Hey Bartender

The Craft Cocktail is back, and I'm obviously very happy about it. This documentary (currently on Showtime) is an amazing love letter to bartenders and their craft.  It's a bit long for a movie about cocktails, but I was never bored watching it for the first time.

It opens on a quote: "The culture of drink endures because it offers so many rewards...above all the elusive promise of friendship and love." -Pete Hamill

One opening comment is "There should be a drinks column in every newspaper in America.  There should be shows on TV." I couldn't agree more.

They go through prep in a bar, and honestly I have a huge appreciation for everything they set up.  I often admired the set up in different bars (such as Z Bar), but I never really thought that someone had to set that up every night.  It's a lot to set up, and if you are high quality like 1864, you have to sculpt ice as well as set up everything for the night.

Employees Only in NYC is featured in the documentary has an amazing cast of characters.  They go into the background of a few people that work there that is fascinating. You really find yourself rooting for all the people involved in everything they want to do, and you are not disappointed.

However I have to say my favorite quote, maybe of all time, is from Frank of Rao's.  He says "The object is to bring your job, whatever it is, to the level of art."  He goes on to say "There is an art to being a waiter, there is an art to being a chef.  There is an art to being a bartender.  Be the best bartender anyone has ever dealt with."  This is around 45 minutes into the documentary (a little less than halfway through), and when I heard that it really changed how I felt about not only bartenders, but jobs in general.  It is a profound statement; you should always give it your all and take it to another level, a level of art.

Thank goodness for Dale DeGroff, and this documentary for really expanding my view of this profession, and of the craft cocktail.  Check it out soon!