Although my book was published in 2020 and the bar industry goes through many different trends, there are some standards that never change and stand the test of time, like people being stupid. Buy the book from me directly to read more of this kind of stuff, recipes, and great commentary.
A funny section from my book is titled “Ask a Bartender: What’s strangest drink requested?” with an add-on “What are some ridiculous things people say at bars? These are real life examples documented over the course of my bartending life regardless of the setting. If you’ve ever been behind the stick, I’m not sure you can relate. If not, be prepared to laugh! Share your own stories – I would love to hear them.
A good bartender will always listen to their customers’ requests and, within reason, try to satisfy them. Recommending a good bourbon cocktail, a drink on the sweeter side, a style of wine to match their taste preferences, or a created cocktail/bartender’s specialty, will usually suffice. But what about the outrageous requests? Bartenders have been polled for decades and have listed the strangest drink requests that they have received. Many of them mirror my own experience as well.
Here are some of the consensus picks –
Someone ordered a Laphroaig scotch and Red Bull. That is a very smoky, peaty, and expensive single malt scotch with an energy drink.
It is hard to ruffle feathers with a drink order. A guy came into a high-end cocktail bar and ordered 4 Mind Erasers for himself, his parents, and his girlfriend. Do you know what’s in a Mind Eraser?
I was asked several times to make a drink that tastes “pink”. They did not want the drink to look pink, but something that would represent the essence of pink. I crushed it, but couldn’t tell you what I made because I never wanted to make it again. Didn’t write down the specs.
Someone ordered a Hennessey and Vitamin Water. I quickly asked what flavor of Vitamin Water trying not to laugh. The best part was that he didn’t know so I gave him just plain water.
May I have a blended White Zinfandel in a beer glass, please? Ok, a white zinfandel wine poured into a beer glass. Got it!
A gentleman came to the bar and ordered a Sazerac, which is a high-end straight-up martini-style New Orleans cocktail. Mind you, I spent 5 minutes mixing and shaking it. When I handed it to him, he thought he ordered a red wine.
This one was incredibly bizarre – A guy ordered a gin and milk with soda. Of course, as a good bartender fulfilling all requests, I made it and served it. I was fairly grossed out by it because of the curdling. But who am I to judge?
On the rare occasion I would suggest to customers to order something else, especially if they I knew them or they were a regular. Like in the case of a lady friend who insisted on having Diet Coke with tequila. She insisted that I use “well” tequila (the cheap stuff) instead of a call brand. She claimed it was awesome, so I decided to try it. It was beyond nasty! I offered her the same drink, but with lemon-lime soda instead of diet coke. The result – she loved it even more and I felt accomplished.
I had an older woman request a glass of White Zandel wine with bleu cheese olives. What is it with White Zin drinkers? (see above). I obliged the request but refused to serve them in the wine. I assume she wanted them as a free snack anyway. When turned around, she plopped them in the glass.
In a college town, two friends went to a bar and sat at a cocktail table. One of the friends didn’t drink but wanted to order a ‘classic’ drink like her friend, but with no booze so she doesn’t feel out of place. She decided to order a “Kahlua & Cream”, a simple drink that is and always will be a popular drink for the ladies (even though not a good option for calorie conscious drinkers), but without the Kahlua. The server brought her a glass of milk. It is not advisable to serve a glass of cream or half-n-half. I’m not sure of the outcome.
Some other weird drink requests that don’t have an accompanied story –
Blue Curacao on the rocks, Frozen Mojito, Gin & Vodka, Patron & Bailey’s, Strawberry Daiquiri with Cognac, Jagermeister & Coke.
More fun stories, anecdotes, commentary in the book. Reach out if interested in purchasing from email below or on Instagram via DM. It’s $13, free shipping, signed copy with a personal message, hand-delivered or mailed within a day. I would cherish your feedback!
Next up…..”How not to embarrass yourself in a bar or restaurant setting”?
Cheers,
Michael Nagy
michael@michaelpour.com
Michael is a classically trained Bartender, Mixologist, and Liquid Chef since 2002. He holds an Advanced Certificate in Mixology Bartending and has worked in numerous bar environments, such as fine dining restaurants, hotel bars, event venues, casino, resorts, dive bars, neighborhood bars, and pubs. Michael is a former Mixology Instructor at a leading, national bartending school. He enjoys a properly made Cosmopolitan, Tom Collins, Mules, and Grand Marnier neat.