Bartender vs. Mixologist
As I was writing up a story today for a tourist publication, I was reminded that several blogtenders are talking about the distinction between a bartender and a mixologist/bar chef. It seems that most of the bartenders I speak with would qualify as 'bar chefs' under any definition, as they're all doing creative stuff that takes a large amount of product knowledge and cocktail history to do. However, almost all of them feel silly using the term 'mixologist,' as it kind of sounds like when a garbage man calls himself a 'sanitation engineer.' It's not that they're unworthy of a better title; just that they feel a little embarrassed using one. Which is odd, because bartenders are rarely demure.
In any case, the reason this came to mind was because I was working on this story and you only want to use the word 'bartender' so many times in one paragraph. And next thing you know someone is a 'bartender' or 'mixologist' or 'cocktail wizard,' and it all had to do with a need for synonyms rather than anyone's inherent qualifications. (I wasn't writing about any dive bars so nobody got more credit than they were due.) So long story short, I think a lot of the reason anyone cares about who is called what is because people like me throw around terms willy-nilly.
In any case, the reason this came to mind was because I was working on this story and you only want to use the word 'bartender' so many times in one paragraph. And next thing you know someone is a 'bartender' or 'mixologist' or 'cocktail wizard,' and it all had to do with a need for synonyms rather than anyone's inherent qualifications. (I wasn't writing about any dive bars so nobody got more credit than they were due.) So long story short, I think a lot of the reason anyone cares about who is called what is because people like me throw around terms willy-nilly.
Labels: bartending
2 Comments:
As a bartender, when I think of the term mixologist, it brings to mind the image of an unapproachable person mixing things up in a crystal tower. The term bartenders is inherently approachable. I don't like to be unapproachable to my guests so I always use the term bartender.
On the other hand, if someone built you a crystal tower to bartend from wouldn't that be awesome?
For the same reason I prefer that bartenders refer to me as a "drunk" rather than "journalist." It makes it easier to throw me out at the end of the night.
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