Serious Eats
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]