Huff Po Calls Out Cranky Bartenders – Yours Truly Steps Up

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Freddy

I started this blog as a goof, an outlet for a few pent-up frustrations, and for self-psychotherapy. I held no other expectations. The unexpected however, has a way of creeping up on your ass when you least expect it. Having a [public] social media presence has a way of attracting attention – sometimes wanted, other times – not so much. So it’s been with this blog as the year and a half has crept by.

On the good side, I’ve met all kinds of Hospitality blogger geeks and established some pretty cool relationships. I’ve had the good fortune of being contacted by, and participating in several articles, interviews, and now videos, from major and minor publications. It’s all good I guess.

So it was the other day when Huffington Post reached out to me. They highlighted an article from BroBible.com, “Confessions of Bartender” and reached out to a few folks (myself included) to add a little colored commentary. The article is pretty well written and accurately conveys many issues and concerns I’ve mentioned previously.

Gotta love the InterToobs and Google Hangouts I must say.

Mr. Mixologist

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Freddy

“Aviation Aramos Fizz…” and 10 minute, $20 cocktails. “Smoked Salmon Infused Vodka… over Lava Rocks.” “Sazerac with some muddled Sage.” You can pin the blame for the mixologist craze mostly on Jerry mother-fucking Thomas. Yeah… more on him to come. Post-Prohibition revival and modern fainboi’ism of all things late-19th century have also had a hand. In the last few years, Brooklyn and San Francisco hipsterdom (who seem to have committed every passage of Imbibe to memory) took all this shit and ran absolutely raving wild with a ridiculously wide expanse of “throwback,” speakeasy’ish saloons. They’re not done. There seems to be no end in sight to this pseudo-retro explosion. It’s all gone a bit too far. Me? I heart me most of those cool spots as evidenced by my Pub Crawl. I just hate when folks go overboard and refuse to keep it real. I like to believe that I’ve got mad creative skills as well – no doubt. I’ve contributed to many a successful cocktail program. But mostly, I schlep my ass off in busy ass bars. Do yourself a favor and watch this epic video backlash.

Gratuitous Bartender Porn: Tanqueray Edition

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Freddy

I try damned hard not whore out commercial shit that’s sooooo… mainstream. But hey, once in a while, Madison Ave gets it really right – in this case, Tanqueray’s marketing peeps and their agency. I think this particular clip was produced by Mother NY. Yeah, it’s all dram’d up via slo-mo, low shots, B&W and stuffs – ala Ridley Scott. They do portray a higher-end, snooty venue (maybe a hotel bar) which doesn’t necessarily jive with being 3-deep in the weeds . However, they do nail the bartender’s job, lifestyle, and state of mind pretty fucking well. Bravo!

Ashes to Glory – Tito Beveridge Tells His Story

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Freddy

Dude, if you’ve read my horribly brief review on Tito’s Texas Vodka, you’ll know that (1) I suck ass at reviewing vodka (2) I’m hearting me some Tito’s Holy Water lately and (3) I can’t get enough of this guy born ~~burrito~~ “Burtito.” Anyway, I don’t even know him – but he rocks! This is likely the greatest story – er… – ever told. My new BFF. I’m mesmerized by a good Southern accent almost as much as I’m romanced and stricken silly by the average Glaswegian, Dublin/Hiberno, or Cockney speak. Southerner, born and bred.

Humble, well spoken, funny, in-touch. Been broke, been doing well. He’s just takin’ it all in stride – true gentleman style. Buy his hooch… buy a lot of it.