Post #526727 by arriano on Wed, Apr 28, 2010 10:22 AM

Sometimes I think we’re entering a new cocktail era with new bars opening up serving classic cocktails, new bartender guides emphasizing lost cocktail recipes, and old liqueurs being made once again.
And then I get smacked back into reality that we’ve still a long way to go.

Case in point: Some friends and I recently went to a bar called Prohibition in downtown San Diego. It’s one of those “speakeasy” type places in a basement of an old building with no sign, no advertising, and you have to go on their web site to make a reservation to get in. On the bar’s web site they include information about “handcrafted cocktails” and “old school service.” So you would think that anyone who’s gone to the trouble of getting into this place would want to enjoy the cocktail atmosphere the place provides.

However, on this recent visit here are a couple of things I overheard from customers at the bar:

-Man to bartender: “Can I get a Captain and Coke”
-Bartender: “Um, we don’t have Captain Morgan. We do have Kraken, it’s another type of spiced rum. Or we have a drink menu here with our house cocktails.”
-Man: “Uh, naw. I’ll have the rum and Coke with that rum you said before.”

-Another guy at bar seeing girl enter: “Hey, you made it!”
-Girl: “Yeah, how are you?”
-Guy: “Good. Can I get you a drink?”
-Girl: “Sure.”
-Guy: “What would you like?”
-Girl: “Um, I’m thinking a vodka and Red Bull, like a Grey Goose and Red Bull.”
-Guy: “Uh, OK, um I’m not sure they even have Red Bull here.”

It all made me realize that it’s a tough battle against advertising.