Tales of Home

Recall that America invented cocktail culture, so a mixologist who relies on a lever while practicing the high art would get no respect.  It's a matter of pride to make a show of the process.  

But unmixed drinks are almost never measured: a barkeep should know the glassware and have free rein to honor valued guests with an extra half finger or so.  It would be an insult to all involved to insist on mechanizing the sacred pour.  Would you insist on timing a handshake to a standard 2.5 seconds?  'Tis a mockery to do so. Such things are social contracts and would cheapen the human experience in much the same way as baguette vending machines have crumbled the culture of France.

{{ To quote a Frankie Boyle joke-

'I once saw an Englishman in a Glasgow pub trying to order a lager and lime, and the barman said, "We don't do cocktails."'

And a Scottish barman would never give an extra anything, less if they weren't measures, more, never!

And as for an insult, the insult is mixing spirits with anything else. If the distiller wanted anything else in their whisky they would put it there themselves. It's insulting the distillery not to drink it as is presented from the bottle. Cocktails are an abomination, turning perfectly good spirits into weird sticky sweet things with cherries and umbrellas in them. It's cruelty to drink! }}

But a cocktail is usually made with medium grade stuff - stuff you'd be willing to drink, but not something to savor.  You mix it carefully and it can become something to savor.  Or something that goes down way too easily (margarita I'm looking at YOU) even if made with stuff you wouldn't normally drink by itself.

Fruit juices are naturally high grade, so mixing with something cheap elevates the cheap stuff. Just don't mix cheap stuff with cheap stuff. This is why it's a sin to make a cocktail with a bottled fruit mix: you've got what you need fresh, and it's infinitely better. They do it to save time, so any cocktail that comes out quickly is to be avoided. The damn levers on the bottles are a time saver and so are shunned by any self respecting establishment.

stuff you'd be willing to drink, but not something to savor.- Halfy

{{ I drink buckie! You can strip paint with it. You dont savour buckie, you down it from the bottle.

(Do NOT try this at home! This is for native Scots born, weaned on buckie folk only. ) }}

Well then it wouldn't be an insult to brewer to mix it, since you've already insulted the taste.

{{ Thats not insulting the taste- it's how it's meant to be drunk. And if it's a drink, like say a nice peaty, smoky, island single malt thats at least 50 years old, putting anything in that is sacrilegious!
In short, cheap nasty bevvy should be downed from the bottle without touching the sides, quality bevvy savoured- doesn't leave room in middle for small sticky sweet drinks with cherries in them. Besides, fruit is not part of the Scottish diet, it's way too hard to deep-fry it. }}

That's like saying there's nothing between a fully dressed lass and a lass in her birthday, suit; but there is: a lass in Daisy Dukes and a T-shirt tied up on one side to show a fetching midriff. And sometimes that in-between look is the best of all - it depends on the lass and the clothes with a proper marriage being made between them.

a lass in Daisy Dukes and a T-shirt tied up on one side to show a fetching midriff- Halfy

{{In Scotland that's called hypothermia! }}

In Newcastle that's Winter attire.

My brother in England thinks he has covid or flu. He had a negative test, but is having another one to make sure. Regardless, its shit.

The omicron seems to break through everything.

{{ Loch Eck, the mirror loch living up to its nickname }}

42 degrees on Christmas day. Lovely.

At least you'll have inland humidity, otherwise it would be death on a stick.

42 yucky yucksters.

2.30pm Xmas day and it's 42 degrees ATM. 44 tomorrow. On a sad note my wife's father passed away this morning.

Happy Christmas everyone!

I know some people don't like this day too much, but still wishing you all the best!!

{{ Merry Xmas to you too Lance and all Forumshire! }}

I wish calm and peace to you all, a relaxing, warm, cosy day.
Im so sorry Chris about your sad news

{{ Sorry Chris, missed your post, in off the nightshift, brain on dull. My condolences to your wife and to you and the family. Terrible at any time, all the worse at this time. }}

So sorry for your loss Chris, my condolences to you and your family

Merry Christmas everyone, wishing christmas cheer and joy to all

sorry to hear your sad news Chris.

Merry Christmas folks.

Totally didn't read that when I posted. Sorry to hear the news Chris.