Message 25817 of 39188 in General Discussion

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> Because it's a piontless drink that represents everything i hate 
> about the (mostly US) bar scene. The ingredients are just thrown in 
> together without any thought for flavour profile. At least the Cuba 
> Libre is works by applying citrus to a (Cuban) rum and coke. But the 
> main thing that i hate, is that the general public still order them 
> and they order them because bartenders are selling them. Now before 
> we get into the whole "i'll do what the customer wants" crap, 
> bartenders should realise that they is no place for this drink in the 
> 21st Century bar, not with the products and information available to 
> the modern bartender. There is NO WAY a person can like this drink 
> over another, if a person was given a cuba libre and a liit they 
> won't know the difference.

What makes a good drink?

There are multiple ways to answer this question. While I "hate" the LIIT I 
have to say that it is a good drink. What I hate is its simple pointless 
recipe. And what I hate is people comming to my bar telling how to make a good 
LIIT. Discussions about including tequila or not. Discussions about calling it 
Texas or Long Island. Discussions about using ice tea instead of cola. 
Discussions about using lime or lemon as garnish. It doesn't *** matter. They 
are all useless and that's what I hate.

But why do I think it is a good drink? This drink has got a few properties 
making it a good drink. They are not intrinsic properties. It doesn't has to 
do with balance or good ingredients. It doesn't have to. Not all people need 
good balance and good ingredients. They can be satisfied with flair, stories, 
show, interresting names etc. etc.
Last week there was a cocktail recipe contest and the two winning drinks both 
had to do with fire. I personally don't think that they were the best tasting 
drinks but they did have fire (majority of judges weren't bartender or even 
serious cocktail drinkers).
The LIIT has a great positive aura. Many people talk about it. It is popular 
it makes you drunk fast. It doesn't taste like alcohol. My friends drink it. 
It is easy to order. There is many different booze in it. It looks cool to 
order. etc etc. And to be honest the taste isn't bad after all; Cola is a 
fantastic ingredient.

I don't think that we should discuss the LIIT quality from a culinary point of 
view. We all can agree that the recipe isn't any more special than other 
highball. The quality of a LIIT is from something else.

Personally I think the same about martini's manhattans or old fashioneds. I 
think these cocktails are nothing special and all the rambling about their 
beautifull balance is like talking about an egg with salt being a perfect 
balanced food. It is just a common mixture of simple ingredients.