Message 8469 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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> 
> I think it can add a little showmanship to taste it, then grin and 
> give the customer a wink or a thumbs-up. Or even add a splash of 
> something (sometimes I just wave the bottle) to look like you are 
> really fine-tuning it just for them. 

This works for me, I often get customers who are pretty excited that the 
bartender has just given the cocktail firsthand approval.  

But yeah, too much may start to 
> look like you don't know what you are doing - 

That was one of my concerns early on.  I don't do it a lot, but I'd become 
self-conscious as though people might think I'm a rookie, that I don't trust 
myself to be able to mix a drink "blind".  I wrote about this above but I'm 
mostly concerned with balancing citrus juices and sugar to just the right 
proportion (if I was using sour mix I'd be much less concerned) - if either 
one of them is off it really kills the drink.  

I don't think you have 
> to worry about the alcohol effect at all however. I'd challenge 
> anyone to get drunk from a pipette when your drinks are averaging 
> down to 15% ABV.
> 
> .dan.

Just out of curiosity and boredom one night I started using a stir straw to 
fill a shot glass with water (from a pint glass).  I quit after 30 transfers 
and the shot glass wasn't even half full yet.