Insider Guide.(bartenders relationship management )(style trends)

Insider's Guide social life

How to order a drink at a Bar

By Brendan Cawley Cawley is the bartender and bar manager at Marquee in New York City. Making customers happy is our goal, but communication is a give-and-take. Think of it as starting a relationship that will last each time you come back. * Make contact. It sounds simple, but any time you approach a bartender with a smile, he'll notice you. Bartenders appreciate politeness. If we're busy, don't shout. Say, "When you get a moment, I'd like " and you're my next customer. Showing us that you want to start a tab by having a credit card in your hand is also good. * Help us help you. If you'd like our advice on what to order, give us hints about what you usually drink -- something fruity? Or whiskey or scotch as opposed to vodka or rum? Beer drinkers should tell us whether they like lighter or darker beer -- more specifically, pilsner, lager, amber, wheat, or stout. Wine is more complicated. Do you like a Cabernet over a Merlot or wine from a particular region? That helps us narrow it down. For cocktails, it's good to know liquor brands, but we'll suggest new ones you might not have heard of, such as Ciroc, a vodka made from grapes instead of potatoes. * Speak the language. Most people know "on the rocks" means with ice. "Neat" is when you don't do anything to the spirit, you simply pour it into a glass as is. "Dirty" is with a bit of olive brine. A "splash" of something means a few drops. You might order a splash of cranberry juice in a vodka tonic for color and flavor. Like ordering a steak, you have to tell the waiter how you'd like it cooked. * Order what you like. Don't worry about what's popular. If you want to try something trendy, lychee martinis, mojitos, and caffeinated energy drinks such as Rushh mixed with vodka are all the rage. But the classics never go out of style. The cocktail I pour most is still a dirty martini with olives. * Tip ...