time I went to this bar in Wilmington (a really weird bar called “Pravda”, I think). I went to the bar and ordered a sidecar, and the chick was like “oh, hon, I don’t know how to make that.. we’re not really bartenders, we’re just pouring drinks.”

It was a refreshing bit of candor.