"The dollar per drink you might tip for some “well” alcohol on the rocks is not adequate these days for that Cucumber Basil Crush. Mixologists are becoming chefs, and take special care in how their drinks are assembled and served. And for that reason, I’d tip $2.50 to $3 on a $14 cocktail — even if the bartender isn’t a great conversationalist."
—I don't actually disagree with this judgment. If you're drinking $14 cocktails you should be tipping the same way. Which is to say, stupidly.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
15
Completely agree with this. And that's why I go to bars, not mixology theme parks.
I do think it's directly related to how much time they take making it, but not necessarily price. My favorite fancy drinks place has a average time of 10 minutes to make a drink. There I tip on the bill like it's a meal. But if you're just going to overcharge me for a chocolate martini, you're still only getting a buck.
@Bridget Callahan This is why I drink bourbon on the rocks.
Disagree. If your bartender is wearing sleeve garters and a beard, you should tip him at a level when his appearance was not ridiculous.
@freetzy Here's a ha'penny! Don't spend it all in one peep show!
@freetzy : OK, so if the purpose of the bartender's sleeve garters is to keep his cuffs from dirtying up your drink, why doesn't he wear a hairnet over his scrubby beard? YOUR FAUX-OLD-TIMEYNESS MAKES NO SENSE, MIXOCROLOGISTS.
Although it mostly cuts me off from fancy drink places ENTIRELY, this is one benefit of living in the suburbs (or at least in my particular area of them). Bartenders act like I've bestowed a fabulous gift from on high for tipping per-drink AT ALL. People in my area be some stingy-ass tippers.
@Megapol Tchotchke This is America, where doing what's expectedly right is an act of heroism.
Serious question: at $14 per drink + (conservative) $2 tip, how do you get drunk at these bars? Is there a secret? Does everyone just have one and then go to the cheap bar? Or am I like one of those depression kids who never realized they were poor, and this is my moment when I realize I'm poor. Because damn those are some expensive drinks.
@CheeseLouise My theory is that everyone there is taking those drugs that say not to take them with alcohol and so they're getting more bang for their buck from each drink.
I live out in the dirty roof of our country where most beer can be had for less than $7/bottle. The mixed drink craze has hit and I usually do tip between 18 and 20% on the bill at those places.
Though this seems to be an argument for continuing my foolish fascination with High Life.
Follow up question: What's the proper tip for a bartender opening a bottle for you? I usually tip the customary dollar, but I feel like maybe that devalues the time and effort of either pouring a pint or putting a mixer on top of booze on top of ice (which also garners a dollar).
@freetzy : The answer is "a dollar, in both cases." It's like a little insurance policy between you and the bartender : you overpay for the beer-opening so that you can underpay for the more complicated stuff.
Additional benefit : no having to pro-rate tips in your head when you've already been drinking for a while. It's A Dollar, Every Time!
And remember: Tip your hometown bartender about a third what you tip in Manhattan.
If the cocktail cost $14 dollars, the bar is getting far great margins and should pay the bartender more. Idealism, I know, but everyone wants tips nowadays. Cashiers? Really?