Nooooo.

[Legion]

I had a work "meeting" with a work colleague in a fairly swishy private bar in a casino after work tonight. They had a pretty good range behind the bar, so I thought, why not? Single malt time it is. After carefully choosing my poison I decided to go with an Ardbeg. Can't go wrong with the classics, right? The barman asked how I would like it, and I replied straight, in a glass, with a glass of water on the side, please. I was planning on using a straw to add a bit of water later.

This is what I was handed. Insert sad face.

Am I being a liquor snob, that this offended me to the point of needing to take a picture? Probably. But it was just such a waste of a nice shot of whisky.

 

[franz]

What a waste of good whiskey. I have a friend who drinks his Scotch that way.

 

[Legion]

What a waste of good whiskey. I have a friend who drinks his Scotch that way.

It must be common, or at least common enough that the barman in quite a classy bar though it was a good idea. Let's just say I paid a lot more attention to what was going on when I got the next round in.

 

[franz]

I guess the closest thing to that that I'd enjoy is a simple whiskey and soda, but I prefer not to use a single malt Scotch. Just my humble opinion.

Which reminds me. It's been a long time since I've had Ardbeg. Great stuff. I assume you are fan of Laphroaig as well.

 

[Legion]

I guess the closest thing to that that I'd enjoy is a simple whiskey and soda, but I prefer not to use a single malt Scotch. Just my humble opinion.

Which reminds me. It's been a long time since I've had Ardbeg. Great stuff. I assume you are fan of Laphroaig as well.

You betcha. Peat is good for you, and puts hair on your chest. I even "own" several square feet of Islay. Haha.

 

[acesn8s]

I had a work "meeting" with a work colleague in a fairly swishy private bar in a casino after work tonight. They had a pretty good range behind the bar, so I thought, why not? Single malt time it is. After carefully choosing my poison I decided to go with an Ardbeg. Can't go wrong with the classics, right? The barman asked how I would like it, and I replied straight, in a glass, with a glass of water on the side, please. I was planning on using a straw to add a bit of water later.

This is what I was handed. Insert sad face.



Am I being a liquor snob, that this offended me to the point of needing to take a picture? Probably. But it was just such a waste of a nice shot of whisky.

Did you send it back? I would have.

 

[Logik]

Did you send it back? I would have.

Thats what I want to know, I would have. Just like my food, cold steak is not for me!

 

[Edcculus]

Thats why I always specify "neat" when ordering scotch! I'd have sent it back. I only order bottom shelf bourbon like that!

 

[chris.hale]

I'd have sent that back too.

 

[LarryDarrell]

I've sent on like that back and specified neat scotch with water on the side.
I got a shot glass full to the rim with whisky and a full tumbler of water...

I drank most of the water; all but a tablespoon or so; tipped the shot glass into the tumbler and got the mix I wanted in the first place.

 

[Legion]

I would have sent it back, but then it would have been tipped down the drain, which is even more of a waste. Plus it was bought by someone else, so I didn't want to make a fuss. Rest assured I was hovering at the bar for the next round, and I made sure it didn't happen again.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

That was ruined. Send it back.

 

[saltypete]

I've had the same experience in most bars/pubs here in Australia. The conversation with the bar staff usually goes something like

Me ' Could I have a ( insert brand here) neat please'

Bar Staff ' with coke?'

Me ' neat please'

Bar staff 'with ice?'

Me 'no neat please?'

Bar Staff 'you mean straight?'

Me ' yes neat please'

Contrast this with the experience I had in the US last year where just about every bar tender I encountered in Hawaii, Texas and especially Vegas not only served my drink right the first time, but when I requested another, remembered what I was drinking (even down to the water back). The service and professionalism of these guys and girls was outstanding. I put it down to the culture of tipping which is not the norm in Oz. Good service is reflected in the tip which must be a great incentive to do the job well. I tipped one guy in Vegas ($10 bucks on the first drink) and he threw the measure away. I got some huge shots of Hennessey that night and he even lit my cigars for me


Pete

 

[YetiDave]

What the hell was the bartender thinking?! There's a pub near me that sells probably 100+ varieties of whiskey, so many that they need a separate menu. Anyone working there that served a glass like that would be crucified

 

[Edcculus]

I would have sent it back, but then it would have been tipped down the drain, which is even more of a waste. Plus it was bought by someone else, so I didn't want to make a fuss. Rest assured I was hovering at the bar for the next round, and I made sure it didn't happen again.

Thats definitely the right call. No need to waste good alcohol!

I'm not sure about OZ, but most bartenders in the US would probably let you keep the drink and bring you the one you ordered. I guess thats the tipping thing again. A lot of bartenders have a "tab" up to a certain amount they are allowed to use to "buy" a group of potentially good tipping customers shots, and in this case, correct an error.

 

[the_edski]

Man, that's a killer. Why even ask how you want the drink if they are just gonna destroy it...

 

[seanusa]

would you like some scotch with your water lol.

 

[n2hql]

a real waste of good scotch

 

[Nick Danger]

I'm not sure about OZ, but most bartenders in the US would probably let you keep the drink and bring you the one you ordered.

When I was a bartender at a fine Chicago hotel, many years ago, that is exactly what I would've done. Of course, I wouldn't have made that error in the first place.

Nick

 

[Legion]

The thing was, this was not a cheap local pub. This was a private bar, in a major casino, which was full of rich guys who drink top shelf liquor all the time (yeah, I know. How exclusive can it be if they let me in, right? You can say it.)

If a minimum wage, part time waitress/bar girl in a restaurant did that I could understand that she might not know better. But the barman in a high rollers room? They had a bottle of Cognac behind the bar which I know is worth about $2k. Can you imagine if he pored a shot of that over ice and the watered it down to nothing? Incredible. (Actually, that bottle of cognac was in its own perspex case. Maybe that is to protect it from the staff.)