We have a serious issue in bars about denominate the positions.
Analogue to "hipsters hate hipsters", serious bartenders reject to be called mixologist. The reasons are simple. After the term became known in the public, a lot of bartenders used this word - unfortunately also a lot of people who are inexperienced.
"Call me simply a bartender" is a trend, which is as unnatural and spineless as the desire to be called a mixologist, without the skills. Because lets be honest - even those, who state this, doesn't want to be seen as "normal" barman [or woman]. They want to be seen as specialists and experts. Hence the bartender title, will confuse people, who are not "bar affluent". What is the difference between the position of a bartender in a pub or dive bar to a bartender in a craft bar?
But lets have a look on the different titles, we are using:
I am using for the "official" words apple dictionary - which I found most suitable for short descriptions.
Analogue to "hipsters hate hipsters", serious bartenders reject to be called mixologist. The reasons are simple. After the term became known in the public, a lot of bartenders used this word - unfortunately also a lot of people who are inexperienced.
"Call me simply a bartender" is a trend, which is as unnatural and spineless as the desire to be called a mixologist, without the skills. Because lets be honest - even those, who state this, doesn't want to be seen as "normal" barman [or woman]. They want to be seen as specialists and experts. Hence the bartender title, will confuse people, who are not "bar affluent". What is the difference between the position of a bartender in a pub or dive bar to a bartender in a craft bar?
But lets have a look on the different titles, we are using:
I am using for the "official" words apple dictionary - which I found most suitable for short descriptions.
bartender |ˈbärˌtendər|nouna person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar.In my opinion, there is nothing which speaks against the position/label bartender. However as there is no differentiation between novices, intermediate bartenders and real "cracks", I am really advocating for those, who have skills, which are clearly above the "average" to use a title, which is more matching.
mixologist |mikˈsäləjist|noun informala person who is skilled at mixing cocktails and other drinks.There is a misconception about the designation mixologist. A lot of people guess, that mixologists are just fancy bartenders - however if we are contemplating about the real meaning, a mixologist would be a person, who is pushing the limits of mixing drinks [inclusive creating new drinks, research basics etc]; though the word only describes a very limited aspect of a bartenders routine. Bartending is a profession - mixology is an aspect of bartending. But it doesn't even necessary involve the skills and knowledge to serve sipping spirits. I would see people like Robert Hess as mixologists [a great one and definitely he is not only a mixologist] as he is a hobbyist who happen to be interested and skilled in making drinks. He usually doesn't focus on hosting people [in a bar], beverage service and other important facets in bars.To be mixologist is part of the life of a modern and skilled bartender - but it is not a sufficient job description. On the other hand, people should not shy to be called mixologists, if they hold this skills.
barman |ˈbärmən|noun ( pl. barmen ) chiefly Brit.a male bartender.Quite straight forward. I usually see the description of barman more as "any" person behind the bar.
barmaid |ˈbärˌmād|noun1 a waitress who serves drinks in a bar.2 Brit.a woman bartender.Also straight forward. I guess, this title dies out over short or long, as it might be a bit sexist!?
intoxicologist* |inˈtäksiləjist |nouna bartender who thinks, that he is funny, but ain't[yes I made up the dictionary entry - but really people call themselves intoxicologists [or similar] which is in my eyes not really funny. Alcohol is a serious drug - maybe the most serious and devastated drug in our society. Dealing with it, doesn't need to be at all times über-serious. But you should show at least a certain degree of sobriety - to be aware of the effects and implications alcohol has. This would not mean, to play down its mainly negative points.
One title, which I personally like very much is craft bartender.On one hand it doesn't over-heightens the position as well as doesn't circumscribes the position onlyas person who is skillful in mixing drinks [mixologist] - but it also includes the bartender label, whichincludes being a host [etc]. But craft [see below] is the clue, which highlights the artisan endeavour a skillful bartender has.
Craft |kraft|noun1 an activity involving skill in making things by hand: the craft of bookbinding | pewter craft.• (crafts) work or objects made by hand: the shop sells local crafts | (as modifier craft) : a craft fair.• skill in carrying out one's work: a player with plenty of craft.• skill used in deceiving others: her cousin was not her equal in guile and evasive craft.• the members of a skilled profession.• ( the Craft )the brotherhood of Freemasons.2 ( pl. same ) a boat or ship: sailing craft.• an airplane or spaceship.verb [ with obj. ]exercise skill in making (something): he crafted the chair lovingly | (as adj. crafted) : a beautifully crafted object.DERIVATIVEScrafter nounORIGIN Old English cræft ‘strength, skill,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutchkracht,German Kraft, and Swedish kraft ‘strength’ (the change of sense to ‘skill’occurring only in English). Sense 2 of the noun, originally in the expression small craft‘small trading vessels or lighters,’ may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large oceangoing ships.
mixologist |mikˈsäləjist|noun informala person who is skilled at mixing cocktails and other drinks.There is a misconception about the designation mixologist. A lot of people guess, that mixologists are just fancy bartenders - however if we are contemplating about the real meaning, a mixologist would be a person, who is pushing the limits of mixing drinks [inclusive creating new drinks, research basics etc]; though the word only describes a very limited aspect of a bartenders routine. Bartending is a profession - mixology is an aspect of bartending. But it doesn't even necessary involve the skills and knowledge to serve sipping spirits. I would see people like Robert Hess as mixologists [a great one and definitely he is not only a mixologist] as he is a hobbyist who happen to be interested and skilled in making drinks. He usually doesn't focus on hosting people [in a bar], beverage service and other important facets in bars.To be mixologist is part of the life of a modern and skilled bartender - but it is not a sufficient job description. On the other hand, people should not shy to be called mixologists, if they hold this skills.
barman |ˈbärmən|noun ( pl. barmen ) chiefly Brit.a male bartender.Quite straight forward. I usually see the description of barman more as "any" person behind the bar.
barmaid |ˈbärˌmād|noun1 a waitress who serves drinks in a bar.2 Brit.a woman bartender.Also straight forward. I guess, this title dies out over short or long, as it might be a bit sexist!?
intoxicologist* |inˈtäksiləjist |nouna bartender who thinks, that he is funny, but ain't[yes I made up the dictionary entry - but really people call themselves intoxicologists [or similar] which is in my eyes not really funny. Alcohol is a serious drug - maybe the most serious and devastated drug in our society. Dealing with it, doesn't need to be at all times über-serious. But you should show at least a certain degree of sobriety - to be aware of the effects and implications alcohol has. This would not mean, to play down its mainly negative points.
One title, which I personally like very much is craft bartender.On one hand it doesn't over-heightens the position as well as doesn't circumscribes the position onlyas person who is skillful in mixing drinks [mixologist] - but it also includes the bartender label, whichincludes being a host [etc]. But craft [see below] is the clue, which highlights the artisan endeavour a skillful bartender has.
Craft |kraft|noun1 an activity involving skill in making things by hand: the craft of bookbinding | pewter craft.• (crafts) work or objects made by hand: the shop sells local crafts | (as modifier craft) : a craft fair.• skill in carrying out one's work: a player with plenty of craft.• skill used in deceiving others: her cousin was not her equal in guile and evasive craft.• the members of a skilled profession.• ( the Craft )the brotherhood of Freemasons.2 ( pl. same ) a boat or ship: sailing craft.• an airplane or spaceship.verb [ with obj. ]exercise skill in making (something): he crafted the chair lovingly | (as adj. crafted) : a beautifully crafted object.DERIVATIVEScrafter nounORIGIN Old English cræft ‘strength, skill,’ of Germanic origin; related to Dutchkracht,German Kraft, and Swedish kraft ‘strength’ (the change of sense to ‘skill’occurring only in English). Sense 2 of the noun, originally in the expression small craft‘small trading vessels or lighters,’ may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large oceangoing ships.
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