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What's up with bartenders these days? We've had some odd experiences with some recently.
We were at a chain family restaurant, and my wife wanted a Sombrero. The server gave us kind of a blank stare, and went to talk to the bartender. He came back a minute later and said that the bartender didn't know what that is, but would make it if we could tell him what's in one. Well, other than Kahula and cream, I have no idea. After some back-and-forth, we finally settled on a White Russian.
Recently, we were at a higher-class local restaurant, waiting in the bar until their patio was open. So, since I hadn't had one in ages, I decided to order a Bloody Mary, and wife wanted a Margarita. So, the bartender starts grilling me about what specific alcohols I wanted in the drinks, i.e. what Vodka and what Tequila. I shot back with "well, what are my choices?" His answer "whatever you want". I was totally clueless about what to ask for when another patron gave me a suggestion to go for Absolut for the Bloody Mary and Blue Agave for the Margarita.
Honestly, don't most bars use a standard brand of alcohol for drinks unless the patron specifies otherwise?
back in the day, most bartenders would give you the well brand. However, I'm pretty sure that so many people complained their drinks didn't taste good they went to an upgraded liquor. Follow that with many customers complaining about paying for the better liquor and you have a bartender who is better off asking the customer what they want. Not to mention, most liquor drinkers that drink regularly have a brand liquor they prefer.
As far as the drink, Sombrero....I'm not sure how common of a drink it is. It could be a new bartender. Or it could be a drink that you know as a Sombrero, but has a different name elsewhere.
No they don't use a standard. There are so many choices of vodka's, rum, tequila's, etc that usually they will ask what you prefer in them. IF not, you will get the well which is very low quality. So basically know what you want in your drinks
They are trying to upsell to a better liquor. When I used to bartend I would usually name a specific brand and ask if that was OK. As far as the sombrero I have never heard of it, it happens to every bartender but there should be a book behind the bar with every drink recipe inside. If its not in the book then someone came up with their own creation and sold it to you as the sombrero.
For my favorite drinks I usually know what type of Vodka or Tequilla I want. Otherwise, I usually just say a midgrade brand. I don't want well, but I also don't need fancy dancy import.
I would think that if you had a favorite drink, you would know what's in it. And I don't think it's reasonable to expect every bartender to know how to make every drink. they should, however, have some kind of book to reference.
one of my recent favorite "mixed" drinks (aka 'not beer') is a form of a nutty irishman. baileys and frangelico, one to one ratio in a glass with ice. yummy.
I've heard of sombreros and am surprised so many haven't. Maybe it's an age thing?? My big bartender surprise in Charlotte was the lack of frozen drinks, specifically strawberry daiquiris. They are my favorite when summer finally arrives here in Maine.
We were bumming around uptown last weekend and we happened to wander into the bar at the Hilton on 3rd Ave. It was a really decent little lounge area and the bartender there made the best Maker's Mark Old Fashioneds that I've ever had.
The bar was cool enough that I'd go back...
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