Mixologists Are Really Just Glorified Bartenders
Francis Lam of Gourmet wants mixologists to know that they should nix the fancy title because in the end, they're really just bartenders. Lam understands that making elaborate drinks is a serious craft, but is it a revolutionary profession? Do they deserve a new word? And is "mixologist" too pompous? Besides, being called a bartender isn't so bad. There are plenty of good things a bartender does, according to Lam:
"They give that broken-hearted bastard an ear and a dram and a kind word. They keep a birthday party happy. They lube up a first date... They make a bar worth going to."
Looks like Lam should have done some fact-checking, though—commenters have already pointed out that "mixologist" is a standard 19th century reference, and isn't some new-fangled term those cocktail creators whipped up. Oops. [via Eater]
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3 Comments:
I'd say there's a pretty strong distinction between a bartender and a mixologist. If you've ever had a really bad drink and compared that to a really amazing one, you'd know there's a difference. The ingredients may be the same, but it takes someone who knows the proportions to make it sing. This doesn't even include the folks who make five or six ingredient cocktails that have to find the right balance or sometimes put in an unexpected ingredient. It IS another thing to demand to be called a mixologist, because that's crazy. But the word definitely has a place.
synaesthesia.dc at 12:55PM on 08/04/08
Maybe that's just the difference between a good bartender and a bad bartender, Syn.
Southerngirl at 5:05PM on 08/04/08
"Mixologist" is just a silly word, like a little kid would make up.
How about "Alcohologist" instead?
srhcb at 6:12PM on 08/04/08