BartendersTour.blogspot.com

  My wife sometimes teases me when we go out for a nice dinner or meet friends at a local restaurant or bar. She can sense when my attention shifts a bit towards what’s going on at the bar, and she’s even caught me counting shakes of a cocktail tin when a bartender is mixing a drink.  (My personal rule for something like a martini is no more than four-six shakes, maybe four,  five  seconds. And not a vigorous shake either, the shake should be solid and not too violent. If the drink is more of a tiki style or something that you want aerated then knock yourself out. An aerated martini is an offense to nature.) So it’s a pleasure for me when I run into a kindred soul and we, as I put it, go all geeky with wine and spirits. The conversation is animated and frequently focused on sharing cool stuff. My second night on a recent business trip I encountered just such a person. A perfect vodka martini Before COVID I traveled with a fair amount of frequency. Business and pleasu...

  I immediately recognize the expression when I come into the whiskey aisle: A customer is standing back, just staring at the wall of bottles in front of them. Furrowed brow. Befuddlement. Angst. I am the certified Spirits Professional for the local location of a large national chain wine and spirits store. My job, essentially, is to work with customers who need some advice, want to talk spirits or - like the person in front of me - are completely at a loss. “Can I help you?” I ask. I get a relieved expression almost immediately. “Yes, if you don’t mind. I’m looking for a (fill in the blank) present for (fill in the blank…husband, wife, friend, boss). All I know is he/she/they like whiskey.” It’s a common conversation. The selection in our store is huge, and if you don’t know the category, it can be overwhelming. Plus, the term whiskey can refer to a number of things. I usually start these conversations with a series of questions designed to help me dig down a bit deeper....