Since the dawn of time the strange breed of socialite known as the bartender has existed
with the hunger to change the world of intoxication forever. But their road was not without
obstacles….
Bartenders were originally born into high society to serve and schmooze with the lords
and ladies. This was the period when cocktails were born and flourished, being exclusively
for the rich and famous. But the course of history didn’t always run smoothly. Prohibition
followed in the 1920s. Politicians soon put a stop to alcohol in general because of various
social and economic factors. The trusty bar tenders who made a living from this respected
profession were turfed on to the streets and forced underground. This is when cocktails had
their Second Coming. Impure spirits, make shift bars and interestingly devised mixing
techniques made for a new era of experimentation.
Then came the 1950s and home cocktail parties were the new fix. Suddenly everyone was a
bar tender, but the true art was never rekindled.
The birth of Hollywood brought new talent to the scene as cocktail parties became
high society; coupled with the introduction of vodka this gave the states a taste for
cocktails again.
Mass-consumerism followed, meaning cheap and nasty ingredients. As a result the standards
declined rapidly, which led to the dark ages of cocktails, otherwise known as the 1980s,
epitomised by the movie 'Cocktail'. Garish garnishes and sickly ingredients led to classic
mixology being dealt a serious blow, leaving the industry in a state, which seemed irreversible.
Next came the Renaissance, bar tenders such as Dick Bradsell and Dale DeGroff refused
to succumb to the masses and kept an interest in classic mixology alive.
Now, we are here to ensure none of the bad times happen again and only the good times rule
supreme.
Go Monkeys Go!!!
