QUESTIONS | Eileen Hogan, 40 J.C. Fogarty’s Town Tavern, Bronxville (914) 337-1122 |
Scott Price, 32 The Cellar Bar Larchmont (914) 834-8723 |
Adrienne Gilmore, 24 Town Dock Tavern, Rye (914) 967-2497 |
John O’Reilly, 26 Peekskill Brewery, Peekskill (914) 734-2337 |
Eren Lee, 27 Sports Page Pub, White Plains (914) 437-8721 |
What is your favorite alcohol and drink? | “I like rums, and my favorite is Captain Morgan. But I’m more of a wine drinker. I’d go with a red Spanish or California wine.” | “Jameson Irish Whiskey. My favorite brand would be Macallan 18 Single Malt Scotch, I’m from Scotland so it’s kind of ingrained in my bloodline.” | “I’m kind of plain—I like Bass on draft. Beer is my favorite type of alcohol, especially Sam Adams.” | “A straight shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey.” | “My favorite drink is raspberry Stoli mixed with Twisted Tea, but my favorite type of alcohol and brand would be Jameson Irish Whiskey.” |
What’s the biggest tip you ever received? | “Five-hundred dollars from a man to whom I served one beer. He was a very nice older man, who was just looking for someone to talk to. He discreetly left five-hundred dollars under his coaster.” | “Eighty-nine dollars on a one-hundred-sixty dollar tab.” | “One-hundred dollars.” | “One-hundred dollars. It was just a really friendly customer for whom I went a little bit beyond and he was really grateful.” | “One-hundred-twenty dollars from a guy who came in when we were closing and bought himself and me two shots of Johnnie Walker Blue.” |
Who was your worst customer? | “Any customer who snaps or whistles is usually the one to get served last.” | “We really don’t have bad customers. Anyone who has given us trouble in the past has been removed.” | “I just had someone leave me a thirty-five-cent tip. But the worst customers are the people that you have to cut off. They get the most upset and sometimes throw things at me.” | “Bad customers try to get your attention by screaming at you and slamming down their bottle, which never works.” | “Well, I’ve had bottles thrown at me and I’ve even had customers steal my tips and use the money to buy more drinks.” |
What’s the craziest drink you’ve ever made? | “Our cappuccino martini, which is fresh espresso and Baileys with some secret ingredients.” | “Blue Hawaiian, which is blue liqueur, Malibu Rum, and Blue Curaçao.” | “Well, it’s a pretty local place, so we don’t make anything too crazy, but I’d say a Surfer on Acid, which has coconut, rum, pineapple, and Jager.” | “A Flaming B-52 shot, which has Baileys, Grand Marnier, and Bacardi 151, which makes it ‘flaming.’” | “The strangest drink combination would be Crown Royal Whiskey and Patrón Tequila mixed together.” |
Do you think that you have to drink in order to be a bartender? | “Absolutely not.” | “You don’t necessarily have to drink, but it makes it easier.” | “I’m a sober bartender, but once in a while, when it’s late and someone buys me a shot, I’ll take it.” | “Yes, people come in to have a beer or a shot with me, so it always helps to be a drinker. If you’re a sober bartender, it’s just not the same.” | “My motto is, ‘Never trust a sober bartender.’” |
What’s the best way to get a bartender’s attention? | “Just leave your empty glass at the top of the bar or smile.” | “Just smile.” | “Don’t shout your order at us. Just try to make eye contact or say, ‘Excuse me.” | “Just try and make eye contact and avoid yelling or flailing your arms. I’ll usually walk right past you if you’re obnoxious.” | “You’ll get our attention if you leave a good tip on the first drink.” |