Post #119440 by mrsmiley on Wed, Oct 13, 2004 4:47 PM

Not a Tiki story, but a bad drink one. The last time I was in San Jose, I drove by an old bar called Jacks and decided to check it out. Nothing too special inside, a little updated but still has a fair amount of "old bar feel". I decided to order a Manhattan and I ask the bar tender what well Bourbon they use. For the next two or three minutes she is looking behind the bar and back bar and eventually comes back and says that they have no Bourbon-surprised i ask "you don't even have Jim Beam??". She continues to look for another two minutes or so and returns with a "no". I decide to get a Tanquery Martini instead. She chills the glass (a good sign) and then looks for the Dry Vermouth. Another minute or two of searching and I speak up and tell her where the bottle is. She pours the iced water out of the Martini glass and proceeds to pour the Gin straight into the glass. Then she adds a float of the Dry Vermouth. No shaking or stirring in ice, no mixing at all! She brings me the drink, and I ask if she has any olives...another minute or two of searching in the big fridge and she comes back with a "no". It was weird to have a (basically) room temperature Martini!
At least she was a friendly and apologetic bartender! Cheers!!