As I’ve said in some threads, this summer I spent every Monday night with friends at an open mic in a bar by my alma mater. When I started at my new school this semester I couldn’t go anymore since I had to get up early on Tuesday mornings. Now that I’m on break I can go again, and there’s a new bartender.
Last week when I went, there was a young guy and an old guy working the bar. I asked the young guy for a kamikaze and he put it in a good sized glass and charged me around $4.
Last night the young guy wasn’t there but the older guy was. I asked him for a kamikaze and he started filling a glass that was a little bigger than a shot. I’ve had the experience of bartenders thinking I mean a kamikaze shot and not a full drink, so I said “not a shot” and he said back “not a shot?” and I said again “not a shot.” He then continues to mix the drink in the small glass, pass it to me, and say “$5.”
I told him that last week I ordered the same drink and was served it in a glass 3 times that size. He said “I didn’t do that” and the bar-back standing with him said “I didn’t make a kamikaze last week” and I explained that I knew that, that a different guy was here and had made it. The old guy then tried to argue (not in a mean way) that he was the only guy there last week and I explained and described the younger bartender.
So anyway he pours the contents of the little glass into a normal sized plastic cup and starts to fill up with more liquor and I told him that the other guy had put Sprite in it too (b/c I could tell he wasn’t happy about having to pour in the extra liquor). I told him I wasn’t trying to give him a hard time but that I wasn’t going to pay 5 bucks for that tiny glass.
Well this was longer than I planned it to be. But I was proud of myself for speaking up and felt like sharing.
(Mundane? Check. Pointless? Meh. Must share? CHECK!)
I find your story absolutely awe-inspiring. I can’t explain why, but for some reason I am absolutely terrified of bartenders. I would have never been able to do that. At a bar I go to sometimes, I order rum and coke, and I always ask for dark rum, and there’s one bartender there that always uses light rum despite my request. But I’m too scared to say anything. I just drink up. You make me proud.
Sprite in a Kamikaze?! Nooo, nooo, nooooooo! A kamikaze is vodka, Rose’s Lime Juice, and superfine sugar. THAT IS ALL! The drink is then strained over ice and poured into a glass.
Now, on to the OP. Did you ask for the drink “straight up”? If so, those are usually served in smaller glasses. However, if you want ice in the drink (a travesty), then, yes it should be served in a larger glass.
Actually I’d never had sprite in a kamikaze until the guy made it that way last week and it tasted fine so I was happy. Normally a kamikaze for me is vodka, Rose’s lime, and triple sec, all over ice. Ice or no ice isn’t an issue for me.
And all I said was “kamikaze.” And btw, when he put it in the tiny glass, he put ice in it - I would really have been getting gypped if I’d paid 5 bucks for that.
In defense of the bartender - I have never heard of a kamikaze made with sprite. It sounds like the younger bartender made it wrong, all the time, and undercharged you, and the older guy actually did it correctly, and charged you correctly, and you got bent out of shape about it. Sorry if I sound rude, but I work in a bar, and I see that kind of thing happen all the freaking time.
Been bartending for years and I’ve never put sprite into a Kamakazie (well vodka, triple sec and lime juice for low end; Call vodka, Cointreau and squeezed lime for high end). Usually made it as a chilled shot or, if requested, in a rocks (old fashoned) glass over ice.
I can’t be sure here - but possibly the sprite was added as a filler to make the drink appear to be a better value (as for their differing pricing methods, that may have depended upon the ingredients they used).
Was there a little flirting involved between you and the young bartender?
If not, then you just paid four bucks for a sprite.
I always let my bartender know how I like my drinks prepared. They usually appreciate it and remember me and what I like from then on. I always generously tip a good bartender. Matter of fact, I often tip MY bartender in advance.
Try it next time, hand your bartender a twenty beforehand and tell him/her how much you appreciate their service.
I will second t-keela here… it is a great way to get stronger mixes also… don’t ask for it… just tip well and watch how much alcohol you get in your next drink…
care and feeding of bartenders is VERY important… it should be taught in high school…
For an interesting variation, you can use a different orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier or that mandarine stuff. I haven’t tried it with blood orange liqueur, but it might end up being a little harsh. For a REALLY good variation, use Hangar One orange vodka and Cointreau.
Just so we’re clear, before Monday I’d never had Sprite in a kamikaze. When I saw the guy adding it in I thought “oh that might be interesting.” And lo, the drink was tasty…and got me kinda buzzed too, so he wasn’t skimming on the liquor. Next time I’m in any bar I’m not going to ask for them to put Sprite in it, I’ll expect vodka, Rose’s lime, and triple sec, just like any other time. (He did put those 3 in, plus the Sprite).
No, there was no flirting. Tho he was rather cute.
The price of the drink wasn’t really an issue, just part of the story, b/c the older guy wanted to know how much I’d been charged the week before. And before anyone suggests otherwise, I did tip.
