Pedantically and according to the Bartenders bibles, you are correct.
But to a human being and an English speaker, "straight" means "without fucking
around with it" and "up" is a meaningless intensifier. They shouldn't be
expected to guess that 'up' means anything to do with adding ice to it.
I mean, on analysis, it's a pretty stupid phrase on its own, right?
OK, they shouldn't use strict terminology when meaning a vague idea, but who
would have known that those were reserved words?
.dan.
> Do you find that customers don't really know what straightup means?
> Twice in the past week, someone has ordered a drink "Staight up."
> When it comes cold and in a chilled glass, they go what the hell is
> that? I hate to say to them are you sure you know what straightup
> means? But on the other hand, I'm sick of wasting because they don't
> know what terminology to use when ordering.